Raquel Cabeza
This year marked the official launch of Outdoor Unidos, and it has been a year filled with learning, connection, and community growth. Beginning in March, we welcomed our inaugural cohort and focused on creating a space where people could build skills, feel represented in the outdoors, and strengthen ties across cultures and generations.
Participants engaged in outdoor experiences and leadership activities that supported new confidence and a deeper sense of belonging. Throughout the year we saw how powerful it can be when people show up for one another with openness, care, and a shared desire to build community in the outdoors.
We launched this program with enthusiasm and excitement, supported by a new grant that made this work possible. At the same time, we recognized that this was a new direction for our organization, requiring learning, experimentation, and flexibility at every step. As we close out the year, we are proud to say that even within a tight timeline, strong collaboration with our partner organization allowed us to provide access, resources, and consistent support for our participants.
Our final event, the graduation, highlighted the dedication of our cohort and the collective commitment that brought this pilot year to life. It also encouraged us to reflect on the opportunities ahead and how meaningful it is to have a community aligned with the mission of Outdoor Unidos.
As we prepare for Cohort 2 in 2026, we are grateful for the foundation built this year. This first cohort showed us that creating belonging takes intention, time, and courage, and we are proud of what we accomplished together. We hope to welcome even more members into the experience, because this program truly reflects our shared commitment to expanding who feels welcomed in Colorado’s outdoor spaces.
We are now recruiting Cohort 2 in 2026. CMC members are invited to get involved as participants or volunteers, and we would be thrilled to have you join us.
Outdoor Unidos has grown into a multicultural, family-centered program where people engage as equals, regardless of background or experience. In 2026, the program will include camping, hiking, water activities, and climbing from February through October.
Add a comment
Log in to add comments.