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Jeneve Rose Mitchell Saddlehorn Concert attendees. Photo by Amman Pierce.

Two students (middle) wearing hats and gloves provided by CNMA members last year. Photo credit: NPS staff.

Winter at Colorado National Monument is a magical time, but it can also be chilly—especially for school program participants who need proper layers to feel comfortable during their visit. That’s where you can make a big difference!

We’re collecting gently used or new winter gear to keep kids bundled up and warm during their monument experiences. Items we’re looking for include:

🧥 Coats

🧤 Gloves/Mittens

🎿 Jackets

Don’t worry if your donations aren’t brand-new—cleaning out your closet is a wonderful way to give back! Every item helps ensure that kids stay comfortable while exploring the monument, turning a chilly day into a warm and lasting memory.

Thank you so much to those who have already donated kids clothing! We used almost everything that has already been donated (hats, gloves/mittens, jackets/coats, socks as mittens, wraps, and sweaters) each day of the last couple weeks of field trips this past fall semester.

The NPS school program team realized they could actually use several more of a couple of items: gloves/mittens and coats/jackets. For elementary students in second through fifth grade, a variety of sizes (or at least the larger end of the sizing) would be incredibly helpful.

These items get used the most at the beginning of the spring semester and the end of the fall semester, as temperatures in the valley get warmer than we experience up here in the monument.

How to Donate:

• Drop off items at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center during regular hours.
• If you have any questions or larger donations, feel free to email me at sbattles@coloradonma.org.



Your generosity helps make the monument a great winter experience for every child who visits. Thank you for helping us create unforgettable memories this season!

Volunteer in Park, Mike LeBaron, teaches kids on a field trip in COLM.

The Visitor Resource and Protection division of Colorado National Monument is so, so, so grateful for the CMNA community. Our request for five tablets, vehicle mounts, cases, and screen protectors was filled, in full, in a matter of days after our ask went out.

With these tablets we hope to better serve the Grand Valley Community. They will allow us to respond to critical incidents, specifically mental health emergencies, much faster and with much more complete information than we ever have.

Our next step in utilizing these tablets is to pay the one-time fee for the software licenses. This will happen in early 2025, once the city of Grand Junction releases the licenses for purchase. Once that is done, we will enable the cell service, and we should be up and running.

With the national conversation on policing in America, these tablets are an embodiment of the way that the Colorado National Monument law enforcement division is adapting to meet the needs of the public. While it is the standard for the National Park Service to rely solely on radio communication, that standard is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, and we here at Colorado National Monument recognize we can be better. The technology does exist, and it is possible to use it here and now. Because of our dedicated donors, we now have the tools to do this. This will mark a huge leap forward in the way we can affect public safety in our small but mighty monument.

Colorado National Monument is no stranger to setting standards within the National Park Service. For a not-so-big, tucked away unit, Colorado National Monument has been a part of many positive changes which have altered the service as a whole. We are the first unit to produce a resilient ranger workbook, an effort that focuses on teaching healthy coping skills through natural spaces. We also have a resiliency ranger, a position which is aimed at interfacing with demographics with a high risk of mental health complications. Not only that, but our former Chief Ranger went on to be one of the senior staff rangers in the Washington office, someone who is now tasked with adapting the National Park Service law enforcement division be sustainable and relevant in the modern era.

The fact we are opting in to tablet assisted dispatch is a natural move for Colorado National Monument. The standard has been set for us to push forward and adapt. We climb that next hill not because we have to, but because we know, the view from the top will be that much better.



Thank you for helping us get there.

Perrin with one of the donated iPads.

Donor Spotlight: Honoring the Generosity Behind the Law Enforcement Project

The success of our Law Enforcement Tablet Project is a direct result of the incredible support and generosity of our donors. We are honored to highlight the individuals who made this important initiative a reality.

David Smith (Donor and Member)

"The CO National Monument is a wonderful resource, and I feel privileged to live nearby. Donating via CNMA is a good way to help support the monument's programs."

Shelly Weiss (New Donor)

We are thrilled to welcome Shelly as a new donor and appreciate her immediate support of this impactful project.

Don Kissinger (Donor and Member)

"A long time ago I worked at RMNP during the summer. I appreciate the need for better communication for our rangers and the Park Service."

Dan Peters (Donor and Member)

"We support CNMA for too many reasons to list. Suffice to say that CNMA provides a ton of valuable educational and monetary resources to the community and the monument that make both much more enjoyable places. In particular, we felt this year that the Tablet Project for Law Enforcement was important so they can do their jobs more effectively. The monument is so close to civilization, yet the communications can be hindered by the topography and lack of proper resources, making this a very worthwhile project. We are very glad to see the project goals were met enabling Law Enforcement to make the monument safer."

Roger and Wendy Bain (Donors and Members)

Thank you for a decade of unwavering support for CNMA and projects like this one!

Lauren Goodknight (Donor and Member)

Lauren’s long-standing dedication has been instrumental in supporting the monument’s programs and initiatives.

Ginger Mitchell (Donor and Member)

An incredible supporter, Ginger’s continued generosity helps us achieve ambitious goals year after year.

Mary Bystrom (Donor and Member)

Even as a newer member, Mary’s contribution to this project showcases the power of every donor coming together to make a difference.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these donors and to all who continue to support CNMA’s mission. Your commitment directly enhances the safety and experience of everyone who visits Colorado National Monument. Thank you for helping us protect and celebrate this incredible place!

Caroline Ladlow delivers an education program at Devil's Kitchen Picnic Area.

The 2024 season has brought a Spanish-language Education Technician to COLM that has been working to serve more Spanish-speaking community members and students. Caroline Ladlow started in June to work on translating our materials at the park, as well as attending events throughout the community. Over the summer, Caroline attended events at the Mesa County Libraries during Kids Club and helped out with Ranger Events at the monument. While in the office, she has been working to get the website, Junior Ranger book, and Resiliency Ranger books translated into Spanish to make our resources accessible to a wider audience.

Caroline and the education team, Kelly Stump and Nicholas Scarborough, in addition to our amazing education volunteers, have been working with local nonprofit organizations to plan educational opportunities and community events throughout the fall. With the Riverside Education Center (REC) the rangers have visited 8 elementary schools and 4 middle schools and brought students from each school to the monument for field trips. Caroline has also worked with Eureka to bring Spanish speaking families and their children in the Amigos program up to the monument. Working together with Conservation Colorado, the Wilderness Society, and CNMA we planned and executed a successful Latino Conservation Week event in Lincoln Park to get the word out about local resources and organizations. Caroline also got the opportunity to attend Colorado Canyon Association’s program with the DIA 5th grade students out in Dominguez Escalante to do some dual-language education. Caroline has also attended other events on behalf of the monument, including a DIA Carnival at the elementary school and a Bilingual Health Fair at the new Clifton Community Center. The education team has also joined together with Eureka, CCA, and the Colorado State University western campus to plan a conference day for local outdoor educators, taking place at the end of October at CSU. Working together with these wonderful non-profits in the Grand Valley will hopefully expand the types of educational opportunities we are able to offer for our local community.  

In 2025, we hope to continue to see the progress of working with our local communities and providing access to information about the monument and for educational programs in both Spanish and English. Working with CNMA and other organizations allows us to reach our local Latino community more easily and make Colorado National Monument more accessible for all.  

Kelly Stump with local kids on a field trip in the monument.

Photo credit: NPS Photo / N Scarborough. Photo caption: Ranger Caroline facilitates a scavenger hunt near Devils Kitchen.

This fall semester has been one of the best yet during my time as the monument’s school programs coordinator, filled with collaboration and community building. To start, the monument hired two seasonal educators, one funded by NPS project funds and one by a National Park Foundation grant managed by CNMA. These positions brought the full-time energy needed to strengthen and fine tune the monument’s Education Program that a single permanent position can’t do on its own (no matter how much I try!). If you’ve met our seasonals Kelly and Caroline, you know the energy and passion they bring to their work and to their daily lives. I’m so grateful that they were able to contribute their skills and ideas to the monument for the benefit of our local school children.

Additionally, we consistently had help during field trips from several Volunteers-in-Parks (VIPs). Colleen, Judy, Mike, Tim, and Ray are wonderful people with their own unique backgrounds that they bring to the field trips and to our conversations around school programs. Personable, friendly, engaging... I can’t speak highly enough of them and their contributions to the monument’s Education Program. Having several people to help with field trips allowed us to continue small group sizes of less than 13 per educator, shadow each other to observe various techniques and styles, co-teach as shared group leaders, and take more photos!

We also partnered with Eureka! McConnell Science Museum this semester. Their AmiGOs program, an early education family program in Spanish led by the incredible Gilberto, brought Pre-K learners to the monument. Caroline, mentioned above, coordinated and led this programming in Spanish. Caroline had a big impact on the monument’s outreach to the local Spanish speaking community. Expect to see some updates in 2025!

We also continued our partnership with Riverside Education Centers (REC) thanks to the National Environmental Education Foundation grant that CNMA continued to manage for us. Hannah and Ashley, the REC enrichment director and coordinator, are great community partners to work with. REC’s after-school programs at eight elementary schools and four middle schools were brought to the monument throughout the semester. Kelly, Caroline, and I went to schools to lead activities that would prepare students for the learning ahead of the field trips here. REC staff and VIPs assisted with each of these opportunities as well.

One more big thing happened! A small group of us coordinated the Western Slope Outdoor Educator Summit, sponsored by the Western Colorado Community Foundation.

This was a one-day networking and professional development opportunity for environmental and outdoor educators in our area to foster professional relationships, share best practices, and improve collaboration and resource sharing. The planning crew included Kelsey from Eureka!; Amanda from CSU School of Agriculture; Annie from Colorado Canyons Association; and Kelly, Caroline, and myself from NPS. Fifty-five people from 25 organizations and agencies attended, mostly from the Grand Valley. We even had NPS representation from Canyonlands/Arches and Black Canyon/Curecanti!



In the spring semester, we hope that our VIPs keep helping us out, and we welcome more folks to come share their skills. There will be a spring educator training sometime in March; let me know if you’d like to attend. We will also hire the two seasonal educator positions again.



The community of high-quality educators in the Grand Valley is astounding. It’s been so great to continue learning from each other and facilitating engaging, empowering, and equitable educational opportunities for local youth.

Thank you for being a CNMA member. Your contributions support an incredible organization that directly impacts positive growth in our community.

We are growing! CNMA is now over 400 members strong and we welcomed more than 90 new members in 2024. 

We had a very big year, filled with many new events and opportunities to engage with the community. It was so rewarding to see members step up to help us! From helping with our fundraiser, to feeding hungry cyclists at Tour of the Moon, to eating pizza with us at the Hot Tomato, we've really enjoyed connecting with you.

• To the many members we have welcomed in 2024, thanks for joining us!

• To the many more members that have been with us for quite some time, thanks for sticking with us!

We know that without your support we would not have been able to help send over $150K in funding to Colorado National Monument this year. This community of public lands enthusiasts and monument lovers is truly special. We are so thankful to have your support.

If you haven't yet received your Member SiliPint, pop into the CNMA bookstore and pick one up. Also, Members receive 20% off their purchase until the end of the month, so if you have any last-minute shopping, consider the bookstore.

Got family coming into town? Show them a good time by visiting the monument and the bookstore to take home a few mementos of their visit. It's probably one of the most scenic and unique bookstores in all of Colorado (we are obviously biased 😉).

Wishing you warmth and happiness this winter season.

Amber (left) and I (right) "twinning" at the Visitor Center. These pullovers are a staff favorite and so comfy!

Last week the park made an exciting find: an intact Clovis point! Clovis points are a type of projectile point that are between 12,700 and 13,400 years old! That is 3 times older than the Great Pyramid of Giza! These points were used by Indigenous Americans to hunt the mammoth, mastodon, bison, camels, and horses that lived throughout North America at the time. Clovis points are something of a mystery because the few points we’ve found in North America that are older don’t look like these. It's almost as if someone was experimenting, made one of these points, then the entire continent decided to copy them!

You might be wondering, what should I do if I find an artifact in the park? Well, this point was discovered by a park visitor and volunteer who did exactly what you should do. They took a photo of the projectile point, recorded the latitude and longitude, then reached out to park staff to let them know what they found. Thanks to their efforts, the park was able to add this beautiful point to our collection where it will rest as one of the oldest objects ever found in the entire park. Most important of what the visitor did is that they left the point where they found it. This is important for many reasons: ethical, legal, and scientific.

The first and most important reason is to show respect – respect to the Ute people who occupied these lands since time immemorial and to their traditions. During consultations with the Ute, they have expressed a strong desire that artifacts left by their ancestors be allowed to remain where they are so that they may return to the land from which they emerged. In this case, archeologists could identify that this point was not made by the Ute or their ancestors, so we were able to ethically collect it. When we do find Ute artifacts, we document them but leave them where they were found so that we honor the Ute people’s wishes.

The second reason to leave artifacts is simple: it is illegal to collect artifacts from federal lands. The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 both set a clear requirement that collection can only occur with a permit from the agency who manages those lands, and to qualify for a permit you must be an accredited archeologist performing research. This leads to the third reason: science!

Archeologists are able to study and learn about the past not only by the collection of artifacts, but also through recording information about where the artifact was found and what was around it. For example, if a point is found near a patch of darkly stained soil, that might indicate that it was a campsite, and we might find more artifacts nearby. Even more exciting, we might find charcoal that can be precisely dated! With the right tools, and when collected properly, there is even a possibility that we can identify what food they were eating at the camp based on plant and protein residue that can be preserved on cutting tools!

My gosh, how many times had I simply whizzed by the monument as I headed for cycling, running, and hiking adventures in southeastern Utah?

The only thing I knew about the monument was that it had one tall monolith (Independence Monument). That was the only photo that the Park Service showed in its brochure(s), if indeed there were any at all.

That all changed when I first saw the movie “American Flyers,” with its partial focus on what became known as “The Tour of the Moon,” a bicycle race through the monument. I was hooked. As soon as I could, I loaded my Trek road bike on the roof of the car, and five hours later, I was pedaling the Rim Rock Road from the Grand Junction entrance to the Fruita entrance, then back to my car.

After that, it was over to downtown Grand Junction for beer and burgers at Rockslide.

I soon started camping at Saddlehorn and either hiking the trails or cycling the road. I introduced a bunch of my “self-propelled” buddies to the monument and one result was a memorable day when we rode the Tour of the Moon twice, once in each direction.

Okay, so to make this account short enough so I don’t lose ALL of my readers, here is a brief list of the fun stuff I did in John Otto’s paradise:

• Rode my bike many times on Rimrock Road
• Hiked the major trails, including Monument Canyon, from both ends
• Hiked right through a herd of about two dozen Desert Bighorns…kinda scary because Mr. Bighorn seemed to be tending his flock
• Hiked down Wedding Canyon (incredibly steep)
• Gave myself several much-needed showers as I stood on a picnic table and poured water over my head. I can still hear some of my fellow campers telling their kids “Don’t look at that man… We think he might have a screw loose.” (Or worse). That’s what they said about John Otto, and they were terribly wrong.

The monument is special to me in so many ways, not least of which being that it's where I introduced my then-fiancée (now wife, Kerry) to canyons, beautiful rock formations, and collared lizards. She was hooked from the start. And like Kerry, we all thought that Colorado was only the Rocky Mountains.

My initiation into the wonders of Colorado National Monument did not end my many adventures in Southeast Utah. I still ran and hiked the trails, rode my mountain bike and my road bike, and rafted the Green, the Colorado, and the San Juan rivers. But, it did give me yet another place to enjoy the outdoors in one of the best areas that Colorado has to offer.

The monument will always have a quiet and wondrous place in my heart, even though the passage of time has taken its toll and my visits are fewer and far less adventurous. Let the next generation(s) enjoy it as it is. Leave it for them to find peace and solitude (and an occasional primitive shower atop a picnic table).

Park Archeologist, Adam Grotjohn, says hello.

Resiliency Ranger, Amber Martin, leading a guided hike with a veteran group.

In 2024, the Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA) in partnership with the National Park Service launched the Resiliency Ranger program—the first of its kind in the National Park Service.

Led by Amber Martin, this innovative initiative has already made a significant impact on our community, connecting visitors, veterans, and youth to the outdoors while fostering mental health and wellness. In just six months, Amber has brought mindfulness programming, outreach, and critical mental health resources to hundreds of individuals.

Building Partnerships and Growing Reach

From the program's start in May, Amber laid the groundwork for meaningful partnerships across the Grand Valley. Meetings with the Suicide Prevention of Mesa County Coalition, the VA Western Colorado Healthcare System, and the Vet Center opened the door for collaboration and new opportunities for outreach. By the end of fall, the program had facilitated four coalition meetings, strengthening multi-agency efforts to address mental health through nature-based programming.

Amber also worked to directly connect veterans and community members with public lands. In partnership with fellow rangers and agencies, over 235 Federal Lands passes were issued to eligible veterans at events such as the Grand Junction Farmer’s Market Vet Fest and VA outreach days—making it easier for veterans to access the healing benefits of the outdoors.

Programming Highlights

Amber’s mindful hikes became a cornerstone of the program. Veterans, youth, and students participated in guided outdoor experiences that emphasized wellness, emotional resilience, and connection to nature. In just six months, more than 20 hikes and presentations were held, with over 350 participants benefiting from the program. Highlights include:

• Mindful hikes with the Vet Center and VA, fostering healing and camaraderie among veterans.
• Youth Conservation Corps hikes and collaborations with Colorado Mesa University, connecting students with mindfulness practices outdoors.
• Colorado West Pride Hike, hosted by CNMA, which provided a welcoming and inclusive space for all participants.

In addition, Amber presented two 4-hour training blocks on psychological safety and suicide prevention during the Mental Health Safety Stand Down event, providing attendees with coping tools and critical wellness resources.

Training and Professional Development

Amber’s success as the Resiliency Ranger is also rooted in her commitment to professional development. Over the past six months, Amber completed 150+ training hours in critical areas, including Ethics, Resiliency, Trauma-Informed Care, and Peer Support. These trainings have equipped her with the tools needed to advocate for community mental health, expand partnerships, and deliver impactful programming.

Looking Ahead

As 2024 draws to a close, Amber Martin’s work as the Resiliency Ranger has made an indelible first impression. From mindful hikes to multi-agency collaborations, this pilot program is transforming how public lands can serve as sanctuaries for mental wellness. Plans are already in motion to expand programming in the spring, bringing mindful hikes and outreach to additional veteran communities and youth groups across the region.

With over 235 Federal Lands passes issued, hundreds of lives touched, and partnerships strengthened, Amber’s work exemplifies the power of public lands to promote healing, connection, and resiliency.

As CNMA reflects on the success of this first-of-its-kind initiative, we look forward to sharing continued progress in the months ahead.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Resiliency Ranger programming or collaborating with Amber Martin as an individual or organization, please contact her at: amber_martin@partner.nps.gov

Resiliency Ranger, Amber Martin, leading a guided hike with a veteran group.

The Relevancy, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) committee hosted a fun Cookies and Hot Cocoa get-together. It was a fun way to end the year with the NPS staff members who were still around. 😊

Thanks so much to our sponsors for the 60th Anniversary Fundraiser:

-Kinder Morgan- Title Sponsor

-Alpine Bank

-Monument Vista Place (MVP)

-Hillbilly Catering

-KAFM

-Primary Care Partners

-High Country Beverage

-Christi Reece Group

-Shaw Construction, In honor of Joel Bechtel

-Fiddlesticks Florals

-City of Fruita

-Balanced Rock Inn

-Hays Home Group

-Pali Thai

-High Desert Floral Design

-Rosecap Financial

-GJ Sentinel

-Christine and Carl Tubbs

-Kevin Cole

-Ginger Mitchell

-Laura Harris

-Lori Campbell

-Dave Grossman

-Stacy Colon

-Touch and Phally Vat

-Buck Creek Farm LTD

And thanks for our other organization supporters:

-Rotary Club of Grand Junction

-Rotary Club of Fruita

-Western Colorado Community Foundation

-National Park Trust

-Ramblebine Brewing Company

-Wild Tribute

-Hot Tomato

-Loki

-Network’s Unlimited

-Sorter Construction

-Enstrom Candies

-Red Bike Counseling

-Brown Cycles

-Women’s Giving Club

-The Trophy Case

-Quick Temps, Inc.

-Thomas Hunn Jewelers

We are so grateful for your support!

If you are interested in learning more about business sponsorships, please contact johannavwaveren@coloraodnma.org.

Parting Shot: Beautiful snow-dusted flora in Colorado National Monument.