Growth and success at Colorado Youth Outdoors has not happened overnight.  The mission of building relationships between youth and their parents through traditional outdoor activities was and continues to be the strength of our organization. In the early years it was the unique programming as an after school program in high schools that put CYO on the map.  It is now CYO’s strategic Visions / Goals and Objectives (VGO’s) that lead the efforts in taking the organization into its next decade of service.

Founded in 2001 the mission was accomplished purely by the curriculum created by CYO.  The vision at the time was to find a way to offer our programming in 100 schools around the state of Colorado. Over time the feasibility and effectiveness of this strategy became unattainable.  In 2007 CYO began to identify the next generation of programming with the birth of what is now called Facilities Based Programming. Through major gifts from the Louis Swift Estate and the Gates Family Frontiers Fund the first Outdoor Education Center was born.  Facilities are now leading the opportunities created through CYO’s programming.   This model will allow CYO to grow at an exponential rate without the corresponding expense per school.

The mission remains the same but the revision of the organizational vision statements and strategies should soon drive every aspect of our business organization.  The Regional Education Facility at Swift Ponds is to be a template of success that we look forward to applying in multiple regions of the state.   

Moving into our  next 10 years we look forward to continue to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to CYO.  Every day our staff, boards and volunteers are focused on accomplishing great things for a great cause.  The future will hold its own unique challenges but also great opportunities and hope.