Celebrating 60 Years: 60 Milestones and Memories

As we close out Colorado National Monument Association’s (CNMA) 60th anniversary, it’s time to reflect on what has been an unforgettable year.

Celebrating 60 Years of Impact

As the official non-profit and philanthropic partner to the National Park Service at Colorado National Monument (COLM), our long-standing relationship has played a crucial role in supporting research and education-based initiatives since 1964. From monumental achievements to incredible community support, 2024 truly marked a BIG YEAR for CNMA! We’re celebrating this milestone with a look back at 60 amazing moments that shaped our year.

Thank you to everyone who worked alongside us and supported our mission to preserve and protect our beloved monument—you made it all possible. Let’s relive the highlights together!

60 Years, 60 Moments

1. 2,932 Junior Rangers sworn in at Colorado National Monument (COLM) this year alone. CNMA funds this program entirely!
2. This was the 8th year of our local BANFF Film Fest with proceeds benefiting nonprofits like CNMA… get your tickets now for 2025! And thanks to GJ Rotary for your support!
3. 2 billboards, 1 Spoke and Blossom article, 1 Beacon article, KAFM interviews, press releases, local presentations, and much more offered increased visibility for CNMA and our work.
4. CNMA presented at the Public Lands Alliance on resiliency and mental health.
5. CNMA presented at the Grand Junction Economic Summit on tourism trends and sustainability.
6. CNMA gifted association members a custom Member Only SilipPint. If you haven’t received yours, please let us know.
7. CNMA released our 8th limited edition, yearly bike jersey.
8. On September 25th, 2024, CNMA officially turned 60 years old!
9. 8^th Annual Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Event offered our community so much incredible art!
10. CNMA hired our first development position to help raise more funds for our park partner.
11. Western Colorado Community Foundation issued a matching grant for up to $60K. We are currently at $52.811.19, please consider donating today!
12. 43,932 visitors served in the Saddlehorn Visitor Center in the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 (Oct ’23-Oct ’24).
13. 10,527 postcards sold year to date.
14. $706,576.65 in bookstore sales as of 11/30. 2024 has been our best year yet, we’re 10.6% above 2023 (our previous record year).
15. Saddlehorn Amphitheater was completed! We celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and concert.

    

16. CNMA used grant funds to create a donor brochure and video.
17. 168 social media posts so far in 2024.
18. Local filmmaker, Cullen Purser, is making a film about the Saddlehorn Amphitheater. Thanks to Fruita Rotary for supporting this project.
19. 24 free Walks and Talks offered with generous presenters donating their time and passion. We hosted 475 attendees at these community programs.
20. 24 miles of Rim Rock Drive repaved including pull-outs, parking lots, and the Saddlehorn Campground road.
21. 4,227 visitors attended formal Colorado National Monument interpretive programs, and 5,804 visitors attended informal talks. CNMA supports these endeavors.
22. 3,845 school contacts completed on ranger-led field trips and similar opportunities for local kids to connect with Colorado National Monument.
23. 1 grant received from the Women’s Giving Club of the Grand Valley for over $20K!
24. Hot Tomato Nonprofit of the Month in April. We celebrated with a free concert at Hot Tomato.
25. We’re currently 409 members strong! This is our highest membership ever. Consider joining us.
26. We gave over $150,000 in aid to Colorado National Monument in 2024 alone!
27. 2 seasonal park guides, funded by CNMA at 80%.
28. 1 seasonal biological science technician fully funded by CNMA.
29. 1 archeology intern, managed by CNMA through the Mesa County Workforce Center.
30. 2 seasonal, part-time archeology positions fully funded by CNMA.
31. With in-kind donations and support from our community, we fully funded the current communication needs of COLM law enforcement rangers (tablets, etc.).
32. 33 Sheep counted at Colorado National Monument as part of the CO Parks and Wildlife’s yearly bighorn sheep count. This count is completed with volunteers helping in this effort. Did you see bighorn sheep in the monument this year?
33. 8,7912 CNMA staff hours contributed to support our beloved monument.
34. CNMA gave 30 America the Beautiful passes and provided refreshments for new citizens at the Monument’s Naturalization Ceremony.
35. CNMA won a Western Colorado Community Foundation grant to fund the first Resiliency Ranger; Intermountain Health also gave funds to support this position.
36. Amber Martin started as the first Resiliency Ranger; this new initiative was a first for the National Park Service.

    

37. Resiliency Ranger booklets were completed and printed. They are available digitally here and you can get a physical booklet at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center.
38. Check out all of the amazing wellness resources added this year to COLM’s NPS website.
39. CNMA continues funding for a Visual Information Specialist to translate the Resiliency Ranger and Junior Ranger booklets into Spanish and to update trail signage to include accessibility information.
40. CNMA provided support for Colorado National Monument’s Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) recognition event.
41. 76 Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) gave 7,162 hours of service to the monument, not including CNMA volunteers which gave an additional 1,127 hours for the year. Thank you!
42. Ramblebine Brewing Co. released a special beer to benefit CNMA called, “We Love Ewe.”
43. CNMA explored housing solutions for Colorado National Monument seasonal staff.
44. CNMA’s Annual Member Meeting was held 11/19 at Eureka! with over 60 association members and members of COLM’s executive leadership team in attendance.
45. CNMA officially signed on to be a part of the Confluence Center of CO!
46. Tour of the Moon, Rim Rock Marathon, Archeology Day and other events in COLM! CNMA provided support for these including running an aid station for the Tour of the Moon.
47. The CNMA board of directors just approved $125,000 in NPS Aid for 2025 to include a Raptor Monitoring Project Intern, Bio Science Technician, Park Guides, Resiliency Ranger, Unigrids and more!
48. Using National Park Foundation dollars, COLM hired its first-ever Spanish-speaking Education Technician. Their work included translating the park website, Resiliency Ranger booklet, and K-12 curricula into Spanish.
49. CNMA offered its first Spanish-language Walk and Talk program.
50. The COLM interpretive team sent an Indigenous employee, Ranger Raven, to Interpretation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge training in October. Raven was hired in 2023 as an intern in partnership with CNMA and COLM and in 2024 was hired as a seasonal NPS employee.
51. 361 movie showings in the Visitor Center Auditorium year to date. CNMA happily funded this film.
52. We increased our Facebook followers by 312 (we’re at 4K followers) and our Instagram followers by 431 (we’re now over 1K followers).
53. Best Giving Tuesday and CO Gives Day yet for CNMA! We received $6,776 from 33 generous donors.
54. Attended 15 outreach events throughout the year – farmer’s markets, Rides and Vibes, Tour of the Moon, and more. We love connecting with our community.
55. Our first large fundraising event at Monument Vista Place, “A Monumental Celebration” raised over $60,000 for COLM. We couldn’t have done it without help from our new CNMA ambassadors!

    

56. We participated in the 2^nd annual local Latino Conservation Week Celebration. CNMA helped start this annual event in 2023.
57. We received a 2024 “Every Kid Outdoors” small grant. Funds from the grant, sponsored by the National Park Trust, covered the cost of school bus transportation to bring kids to the monument on field trips.
58. Over 35 local businesses supported CNMA through sponsorships and donations. We’re so grateful to our business community!
59. CNMA gave away 5 free Colorado National Monument annual passes to families in our community, offering an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and respite of this special place. These families identified cost as a barrier for them to visit.
60. All kinds of new products in the Colorado National Monument bookstore, from earrings, to sweatshirts, to stuffed animals (including a scorpion plushie!). Sharon worked hard on developing these with the National Park Service. As always, proceeds from these sales go back to support the monument.

Together into the New Year

As we look ahead to 2025, we see countless opportunities to continue supporting Colorado National Monument. Your unwavering support makes all the difference. Together, we can protect our stunning red rock canyons, inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, and expand educational and resiliency programs for our community and beyond.

Thank you for being such an integral part of this effort!

I wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season.

All my best,

Johanna van Waveren

Executive Director

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Lead Image – Independent Spirit by Shaun Cooney