Exploring Conservation in the Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Amigos experience exceeded all of our expectations for our 17 year old son.

My wife participated in an Amigos program in northern Mexico in the mid 1990's and, to this day, the experience, learnings and friends have truly been life changing for her. As we were evaluating programs for our son, Amigos was one of several that we researched.

Throughout that discovery process, from the Zoom information sessions to the 1:1 engagement with their leadership team and follow up touchpoints our son had with recent alums of the program, it was clear it was not only first class but also very well structured, organized and led.

The application process was straightforward and the pre-trip communication excellent. There are a number of things that you have to do that I wasn't expecting, such as physical and mental health clearances, travel power of attorney, etc., but they were administrative and not a hassle. The pre trip Covid protocols were a bit stressful as you had to have a negative test result from a certified lab (not a at home test), and if you tested positive you couldn't go, but we had our son hunker down and it all worked out.

The Colorado program has its own Instagram page, which was updated every 2-4 days, so we were able to follow along during the trip as well as with the student written blog posts.

But the best part of the experience, for us as parents, was greeting the young man stepping off the escalator at baggage claim on his return. In just three short weeks he not only had learned exponentially more than we thought he would about the land, resources, ecosystem challenges, sustainability, etc., but he also matured in powerful way that is almost hard to put a finger on. But we can see it in a revised worldview, much stronger focus on the areas of study he wants to pursue in college (spoiler alert: they are a blend of sustainability and business ethics), and an entirely new, first person learned, understanding of a far wider range of people, political views and personal identity issues than he had ever been exposed to in the safety bubble of his 'buddies', who all think, dress, talk, and act the same.

So from a parent's viewpoint, I couldn't recommend serious consideration of the Amigos Colorado program more enthusiastically nor genuinely.

I had a great time on the Colorado trip connecting with different people and learning about creative solutions people are implementing across the US to combat climate change. The program prompted me to consider studying environmental science in the future! We also had fun exploring Colorado: hiking, going to farmer's markets, river rafting, and experiencing a college campus (Western Colorado University). The group got really close over the course of the 3 weeks and made being far from home much more bearable. I'd recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn more about how to help the environment and who likes trying new things!

I really liked my experience on this trip. First of all, the setting was beautiful. This was my first time out West and the mountain vistas were incredible. Pretty much everywhere we went was breathtaking. Secondly, the activities and work we did were great. Whether it was working on a farm, learning about wolves and bighorn sheep, or whitewater rafting, each experience felt educational and invigorating. I probably tried more things in those 3 weeks than any other. Perhaps most importantly, the people I went on the trip with were great. All three Amigos staff members on the trip made it as good as possible, and the 13 other participants were all uniquely interesting. Half the fun came from getting to know everyone, and I definitely made some great friends. I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in conservation, the outdoors, getting to know others, and experiencing some independence!

I initially joined this program on a bit of a whim and didn't quite know what to expect, but I can say without a doubt that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Our days were a perfect mix of education and fun, with a variety of partner organizations and adventurous activities. The service work we did was not only well-tied to our curriculum of environmental conservation but also encouraged teamwork among volunteers. My two favorite service days included our hike and trail maintenance on Mount Elbert and helping harvest, plant, and maintain a Salida community farm. By the end of each work day, I really felt like I had made a positive impact for our planet and learned valuable skills to continue to protect the environment, and all in such gorgeous scenery. One particularly unique experience was our day at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, where a Ute tour guide led us through the Ancestral Land of the Pueblo people. We were able to see many thousand-year-old ruins and artifacts and learn their history in a very genuine and authentic way; I gained a new perspective and respect for the Native people of Colorado and their land.
However, by far my favorite part about the trip, and the part I expected the least, was the amazing and diverse people I was able to meet and get to know. From playing Uno the first night to the 3 day rafting trip to blasting music on car rides, each moment was a chance to learn something new about someone and bond and grow together. We helped each other through highs and lows and created some absolutely amazing memories along the way, I truly feel like I've made some lifelong friends. As cheesy as it sounds, this trip was life changing for me and there is so much knowledge I am excited to bring back to my community, I am so thankful for the amazing opportunities the Colorado program gave me!

I initially joined this program on a bit of a whim and didn't quite know what to expect, but I can say without a doubt that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Our days were a perfect mix of education and fun, with a variety of partner organizations and adventurous activities. The service work we did was not only well-tied to our curriculum of environmental conservation but also encouraged teamwork among volunteers. My two favorite service days included our hike and trail maintenance on Mount Elbert and helping harvest, plant, and maintain a Salida community farm. By the end of each work day, I really felt like I had made a positive impact for our planet and learned valuable skills to continue to protect the environment, and all in such gorgeous scenery. One particularly unique experience was our day at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park, where a Ute tour guide led us through the Ancestral Land of the Pueblo people. We were able to see many thousand-year-old ruins and artifacts and learn their history in a very genuine and authentic way; I gained a new perspective and respect for the Native people of Colorado and their land.
However, by far my favorite part about the trip, and the part I expected the least, was the amazing and diverse people I was able to meet and get to know. From playing Uno the first night to the 3 day rafting trip to blasting music on car rides, each moment was a chance to learn something new about someone and bond and grow together. We helped each other through highs and lows and created some absolutely amazing memories along the way, I truly feel like I've made some lifelong friends. As cheesy as it sounds, this trip was life changing for me and there is so much knowledge I am excited to bring back to my community, I am so thankful for the amazing opportunities the Colorado program gave me!

I will never forget to long drives with John Denver, Vampire Weekend and Kora's playlists on the speakers, the exhausting hikes that endured with altitude fatigue, the beautiful nature, and certainly the amazing volunteers and staff that made it so memorable (shoutout to Hrittik’s doll - you’re the best one <3).

Oh the volunteering part? It was really good as well. We got our hands on sustainable farming to combat food insecurity in the Gunnison basin, and community gardening for the school district in Salida, both CSA-related programs (Community-Supported Agriculture), which was fun, productive, and eye-opening to learn about the technology, methods, and procedures they have doing these work. We also did gruesome trailwork on gargoyles, which had us tremendously appreciate the work put in these simple-looking routes. We did some land maintenance through cleaning up wood twigs and pigsties (amazing!). All of these put us into perspective and blah blah blah… But really though, it was an experience to connect and talk to people who are helping to enrich and protect the landscape and communities of Colorado.

There were curriculums and purely educational excursions as well, where we talked to scientists, conservationists, activists about different issues around conservation like domestic sheeps vs. bighorn sheeps vs. wolves, or Ne$tlé’s increasing influence on water and politics in Colorado, or smaller activities like testing water quality or spraying native seeds in the forest. I also enjoyed learning about climate change in tribal parks without mentioning the word.

Still what popped out most was the beautiful scenery in Colorado. As we toured around the Western Slope, there was almost a pervading connection to nature. I loved the morning breeze of the mountains, the vast eternity of tree lines, and even though I’m not supposed to, the aromatic smell of pine needles. I loved seeing the water lines in rivers and reservoirs, and longed to break AMIGOS rules of only being able to wade in water.

Colorado was a distant, peaceful getaway in the summer, but it felt home for the cool people, pretty nature, vibrant rhythm, and constant reflections during the trip.

Spending three weeks in Colorado with really cool people is an experience I will never forget. We started in Denver, made our way to Salida, and drove to Durango as our last stop of the trip. Along the way, I learned about wildfires, regenerative farming and why the bighorn sheep population is dwindling. We also identified aquatic creatures to determine the health of the Arkansas river, learned about traditional ecological knowledge, and had many jam sessions in Big Betty (the van). I had fun cooking dinner, playing games and leading a hike. Going into the trip, I had no idea what it was going to be like but it ended up being one of the best summers of my life. I would definitely recommend this program since I had a blast!

As a former Amigo myself (Ecuador 1990), and a parent of a 2 time Amigo student traveler, I have had long experience with the organization.
My daughter has traveled twice in the last 3 years to Costa Rica with Amigos. This year (2021) was obviously impacted heavily by COVID-19, and so was a different trip. The students were unable to stay with a family, so there was less overall exposure to the culture and daily life. That being said, Amigos worked hard to give the kids an immersive experience and put them in touch with the amazing environment in Costa Rica.