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Partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

We believe that the support of our partners enables us to excel at our work of protecting and caring for our most valued and valuable resources. Through partnerships, we magnify our voice, extend our reach and build support for the agency. The Statewide Partnership Program intends to support or enhance existing efforts and programs in regions across Colorado, without placing an additional burden on personnel.

Adopting Colorado's Outdoor Principles

Our Partners Program is built on Colorado's Outdoor Principles.  Colorado’s Outdoor Principles are a set of seven guidelines for advancing outdoor recreation and conservation. 

  1. ​Public Lands

    Outdoor recreation and conservation require that a diversity of lands and waters be publicly owned, available for public access, and cared for properly. The uniquely American public-land heritage is a privilege and a birthright, and the availability of open space and outdoor recreation opportunities in Colorado is a major part of what has made this one of the most desirable states in which to live. We should seek to increase the quality of these public lands and waterways, and do so under the guidance of these seven principles

  2. Private Lands

    Within Colorado’s diversity of land and waters, private land provides a balance of conservation and access for outdoor recreation and conservation of landscapes. Private lands in Colorado are vital for the conservation of the natural resources and western heritage that has long defined the state. Private landowners increase the viability of our lands, waters and natural assets by keeping habitat connected and in a natural state. Private landowners and vested parties should be involved in collaborative dialogues whenever possible and turned to for solutions and deeper partnerships.  

  3. Working Together

    Both recreation and conservation are needed to sustain Colorado’s quality of life. Both are beneficial to local economic well-being,  for personal health, and for sustaining Colorado’s natural resources. This mutual need exists because outdoor recreation helps people understand the importance of maintaining healthy, intact ecosystems. In turn, that understanding builds support for natural resource protection and stewardship, and conservation protects the land, water and wild places upon which outdoor recreation depends. ​

  4. Minimize Impact

    All recreation has an impact. Coloradans have an obligation to minimize these impacts across the places they recreate and the larger landscape through ethical outdoor behavior.An interpreter at Barr Lake State Park shows a child animal furs, feathers, and turtle shells. Ethical outdoor behavior demonstrates respect for land, water, and wildlife. This outdoor ethic is critical and must be developed in all users and taught to future generations. 

  5. Management and Education

    Proactive management solutions, combined with public education, is necessary to care for land, water, and wildlife, and to provide the protections needed to maintain quality recreation opportunities. Active public engagement in crafting solutions is necessary to ensure land management decisions reflect a consensus and can be effectively implemented. A broad, landscape approach is necessary in order to meet both conservation and recreation needs. Collaborative decision-making is needed to decide which activities are best suited for various landscapes. 

  6. Science-based Decisions

    Physical, biological and social science must inform the management of outdoor recreation. Management decisions should be grounded in the best available scientific information to ensure the protection of natural areas and the sustainability of resources. That information is also necessary to maintain and enhance the quality of outdoor recreation experiences.  

  7. Stable Funding

    Long-term, stable and diverse funding sources are essential to protect the environment and support outdoor recreation. Land management agencies need adequate funding from federal, state, and local government sources, supplemented by new and non-traditional funding from private and nonprofit sources.​

Elements of a Successful Partnership

Purpose

Shared risk, shared vision and goals, shared reward.

Leadership

Shared leadership among respected individual(s) who are recognized and empowered by their own organizations.

Trust

Mutual trust by partners builds consensus and resolves conflicts.

Common Understanding

Creates clarity of the framework, culture, values and approach of all partners involved.

Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibility

Develop a clear understanding of individual members’ roles and responsibilities regarding the division of labor/resources.

Values

Shared “can do” values ensures that everyone is starting from the same page.

Active Learning and Development

Partnerships should be built by promoting an atmosphere of learning (knowledge and skill building), reflection, and continuous improvement (through monitoring and evaluation), to help improve partnership performance and outcomes.

Communication

Two-way communication should be shared at the start so that accessing all knowledge and information regarding partnership goals and needs exist.

Performance Management

Partners must demonstrate both accountability for the actions and ownership for the deliverables of the shared project(s).

Partnership

Become a Partner

Partnerships are a collaborative relationship between groups to work toward shared objectives through a mutually agreed upon division of labor and resources. A true partnership assumes shared risk and shared reward to ensure delivery of practical solutions on the ground and at the strategic level. 

    Why Partner with Colorado Parks and Wildlife?
    • Partners help extend CPW’s goals of outreach to families and community members.
    • Partners can help extend CPW’s goals of connecting people to Colorado’s outdoors and to conserving wildlife and habitat.
    • Partners help expand our capacity and reduce barriers to program participation by supporting park, district and region events including educational programs, skill building opportunities, and a myriad of other services.
    • Partners strengthen the public’s awareness about CPW.
    • Partners provide educational programs, skill building, and a myriad of other services.
    • Partners support park events, which include community building aspects of our work.
    • Partners often share in the planning, material, financial and workforce resources.
    • Partnerships can be flexible to fit our needs and defined for specific projects.
    What does the Partnership Process look like?

    1: Develop Awareness about Needs

    • Identify regional and park needs and gaps with colleagues
    • Share these gaps with potential partners

    2:  Explore Commonalities with Potential Partners

    • Identify essential partnership characteristics (see ‘Elements’ above)
    • Identify external factors, which may affect the partnership
    • Identify other projects, affiliations, and possible conflicting interests

    3: Formulate a Shared Vision

    • Identify potential programs/activities that will advance the vision
    • What does each partner expect from the partnership?
    • Specify the deliverables? (ex. money, staff time, materials, publicity)
    • What are the benefits of working together?
    • Identify other mutual potential partners

    4: Agree on Principle Components Including:

    • Objectives and outcomes
    • Implementation plan
    • Communication strategies and processes

    5: Get Commitment From Partners

    • We currently do not have an agency template for an MOU but the Partnership program is looking into this.

    6: Implementation of Projects

    • Continual communication to ensure project objectives are addressed throughout

    7: Evaluation of Projects

    • Occurs at specified intervals to ensure achievement of objectives
    Best Practices

    A Partnership is a win-win relationship where organizations work together to achieve goals that are meaningful to both of them.

    • What are CPW’s needs to successfully implement the project? This identifies potential actions and responsibilities of a partner.
    • What potential partner(s) could support this project?
    • What mutual benefits are there to getting this project done? Link to shared mission, vision and
    • common goals between the agency and the prospective partner(s).
    • Identify the Win-Win:
      • What are potential wins for selected partner organization(s)?
      • What are potential wins for CPW?

    Partnership Tips

    • Build partnerships through relationship and trust 
    • Know how to communicate your area, district, or park’s needs to potential partners
    • Understand the mission of local organizations and businesses and how they support our mission
    • Create shared objectives, risks and rewards
    • Agree on roles and responsibilities
    • Follow through on your commitments to the partnership
    • Resolve conflict quickly 
    • Set boundaries ... know when to say no
    • Say thank you often, as appreciation is everything.
    Barriers to Partnership

    Utilize this list to determine potential aspects of the Partnership that might be going awry. Once the challenge is identified, go back to the basics (planning document, process, tips, and elements listed above), and see if you can start that aspect of the Partnership again with more clarity. Is the Partnership reconcilable, or is just not the right fit?

    • One partner manipulates or dominates, or partners compete for the lead
    • Lack of clear purpose and inconsistent level of understanding purpose
    • Limited vision
    • Lack of understanding roles/responsibilities
    • Differences of philosophies and manners of working
    • Lack of commitment; unwilling participants
    • Unequal and/or unacceptable balance of power and control
    • Key interests and/or people missing from the partnership
    • Hidden agendas
    • Failure to communicate
    • Lack of evaluation or monitoring systems
    • Failure to learn
    • Financial and time commitments outweigh potential benefits
    • Lack of time for effective consultation

    Opportunities for Partners

    Woman using a trackchair
    Grant Programs

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife has several programs to help fund projects developed or led by outside (non-CPW) personnel or groups. Focus areas, eligibility requirements, matching fund requirements and other aspects vary for each program.

    Apply for a Grant Program
    Landscape of Sylvan Lake
    Partners in the Outdoor Conference

    The Partners in the Outdoors Conference is Colorado's foremost opportunity to cultivate common ground, explore best practices of partnering, and design collaborative solutions with diverse voices and stakeholders to conserve Colorado's outdoor heritage. The Partners in the Outdoors program brings together diverse interests from across the entire spectrum of the outdoors to advance and balance both outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado.

    Attend the Conference
    Woman at Fishers Peak State Park
    Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Grants

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado are collaborating to fund new and existing coalitions to join a statewide initiative working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water, and wildlife thrive while also providing for equitable access to quality outdoor recreation experiences.

    Apply for the Grant
    group of people with a cpw employee
    Colorado Outdoor Partnership

    Colorado Outdoor Partnership
    Coordinated by CPW, the Colorado Outdoor Partnership (CO-OP) is a statewide collaboration of organizations leading the way to ensure our private and public lands continue to support our wildlife, outdoor, agricultural heritage, and economic well-being for generations to come. The CO-OP follows the Colorado Outdoor Principles.

    Learn more

    Our Partners

    • Adventures With Daniel​
    • Americas for Conservation + the Arts
    • Angler's Covey
    • Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
    • Blackpackers
    • City of Durango
    • City of Trinidad, Office of Outdoor Recreation
    • Colorado Addicted Trailbuilders Society
    • Colorado Bass Federation "TBF"
    • Colorado Lottery
    • Colorado Natural Heritage Program, CSU
    • Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition
    • Colorado Parks and Recreation Association​
    • Colorado Public Health/Parks & Recreation Collaborative
    • Colorado Search and Rescue Association
    • Colorado Snowmobile Association
    • Colorado Trout Unlimited​
    • Colorado Voters for Animals
    • Colorado Wildlife Federation
    • Colorado Youth Corps Association
    • Colorado Yurt Company
    • Conservation Colorado
    • Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
    • Cuchara Mountain Park
    • Denver Safari Club International
    • DHM Design
    • Eagle Valley Land Trust
    • EcoFlight
    • Fishpond, Inc.
    • Four Corners Guides LLC
    • Fourpoints Nutrition Bar
    • Fremont Adventure Recreation
    • Friends of Castlewood Canyon State Park
    • Friends of Colorado State Parks
    • Friends of Mueller State Park
    • Greater Arkansas River Nature Association
    • Heart-J Center for Experiential Learning
    • Independence Pass Foundation
    • Shadow From The Sky, LLC
    • Something Independent
    • Southern Colorado Junior Bass Club
    • Indigenous Roots LLC
    • Jefferson County Open Space
    • Larimer County Conservation Corps
    • Live Deck​ers Colorado
    • Mayfly Outdoors
    • Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative
    • National Parks Conservation Association
    • National Wild Turkey Federation
    • National Wildlife Federation​
    • Pebble In Your Shoe​
    • People and Pollinators Action Network
    • Purgatoire Watershed Partnership
    • Raptor Education Foundation
    • Rocky Mountain Innovation Lab​
    • Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative
    • San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
    • San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
    • Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance
    • Southwest Conservation Corps
    • Tapis Associates, Inc.
    • Teen INC
    • The Rocky Mountain Innovation Lab
    • Trails Preservation Alliance
    • Trusted Photographer, LLC
    • Ullr Provides​
    • ​UpaDowna​
    • Urban Redesign LLC
    • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
    • Wild Aware
    • Wildridge Trail Coalition
    • Yampa Valley Adventure Center
    • Z Double B
    Track chair at Staunton State Park.

    Funding Partners

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife has several programs to help fund projects developed or led by outside (non-CPW) personnel or groups. Focus areas, eligibility requirements, matching fund requirements and other aspects vary for each program.

    Find out more
    Black-footed ferret release.

    Partners in Conservation

    With Colorado’s abundant natural resources, we use different tools to conserve wisely. Colorado Parks and Wildlife applies conservation principles to plan ahead and work efficiently in our conservation efforts.

    Find out more

    Contact Us

    Are you ready to collaborate on an initiative?  Do you have a volunteer event or fundraising opportunity that you want to get off the ground? Please know that staff manage responsibilities for large geographic areas and it is possible your request to partner directly with CPW may not be possible. We do our best to accommodate your request or direct you to a resource that can. ​