Colorado National Monument Association: 60 Years Supporting The Heart Of The World
Photos courtesy of Colorado National Monument Association
National Parks and Monuments are among the most treasured places in our land, and Colorado National Monument is one of our state’s most spectacular landscapes.
A geological wonder that spans 32 square miles to the south of Grand Junction and Fruita, the Monument was founded in 1911. Describing the park’s red rock canyons and pinyon-juniper forests, Johanna van Waveren, the executive director of the Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA), calls it “the heart of the world.”
The Monument is beloved by visitors and locals alike. For 60 years, CNMA has channeled this love into supplementary support for the Monument, funding activities including the Junior Ranger program, seasonal staff, trail maintenance, historic preservation and more. With this milestone birthday, CNMA aims to raise awareness of its mission and activities as the National Park Service’s (NPS) official nonprofit and philanthropic partner at Colorado National Monument.
NPS cooperating organizations have a long history, going back to 1922 when it was already apparent that federal funding would not be enough to sustain preservation and programming. In 1964, a nonprofit was founded to support both the Monument and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. In 1974, the organization narrowed its focus and changed its name to Colorado National Monument Association.
In honor of 60 years, CNMA is celebrating with a concert series, a beer release and the opening of the new Saddlehorn Amphitheater and trail, which had fallen into disrepair. CNMA raised $700,000 to fully-fund a redesigned structure with comfortable seating for 200, updated audio-visual equipment and a wheelchair-accessible trail to the venue. According to van Waveren, the amphitheater is designed to be a community cultural resource and a setting for ranger programs, astronomy presentations, concerts and special events.
Because CNMA’s mission is focused on supporting the Monument financially, they’ve also set a goal of raising $60,000 this year. This effort includes a fundraiser on September 25, 2024. Tickets are $150 for dinner, drinks and a jazz concert by Hot House West, a band from Salt Lake City. Purchase tickets at coloradonma.org. This is also where donations of any size can be made.
From September 29-October 6, CNMA hosts the 2024 Monuments and Canyons Plein Air invitational, with paintings exhibited on October 4-6 at the Carlson Vineyards downtown Grand Junction tasting room. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will also benefit CNMA.
Finally, it’s worth highlighting a new program at the Monument focused on resiliency and the outdoors. With CNMA support, the Monument created a guidebook to teach resiliency skills and hired the first NPS resiliency ranger in the country. The new ranger works with local schools, Colorado Mesa University and the Veterans’ Administration to provide programming to students and veterans.
Originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of Spoke+Blossom.