The Colorado Trail Foundation Outdoor Workshops

CTF Education Initiatives

Education is a long-standing tradition of The Colorado Trail Foundation. For more than ten years, Gudy Gaskill organized and managed formal education classes, most recently at our Colorado Trail Foundation cabin in the San Juan Mountains. 2009 was Gudy's final year to manage this program as she needs to focus her energies on family and home. We can't thank Gudy enough for the tremendous positive impact she made on The Colorado Trail and the Foundation and we wish her well including each summer when she'll be at home instead of the cabin.

In honor of Gudy, The Colorado Trail Foundation is making arrangements to continue the tradition of learning at the CTF cabin. We are working with potential partner organizations who will hopefully continue to hold classes, probably for college students, in the spectacular mountain setting.

Education is part of our CTF mission. There are many other, less formal educational aspects of The Colorado Trail and Foundation. Much of what we do in maintaining and providing The Colorado Trail is educational. The following are some examples of the educational components of what we do:

Volunteer Trail Crew:

Training on trail work crews – trail work techniques, tools, etc

Instruction for camping and cooking

Handbooks educate leaders and other volunteers on construction methods and more

Health and safety refreshers on volunteer crews

Leave no Trace principles and low-impact ethics

Volunteer Trail Adopters:

Handbooks and other forms guide Adopters and their helper

On-Trail learning guided by the CTF is a big part of Adopt-A-Trail

Trail Users:

Educate Colorado Trail users via the CTF office

Resource networking – the CTF links people with questions to knowledgeable parties for answers

Publications:

Author extensive publications which assist Trail users

CT Guidebook is a comprehensive educational resource about The Colorado Trail, backpacking, low-impact, geology, natural ecosystems, etc.

CT Databook is a pocket-sized guide assisting users of the Trail

CT Map Book includes the topo maps and GPS reference desired by many users

Tread Lines newsletters educate and inform Friends of The Colorado Trail

CTF website is another source of instruction with some 70,000 unique visitors annually

Brochures educate the public about the CT and the CTF

CTF presentations, slide shows, and library displays educate Trail users and others about planning excursions on the CT

Mother Nature - CTF volunteer management and Trail preservation helps people learn about the natural world, mountain ecosystems, trip planning, route finding, map and compass, weather, safety and wildlife

Volunteer Education and Accomplishment:

CTF volunteer trail work helped shape volunteerism in the Rocky Mountain region and helped other organizations begin utilizing volunteers to build other trails, enhance open spaces and accomplish in the great outdoors

By preserving The Colorado Trail and managing the tremendous volunteer stewardship, much of what The Colorado Trail Foundation does is educational. We are proud of this tradition, thanks in part to Gudy Gaskill and many dedicated souls like her. Education is part of our mission.