COEC Annual Report 2022

2022 Annual Report

“Because in a sense, it’s the coming back, the return which gives meaning to the going forth. We really don’t know where we’ve been until we’ve come back to where we were. Only, where we were may not be as it was because of who we’ve become. Which is, after all, why we left.”

My high school Spanish teacher had this quote hanging in her classroom and it has continued to resonate with me over the years. In researching the quote’s provenance, it appears that it came from the television show Northern Exposure, making it even more relevant (ie: remote Alaskan wilderness…remote Colorado wilderness…). I have reflected on this quote many times throughout my life, often during times of transition, like when I returned from studying abroad; or when I returned home from college each summer; or as I have encouraged others to take risks like finding a new job, moving to a different state, or traveling a unique path.

The photo on the cover, on the back inside and on the back cover of this publication are all pictures of campers returning. They are returning from new adventures and time spent in the natural world with friends, returning from challenges and successes, returning from doing hard things that teach resilience and perseverance. They are returning from learning about others and themselves and their ability to collectively support each other and work together toward a common goal.

As campers and staff members return to camp after long trips and then return home to their families, schools, universities, communities and jobs, the true impact of the camp experience sets in. They feel different. They feel grounded and more confident, competent and connected. It is the return after a summer spent at camp that allows us to have a new filter and new focus. It is this return that has set so many of us on our current trajectories in life. After all, that is why people come to camp, to the Nature Place and to HTOEC: to create meaningful experiences that will shape, shift and help define their perspectives on and of the world.

We are committed to providing this experience to future generations by continuing to improve our programs, facilities, and by growing and endowing our scholarship funds. We are committed to making each individual’s return to and from Sanborn, HTOEC, and The Nature Place as memorable, impactful and transformational as ever.

We are celebrating Sanborn’s 75th summer in August and we are looking forward to sharing the return, the coming home to camp with so many of you during the reunion. We know our paths are diverse and unique and the common thread of our experiences at COEC have allowed us, and will allow others in the future to return, to keep coming home to this place.

Sincerely

Elizabeth Marable Exectuive Director, COEC

703 Campers Shared Adventures

2,325 Guests Developed Teambuilding and Leadership Skills

3,041 Students Found Their Special Spots

because of you...

You all helped him face what he considers the hardest thing he’s ever done (his words) and succeed. He didn’t just get through it or survive though, he THRIVED! He flourished! He had a ball. He has learned the most important lesson in life, that he can face any challenge and trying something new will lead to so many wonders and experiences. To his counselors, trip leaders, and really all of you that make the community the joyful and supportive place it is: Thank you! Thank you!

- Parent of a Big Spring Camper “ ”

The High Ropes Course was a moving and memorable experience for me. I am now more open to stretching myself and am working on creating a safe environment to challenge and try new things with my team at work.

- TNP Client

The Annual Program Excellence and Greatest Needs Funds have allowed us to continue the important work of wildfire mitigation, to complete our new High Ropes Course, to purchase an electric vehicle and add bikes to the camps’ mountain bike program.

because of you...

After almost a year in planning and construction, the new Big Spring Health Center was open for our Second Session arrivals. And what an improvement it has been! It was funded by donations to the Sanborn Tomorrow Capital Campaign with especially generous gifts from Roger and Lauren Cameron.

Our other big purchase in 2022 was the 207 acres of land near Potts Spring. This property is surrounded by COEC, and although its availability on the market was unexpected, we knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure our borders and gain access to this beautiful land with its open pine forest, stunning meadows, rocky bluffs, and modern home. We were able to make the down payment due to an incredibly generous gift from the estate of Bob Bucholz in 2016.

Because of You...

* $217,400 provided in scholarships for campers to attend Sanborn Western Camps

* 57 campers received either a partial or a full scholarship in 2022

* $28,750 provided in scholarships for HTOEC

* 19 schools received scholarships for HTOEC

* $5,000 provided for TNP Outdoor Afro

“ ”

A view like no other and the feeling of freedom from the regular world we live in. Absolutely breathtaking. From the crisp mountain air, to the simple peace and mellowness in the forest. It’s unlike anything.

- HTOEC 6th Grade Student

We have a ROBUST scholarship program

2022 Financial Overview: Colorado Outdoor Education Center

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your support. Because Of You, 2022 was an extremely active year of facility and programmatic improvements. Due to the uncertainty caused by COVID in 2020 and 2021, we had deferred major construction projects and program purchases, and it was wonderful to be able to once again focus on improvements that will enhance our mission.

In addition to the facility and program improvements highlighted in this report, your gifts to the Annual Fund and the interest generated from both the Sanborn 70 Scholarship Endowment and the Jerry McLain Scholarship Endowment helped us increase our scholarship funding in 2022 by almost $100,000. The scholarships we are able to give allow us to continue to deepen our commitment to enriching the diversity of our community.

Our Sanborn Tomorrow Capital Campaign, which began in 2018-19, is in its final stage with 90% of our pledges now completed. Our original campaign goal was $3,500,000 and you exceeded our expectations by donating over $4,000,000. The impact of these thoughtful gifts can be seen throughout the property at Big Spring, High Trails and The Nature Place—you have made a difference!

As campaign gifts have been completed, annual fund contributions have increased significantly, and we are looking ahead to projects we already have on the drawing board. In 2023, we will continue with our wildfire mitigation work, and begin rebuilding the BS washhouses. Without your support, none of this would be possible.

As always, we are able to cover all of our operational expenses with the revenue generated from our programs. This practice allows your charitable gifts to directly impact scholarship recipients, major renovations to our aging facilities, and programmatic purchases that enhance the quality and the long-term sustainability of our programs.

Because of you, we have entered 2023, our 75th year, in an extremely strong position and are looking ahead to our next 75 years. Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!

Sincerely,

Jane Sanborn Director of Development

Anonymous--2

Andrew Anderson

Usha Balakrishnan

Ethan and Erica Billingsley

John W. and Ellen Buchanan

Cathy Gepson Burnham

Zak Cannard

Curt and Lisa Chase

Gabriela and Bogdan Cherascu

Russell Cohen

Eva and Adam Cole

Craig Coleman

Sanborn Tomorrow Gifts in Memory of Jeff Roberts

Delta Dental of Michigan

Jean Farnlof

Susan Feusier

George Friedman

Terry and Carolyn Houts Gilbert

Dave and Bev Goebel

Lawrence and Valisa Hanlon

Jim and Heather Hauswirth

Stephen and Deborah Hays

Jolene and Marvin Johnston

Theodore and Joan Kanatas

Gina Kastel

Denali Club

$500,000--$999,999

Ken Wallace

Kilimanjaro Club

$250,000-499,999

The Cameron Family Foundation

RogerandLaurenCameron

Mt. Elbert Club

$150,000--$249,999

Mia Fisher & William Pollack

InmemoryofAngelaFisher

La Plata Club

$50,000--$99,999

Anonymous

Barb Rowley,Taylor Middleton, Anna and Kate Middleton

InhonorofJaneSanborn

Mt. Antero Club

$20,000--$49,999

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh O’Kane

InhonorofJerryMcLain

Richard and Mary Lea Kruse

James Lane

Lance Lange

Jean Armour Lewis

Pat and Libby Malone

Elizabeth Marable

Brenda McHenry

Matt McKinney

Jerry and Betty McLain

Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe Law

Kathy Osborn

Polly Pagliai

Gary and Ruthann Papke

Dave Perry

Tomeka Peterson

William and Doris Preucil

Douglas Prochnow

Dave and Vicki Purdum

Will and Samantha Renner

Don and Cheryl Reynolds

Larry and Barbara Roberts

Ariella Rogge

Jim Roth

Paula and Omer Sanan

Jane Sanborn

Roger and Mary Simpson

Jim Spaanstra

Thomas and Marian Stumpf

Suzanne Summerwill and James Flitz

Charley Tharp

Veronica “Ronnie” Thomas

Chris and Sarah Ulizio

Howard Ullman

Cheri Viner-Lynch

Stephen and Sue Wolken

Deb and Rich Wretman

Dennis Yatras

We are incredibly grateful to the following alums who continued to make generous donations honoring their ongoing pledges to the Sanborn Tomorrow Capital Campaign in 2022. Many, many other alums have donated or fulfilled their pledges to the Capital Campaign. Thank you.

Quandary Peak Club

$10,000—$19,999

Steve and Katy Smith Abbott

Lisa Rudolph Cushman Family

In memory of Sandy and Laura “The Fab Five”

JulieMicouCerf,Mary“Bunny”Porter

LisaSchneck,KathyMedlockTuteur, KathyYanuckWenger

Doug and Kay Seessel Rawlings

Bud Wobus

InmemoryofSherryWhitcherWobus

Mt. Princeton Club

$5,000--$9,999

Jake, Olivia, Noah & Zoe Colley

Rob and Connie McWilliams

Friesen

Levi & Elizabeth Rundle Marable

Allison Shutz Mostow

InhonorofJaneSanborn

Matt and Ariella Randle Rogge

InhonorofJaneSanborn

Sandra and Denny Weber

Mt. Belford Club

$2,500--$4,999

Anne Shingler

Mt. Oxford Club

$1,000-$2,499

Bill and Amy Sawyer Daniher

Virginia Gillispie

InhonorofJaneSanborn

Judy and Roger Proffitt

Mark Shelton

InmemoryofPatsyandJohnShelton

Jessie Spehar

Pikes Peak Club

$500--$999

Anonymous

InmemoryofSamJenkins

Michael Heath

Peggy Seessel

Additional Donor

Gary Missner

Forever Sanborn

It is possible to make a tax deductible gift to Colorado Outdoor Education Center through beneficiary designation in a will, 401k or similar plans, or life insurance policies. If you have done so or desire to do so, please let us know so that we can make you a member of “Forever Sanborn,” a group of donors who have included COEC in their estate planning.

Colorado Outdoor Education Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates three major programs on its 6000-acre property near Florissant, CO. These programs are Sanborn Western Camps (Big Spring and High Trails), High Trails Outdoor Education Center, and The Nature Place Conference Center.