2024 Annual Report
Colorado Outdoor Education Center
Colorado Outdoor Education Center
Having recently returned from the Sanborn Camps movie tour—maps have been on my mind. We rely on maps in many ways every day to get us where we need to go. But it’s not just road maps (or Siri) that guide us.
At The Nature Place, groups use maps for orienteering hikes strengthening communication and leadership skills they then carry back to their teams at work. Sanborn summer staff rely on both digital and paper maps to navigate campers up 14,000-foot peaks, and horses across mountain valleys, and through aspen and pine forests. Students at High Trails Outdoor Education Center learn how to use a compass to find their way in the woods, practice reading topographic maps and discover new territories of confidence within themselves
Beyond the trails, we’ve been mapping out the future in other ways. This year, we worked with a web designer to map out a new website. We collaborated with architects and contractors to lay the foundations for new buildings and design a new treehouse. The National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has provided maps to help guide COEC’s mitigation efforts.
We are fortunate to follow the “map” that Sandy and Laura left us, continuing in the direction of their vision. Just as maps evolve—adding new routes and features—we embrace change, whether it’s a necessary detour or an exciting new path that leads to creative programming. With your support, we continue to map out the future to meet the needs of our campers, students, and guests.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Marable Executive Director, COEC
Big Spring, High Trails, and Sanborn Junior welcomed 624 campers from forty-two states and 8 countries in 2024, our 76th season. In addition, 150 staff members joined us from across the country and the world to provide leadership, enthusiasm, and fun for our community. Together we climbed 19 different mountains with 70 different groups, spent hundreds of hours in the saddle exploring the ranch and the forest service lands to our west, and backpacked for miles in beautiful country including the Continental Divide. We tubed on the South Platte River, canoed at 11-Mile Reservoir, climbed the rocks at Wild Goat Mountain, camped out under starry skies, cooked s’mores over the campfire and shared wonderful adventures.
We made new friends from many places, built our resilience and independence, and practiced team-building and collaboration skills. We learned something about ourselves and about living with others. And we sang, laughed, experienced joy and renewed our connections with the natural world.
“I am just so grateful to have my daughter experience another summer at Sanborn that it brings me to tears. There are only a few short years in our life where we get to be able to be free enough with our time and schedules to go someplace as magical as Sanborn for the summer. Then college and growing up ensues. I look back at my own memories of Sanborn and wish I could go back and have “just one more summer”.
624 Campers Shared Adventures
We can not always be certain what lies ahead, but I am certain that my daughter will have “another summer”; marked by mountain valley Hamilton sing-a-longs, majestic sunsets at vespers, early morning mountain skyscapes, dusty boots and a full heart. I have never received such a gift in my life, and I am so happy for it. Thank you again for being there for me, for her, and for all that you do. There is no other community like the one you have created and we are lucky to be a part of it.”
2,050 Students Found Their Special Spots
Since its’ pilot programs in 1967, more than 100,000 students, 5,000 teachers, and 15,000 high school-aged counselors have attended the High Trails Outdoor Education programs. In 2024, HTOEC served 2,050 students, 100 teachers and 300 high-school counselors from 41 schools and 17 districts across Colorado. We continue to honor our 40-year partnership with District 20 in Colorado Springs, hosting most of their sixthgrade students in the fall. In addition, we have students from Douglas County, Jefferson County, Summit County, Manitou Springs and District 11 in Colorado Springs in the fall and in the spring.
Students continue to discover that learning is fun in our unique experiential curriculum where the classes role-play prospectors, homesteaders, trappers, woodsmen and other local history groups in order to learn earth science, natural history, forest ecology, local history, and other subjects. They also practice social and emotional skills like team-building, resilience, and independence while living with peers and nurturing counselors. Evening programs such as an Interbarn festival, cookouts, night hikes, and a folk dance add to the experience.
“At High Trails students were able to connect their learning through history and science. They were also able to have a better understanding of the environment that they live in and shares with others.”
- 6th Grade Teacher
“Today, nature made me feel calm and quiet. Nowadays it is really hard to find time and places that can still experience that.”
- HTOEC Student
2,037 Guests Developed Teambuilding & Leadership Skills
The Nature Place first opened its doors in 1978 and has been providing world-class team-building and leadership training to educational, governmental, and corporate clients for 46 years. It is also an ideal location for reunions of all types. In addition to modern, attractive housing, a large comfortable dining hall and lodge, and wellfurnished conference rooms, our state-of-the art High and Low Ropes Challenge Course, large telescope and miles of hiking trails provide a unique setting for activities of all types.
In 2024, more than 2,037 guests in 62 different programs joined us for residential experiences at The Nature Place. These included eleven programs offered in partnership with the University of Denver and two provided for the faculty of Metropolitan State University. Administrators and faculty of Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools were also frequent clients. FMI, a training firm which works with leaders in the construction industry brought more than ten groups and the American Leadership Forum, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to join and strengthen diverse leaders to better serve the common good, came twice. As always, our guests provided outstanding reviews of the program, the food, the facility, and of our warm and welcoming staff.
“Everything was amazing. The food was great, and I appreciated the allergies being accommodated. The facilitators for the outdoor activities were great. They enhanced the experience so much, making it feel safe and enjoyable, even when going outside one’s comfort zone.”
- The Nature Place Guest
COEC Annual Fund Donors
We are grateful to these alums, staff, parents and friends of camp who gave generously to our Annual Fund and the Sanborn 70 Capital Campaign in 2024 and through February 1, 2025.
MOUNT ANTERO
$50,000 and Above
American Endowment Foundation
Vergi Geurian and Josh Geurian
Pershing Charitable Foundation
Bill Polk
Ken Wallace
PIKES PEAK
$20,000—$49,999
Benson Family Foundation
Kiersa Benson Wright and Eric Benson
F. Martin Brown Trust
Lauren and Roger Cameron
Cathy Canter Jennings
Lakota Foundation
Peter and Karen Brine
Bill and Heather Macy
A BLUFF
$10,000--$19,999
Anonymous
Colorado Restaurant Foundation
Estate of William Comley
Mia Fisher and William Pollack
In memory of Angela Fisher
Annie Garretson
In memory of Dave Garretson
jfmaddox foundation
Toby Utterback
John and Linda Ward O’Hara
Rosso Family Foundation
John Rosso and Sarah Rosso McCaughey
In memory of Abbey L. Rosso PhD and her passion for the outdoors and outdoor education
Anne and Peter Stalker
In memory of Luke Stalker
Bud Wobus
In memory of Sherry Whitcher Wobus
FISH CREEK
$5,000-$9,999
Anonymous
Allen Family Foundation
Andy, John, and Phil Allen
Bill Anderson and Family
Jana and Steve Bohlen
In memory of Fred Bohlen
Susan White Burgamy
Carney Family Charitable Foundation
Kris and Colleen Carney Courtney
Robert and Whitney Chandler
Mark and Elizabeth Dubinsky Daoust
Marybeth Ezaki
In memory of Bob Bucholz
Hank and Pat Hazleton Hemingway
jfmaddox foundation
Sarah Utterback Sanders
Hugh and Arianne O’Kane
Ted and Wendy Ramsey
Jim “Herc” Roth
Jane Sanborn
Bill and Karen Schaphorst
Frank and Victoria Williams
LITTLE BLUE
$2,000-$4,999
Anonymous
Anonymous
In memory of Jeff Roberts
John and Diane Allen
In memory of all the old camp dogs
Big Spring Alums
Tobey Jackson, Rod Lucero and Julian
Rodriguez, Kevin “K-Rob” Robinson, Pat Malone
Randy Brown, Marianne Brown Rooney and Susan Brown McCoy
Patrick Coleman
Margot Schlegel Cromack
Deb Donnelley
Donohue Family Foundation
Claire Donohue
Fab Five
Julie Micou Cerf
Kathy Yanuck Wenger
Lisa Schneck
Kathy Medlock Tuteur
Mary “Bunny” Porter
Colby Fewster
The Foster Family Private Foundation
Nancy and Mark Foster
Helen Clay Frick Foundation
Laura Jenney Roe
John and Lolly Gepson
Rich Hamilton
John H. Harmon, Jr. and Jane H.
Harmon Foundation
Cathy Gepson Burnham
Jessica Thurmond Jurgensen
Janet Mueller
In memory of Max Barry
Kent and Sarah Zwinger Roberts
In memory of Sandy and Laura
Jeff Schlueter
Chris and Betsy Shears
Stevan Simich, Jr.
Ralph L. Smith Empowerment Fund
Laura Douthat Donnelly
Peter Thurston
TWC Foundation
Dan Warner, Marley and Jennifer Warner Hodgson
Kathy Waters
Linda Van Winkle
SUNDAY ROCKS
$1,000--$1,999
Anonymous (2)
Steve and Katy Smith Abbott
Peter and Toshia Barnett
In memory of Bob Bucholz
Ann Blankenship
Ken and Robin Boger
Kristen and Jamie Browne
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Bruce and Jane Porter Burton
Sam Carkhuff, Sr.
Cindy Fair Crandell
Pat DeCoursey Cercos
Charlotte Ramsey Chaney
The Colorado Trust
Lisa Rudolph Cushman
Terry Day
Tony Delf
Emanuels Family Foundation
Tim and Beth Rusling Emanuels
Trip Friendly
Rob and Connie MacWilliams Friesen
Ann and Bill Gatto
Frank Gerrity Charitable Trust
Peter and Marie Gerrity
Pete and Mary Glasser
The Green Family
In memory of Howard Benjamin Green
Ward and Carol Swartout Klein
Tom and Sharon Koch
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Phil LaFortune
Lewis Family Fund of Jackson Hole
Jason and Jean Armour Lewis
The Lewis Foundation
Hal Lewis and Blair Lewis Williams
Paul Lhevine
Donald and Marcia Liebich
Pat and Libby Hamilton Malone
Katharine “Kitty” Mann
Levi and Elizabeth Rundle Marable
The Ellen Wills Martin Foundation
Liza Martin Chapman-Memory
J.Landis & Sharon Martin Family
Foundation
Andrew and Sarah Martin Stettner
James McCormick
Bill and Edie Miller
In honor of all the great things our kids and grandkids learned at camp
Gary Missner
In memory of Ben Northcutt
Gary Mostow
Mike and Carolyn Schiele Murray
David O’Hara
David, Chris, and Matt Osborn
Robyn Rissman
Barbara Rowley and Taylor Middleton
Lisa Schneck
Bill Schreiber Charitable Trust
In honor of Jim “Herc” Roth
Connie Morton Seay
Nan Shiffler
Erik Simchuk
Mr. and Mrs. Warren M. Strauss
Terry Talbot
In honor of Bud Wobus
Seaton and Janet Thedinger
Keith Williams
In memory of Ben Northcutt
HIGH TOR
$500-$999
Anonymous
Annie Shelton Anderson
Tom Arnot
In memory of Howard Green
Rajendra and Kacie Sanborn Awasthi
Jarrold Bachmann
Jonathan Bedway
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Dana Breitenstein
George Brown
The Callahan Family
Scott Campbell Landers and Mimi Carnal
In honor of Boyd, Landers, and Mary Carnal
Helen Coltea
In honor of Barbara Rowley
John, Lucy, and Sarah Covington
Taylor Crossen
Diana Squibb Devens
Taylor Emanuels
Tom Eschenroeder
Gus Euston
Hannah Farr
In honor of Barbara Rowley
John Fernie
Kent and Susan Henson Flury
Jerre and David Fussell
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Bobbi and Jonathan Gilbert
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Wendy Gordon
Chris and Suzanne Gepson Hagen
Nancy Higgins
In memory of Chris Higgins
Forever Sanborn
Deanna Womack Hollon
Emily and Joseph Horan
Jeff Horner
Christian Keesee
Julie Klinghoffer
Mark and Kathy Ryden Larson
In honor of Jane Sanborn
In memory of Sandy and Laura Sanborn
Sarah and Laura Legett
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Carly Liebich
Denis and Amy Davis Lunne
In memory of Susan Kay Davis Eliser
Susan and Terry MacQuiddy
Al Malinowski
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Katie and Peter McKee
Phil McKnight
In memory of Sherry Wobus and Kristin
McLain
Betty and Jerry McLain
In memory of Kristin McLain
Elizabeth Chandler McRae
In honor of Barbara Rowley
John Mengel
Sarah Mitchell
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Charles and Christopher Nunziato
Darcie Swenarton Peet
In memory of Sherry Wobus
Kristin Mueller Pillsbury
In memory of Max Barry
The Quaker Hill Foundation
Helen Stevens
Charlie and Muffy Rice
Matt and Ariella Randle Rogge
Nancy Rodkin Rotering
In honor of Jane 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.
Jim “Herc” Roth
In memory of Lou Killackey
Suzanne Samardich
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Will Strauss
Kathleen Struble
Stupp Bros Bridge & Iron Co Foundation
Philip and Will Stupp
Felix N. Williams III
Lyndon Wells
Dorothy “Sam” Yewer
In honor of Jane Sanborn
B-BLUFF
$250-$499
Davis Ammons
In memory of Sandy and Laura
Josiah Barron-Ramirez
Carolyn Mozley Beiser
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bloch
Deborah Guiher Chamblee
Will Coleman
Ed Decourreges
Lynn and Ira Dubinsky
In honor of Lucy, Annie, and Phoebe
Daoust
Stacy and James Ehrlich
Jenny and Tim Ewing
In honor of Linda and John O’Hara
Kerri Fabozzi
In honor of Barbara Rowley
Oliver Fisher
Richard Hankin
Steve Heifetz
Budge Hickel
Kathy Kennedy and the Vernon Family
Inner Kingdom
Kroger Foundation
Mike Lawrence
In memory of Ward Lawrence
Robert Lebby
Steve, Betsey and Elizabeth Madden
Michael Maisonpierre
Andy Manale
Georgina Bliss Marshall
On behalf of James and Isabelle
Marshall
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Phil Marthens
Bonnie and Mark Miller-McLemore
In honor of Chris and Sarah Ulizio
Tina Moschetti McNew
Allison Shutz Moskow
In honor of Sue Springer
Gwen Roberts Oelerich
Bob and Rachel Perlmutter
Julie Richardson
Jennifer Rohrer
Nancy Rothermel
David and Marina Schmidt
Bob Schott
In honor of Tent 10 ½
Mark Shelton
Helen Stevens
Kate Stevens
Colorado Outdoor Education Center
Jim and Caroline Tharp
Sarah and Chris “B.C.” Miller
McLemore Ulizio
Andy Weed
Krista White
Rick and Raye Wilson
In memory of Matthew D. Wilson
Elaine and Howard Woerner
Peter Wood
WITCHER ROCKS
Anonymous
Anonymous
In memory of Dr. & Mrs. F. Rodman
Landon
Misty Althizer
In honor of John Gay
Lindsey Anderson
Lewis and Susan Mackin Anderson
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Peter “Chris” Anderson
Linda Arms
In memory of Bob Arms
Tim Baier
Iris Bailey
Paisley Ballard
Melinda Barman
Rachel and Steven Bartkoski
Tom Beckmann
In honor of Bud Wobus
Jean Carlson Benkert
Anita Blau
In honor of Paul Lhevine
Patricia Bliss
Pamela and John Blythe
John Blumenthal
Christopher Bonilla
Carter Bowe
Peter and Karla Breitenstein
Jackie Briggs
Carrie Brown-Wolf
Gay Bruner
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Maxx Byerly
Landers Carnal, Jr.
Keiko Carter
Rob Catterton and Gwynn O’Gara
Cathy Clark
Jane Clayton
Joe Coates
Rebecca Friendly Coccari
Zane Covington
Julia Coyne
In honor of Lyn Doyon
Tom Currier
M.K. Daniher
Cassidy Dickson
Maddy Dietrich
Drew Donaldson
Margot Salmela Dorion
Ned and Debbie Douglas
Alexandra and Breck Dunbar
Alex Eaton
In memory of Sandy and Laura Simms Ehrlich
Greg Elder and Suzanne Jones
Micaiah Elsts
Julie Hess Farnham
Rich and Sheri Bone Fedorchak
Monica McDougall Flegg
Terry Flynn
Martha Hartzell Fosdick
In memory of Mike Fosdick
Duke Francisco
Charlie and Betsy Friedrichs
Colorado Outdoor Education Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates three major programs on its 6000acre 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. All donations are tax deductible
Bart Gill
Ed and Patsy Roby Gotfredson
Carla and Pat Grant
Diedre Gray
Lindsay Coleman Groat
Spencer Hankin
Karen and Greg Harman
In honor of Blakely Harman
Susie Frazier Healey
Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Marilyn Sedlak
Henderson
In memory of Seth David Henderson
Linda Henn
Kim Bean Higgins
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Jan Wells Hooker
In memory of Andrew Hooker
Lisa Prentice Hughes
Gretchen Hund
Will Jessup
Antoinette and Raymond Jewell
Carlie Johnson
Laura Johnson
Peter Johnson
Jennifer Ball Jones
Dale Jordan III
On behalf of Susan Davis Jordan
Janice Kaplan
Barry Schultz King
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Don Kirby
Charles Kralovec
Kathy Miller Krogh
In memory of Kristen Foseid Robbins
Jack Kussmaul
Frank and Suds Kyger
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Ayo Labode
In memory of Susan Macy Jarvinen
Max Lain
Emily and Rich “Wally” Lambrecht
Betty Lehman
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Larry Lehman
Alex Levering
Tracy Lenehan
Diane Lillo
In memory of Ben Northcutt
Jim Maddox
Dr. and Mrs. H.H. Maertens
Francie Marbury
Maggie McCoy
Andrea McCrady
Grace McDevitt
Jay and Jane Metcalf
On behalf of Emily and Linnea Metcalf
In memory of Bob Bucholz and Roger Sanborn
Ethan Miller
Renee Miller
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Kathy and John Mollett
Agnes Mortensen
Susan Uptegrove Myrick
In honor of Jerry McLain
Brooke Newsom
Delaney Nigma
Lauren Penneys
Maggie Percival
Diane Fisher Perkinson
Dave Perry
The Pigott Family
Arden Reed
Karl and Marty Friedrichs Remsen
Meghan Rixey
Amy Roberts
Sally Roberts
Madeline Rowley
Kathy Ruekberg
In memory of Joe Ruekberg
Cheryl and Seth Rundle
Tully Sandbom
Priscilla Dickinson Sayeed
In memory of Sandy and Laura
Nancy Schell
Judy Smith Schoedel
Drew Schulte
Charles Schweighauser
In memory of Annette Scallia
Phillip and Lindsay McKean Scott
Laura and Kyle Shannon
In honor of Ariella Rogge
Mark Shelton
Anne and Emily Burnham Shingler
Adam Siegel
Chris Skan
Andy Smith
Quin Smith
Ben Sperry
Allyson Stack
Tom and Jacqueline Stauffer
Gabby Staker
Andrew Starr
In memory of Max Barry
Lu Sultze
In memory of Nancy Born
Whitney Symington
Charley Tharp
Betsy Tucker
In honor of Jane Sanborn
Judy Vaughan
In memory of Bill Comley
Alex Ulasewich
Sara Weaver
Susi Weed and Terry Doolittle
Ruth Wells
Uli Welsch
Jim and Marysue Wendt
Pamela Green Wheeler
Abby Wiberg
Heidi Wigand-Nicely
Mimi Lays Wright
Dennis Young
Mary Mac Zeigler
Colorado Outdoor Education Center PO Box 167
Florissant, CO 80816
www.coec.info