Outdoor Wilderness Lab

Greetings supporters of OWL from Mesa County Valley School District 51 to Mesa County News to City of Grand Junction and Colorado Parks and Wildlife!!! For the first time in 6 years, OWL is hiring a Maintenance Generalist Position! Please share with anyone interested! Apply here: https://www.applitrack.com/d51schools/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=owl&AppliTrackJobId=12265&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

Great Work Colorado Canyons Association!!!

Big news for western Colorado’s public lands! 🎉

The Bureau of Land Management has officially acquired the Escalante Ranch, a 4,000+ acre inholding within the Dominguez‑Escalante National Conservation Area. This incredible conservation win protects miles of canyon, river, wildlife habitat, and cultural history while expanding public access to one of the most spectacular landscapes in western Colorado.

The acquisition was made possible through funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with key support from Great Outdoors Colorado, The Conservation Fund, and the Bureau of Land Management working together to bring this land into public ownership.

For us at Colorado Canyons Association, this is a huge win for conservation, recreation, and the future of our National Conservation Lands. We’re excited to continue educating the community and stewarding these landscapes alongside our federal partners.

As visitation grows, we can all help protect Escalante Canyon by keeping a few things in mind:

🌿 Take care of the canyon
Stay on established routes, use pit toilets where available, and pack out all waste from campsites and recreation areas.

🚜 Be mindful of neighboring landowners
Please respect posted private property and agricultural areas near access points, and drive slowly when traveling in and out of the canyon.

🦅 Watch for wildlife closures
Seasonal raptor nesting protections may begin around mid-March in some areas. These temporary closures help give nesting birds the space they need to successfully raise their young.

Together, we can help ensure this incredible place remains protected and accessible for generations to come.

📖Read more about the acquisition in the article from The Colorado Sun (link in bio!)

Mesa County Valley School District 51's Outdoor Wilderness Lab and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, supporters! Nominate OWL for the The Christi Reece Group - A Refreshing Real Estate Company Circle fund to help us make the transition from Gateway to Wildwood!

THE NOMINATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED!
Tune into Facebook Live on April 16 to hear this quarter's recipients!

💚 It's Circle Fund time! Nominate a local nonprofit in the comments, now thru March 22. Anyone can nominate, then our clients will vote from the finalists.

If you're a nonprofit, be sure to promote yourself and spread the word on your own social channels. We love to hear from organizations across the Grand Valley, big and small. Now get nominating!

If you're not familiar with our Circle Fund, click link or link in bio to learn more about it and see past recipients: https://www.christireece.com/pages/the-circle-fund

We loved seeing so many community members at the Wildwood Property Tour—thank you for showing up and sharing in the excitement! We can’t wait to call Wildwood our new home.

Endless thanks to for helping make this event happen and for generously providing shuttles!

Great work Riverside Education Centers! So glad you’re in our community and continue serve with a heart for kids!

From classroom to community: The story behind Riverside Education Centers In 2005, Mary Spirio resigned from her teaching job, volunteered for Hurricane Katrina relief, and returned home to establish an educational center for underserved students — all within six months.