The Nature Connection

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The Nature Connection

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Eliminating barriers to getting outside for youth and families in our community

The Nature Connection Coalition received a Level 1 GOCO Inspire Planning Grant in October 2015 to survey the population of Greater Delta County and create a more comprehensive plan to get more kids and their families outside. In 2018, we were awarded the GOCO Generation Wild Grant to implement places, programs and pathways for our six communities.

10/14/2026

We are bringing our mobile climbing wall to Delta's Main Street Trick or Treat night! Come kick off climbing season with us and score some candy in one fell swoop 🍬

When: Friday, October 30th, 3-6pm
Where: Main Street, Delta, CO

Thanks to City of Delta and Delta Police for putting this on!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1368844285413246/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

10/09/2026

Holy smokes, we are still riding high after last weekend's !

We had an absolutely gorgeous fall day for the race - peep those fall colors on Inter Ocean Pass 🍂🍁🍂

To our racers: you inspire us! It was such a joy to see you get out there and challenge yourselves.

Every year, this event reminds us that we can't do this without support from our partners, volunteers and sponsors - it's a true community effort. SO THANK YOU!

Mega shoutout to our aid station volunteers: KVNF Music & News spinning tunes at the finish; Lions Club Paonia, Rotary Club, Bank of Colorado and the two all stars: West Elk Mountain Rescue and Women’s Surface Creek Saddle Club for keeping everyone safe in the backcountry.

Thanks to Crawford State Park for hosting our starting line and USFS Paonia ranger for packing in 40 gallons of water for us at the top of the pass!

Race timing thanks to Scott Siettmann of ScottMeets!

Folks that helped us stay fed, energized, and refreshed: Third Bowl Wholesale Ice Cream Chrysalis Barrel Aged B**r Lazy J Big B's Delicious Juices Mountain Oven WISE BAR Tailwind Nutrition GU Energy Labs

And last but not least, thank you to the following sponsors for donating prizes and monetary support to help this thing happen!
Delta County, CO -Tourism GOCO Town of Paonia, Spoke+Blossom
PACT Outdoors Elevate Internet Arc'teryx KÜHL Elevation Herbal Tea Wellspring Vitality Center Paonia Books North Fork Physical Therapy and Performance Honey Rock Landing Alpine Bank

We'll see you next year!

Results are available on Race Roster.

10/01/2026

The West Elk Challenge 2026 nutrition sponsors include:

A Carbondale-based company making functional superfood bars. They are amazing! We have some great flavors to try and then make sure you get the BOGO code at the race!

will be at each aid station. We will have caffeinated and caffeinated options and single serves at bib pick-up

donated gummies for all racers. We love the salty lime flavor!

And for post-race nutrition we will have @ drinkbigbs cider/juice, **r b**r and ice cream

09/29/2026

As one of the largest roadless areas of Colorado, horse packing is part of the West Elk heritage.🐴 The West Elk Challenge is made possible by these awesome organizations who are using horses to carry supplies and to keep runners safe.

The USFS Paonia Ranger District will pack in 40 gallons of water for the Inter-Ocean Pass Aid Station.

West Elk Mountain Rescue will staff the most remote aid station, pack in food and supplies and sweep the course following the race.

The Women's Surface Creek Saddle Club will staff the Mile 11 Aid Station and patrol the course on horseback.

Thank you to these dedicated volunteers! Without their support this race would not be possible.
...
btw you can still register for the race. Even if you don't want to run...🤪 all proceeds support summer camp scholarships! Fall colors are epic🍂 and weather looks🌞
https://thenatureconnection.net/west-elk-challenge-trail-marathon/

09/25/2026

What does it take to build empowered collaborators, courageous citizens, and positive contributors? And how can we give students a chance to flex those skills?

Our Rock&Ropes program for 7th Graders was created for just that reason. We kicked off low ropes activities with Paonia yesterday, presenting students with challenges that they had to work collaboratively to overcome.

Putting students in charge of solving these problems themselves can lead to some really fascinating discoveries. Sometimes an unexpected leader emerges. Sometimes students come up with a creative solution that wasn't even on our radars as facilitators. Sometimes challenges get frustrating and give students a chance to reevaluate how they're going about a solution. But our goal isn't to make things easy - it's to help students develop the tools they need to face hard things.

09/24/2026

Join us at Apple Valley Park in Paonia this Sunday for some mountain biking fun during Mountain Harvest Festival!

09/21/2026

New this year! While over 120 runners are taking on the full West Elk Challenge over Inter-Ocean Pass, spectators and locals can join us for the Base Camp Challenge, a 2.5 mile route built for kids, families and anyone looking for a shorter way to take part in the fun!

The Base Camp Challenge starts and finishes at Paonia Town Park and travels on streets to the North Fork of the Gunnison at the Paonia River Park. Come run with a dog, walk or push a stroller and be part of the celebration.

This is a Courage through Challenge sized for everyone. This is a free event, but donations are encouraged. All donations will support Nature Connection's Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, helping kids across Delta County get the same outdoor experience that brought you here.

Free registration here https://form.jotform.com/262356413390152
or in-person on Sat. Oct 3rd from 10am-11:30. Race will start around 11:30 and finish around 12:30.

09/11/2026

Bikes Buses rolled into school this week across Delta County! Thanks to our Bike Bus "Drivers", local police departments, especially Cedaredge and Delta Police departments, and all the teachers, parents, and student riders! The energy is felt both on the streets and in the classroom....

Our Bike Bus Driver in Delta (and elementary teacher) said, "the Garnet and Lincoln Bike Bus is so rewarding on many levels!! It is wonderful to see students riding together and being so enthusiastic about riding their bikes. I know it is helping them academically and personally."

Join a Bike Bus in your community. Link in our profile.

09/04/2026

Bike Busses are Back! 🚲️ Nature Connection is organizing bike busses at each elementary school in the District on Thursday September 10 for Cedaredge, Delta and Paonia. Hotchkiss bike bus will be Friday Sept 11 (we don't want to be responsible for any helmet head on picture day)

Bike Busses are just like school busses, except everyone is on wheels! 🚵Kids (and parents) meet at a neighborhood spot and ride together to school, picking up riders along the way.

Find your route https://thenatureconnection.net/ride-to-school/. Families who live outside of town can meet at the start of each ride or along the route.

08/31/2026

Well, that's a wrap on our SUP-lending season! The moon was hiding behind the clouds Saturday night, but that didn't stop us from having a beautiful and peaceful evening out on the water. Thanks everyone for coming out - we'll see you next season!

Address

397 Miners Way
Hotchkiss, CO
81419

Telephone

+19708725910

Website

http://thenatureconnection.net/

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