A Brighter Future for Outdoor Access in Colorado

Big news for caregivers, mental health providers, and anyone who believes in the healing power of nature: Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 25-1215, expanding the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program. This legislation directs new funding to outdoor education and recreation programs that make nature more accessible for youth across Colorado—especially those from BIPOC, low-income, LGBTQAI2S+, and disabled communities.

For those of us doing front-line mental health work, this is more than a policy win. It’s a recognition that wellness isn’t only found in offices or clinics—it’s found on trails, beside lakes, in the stillness of early morning fishing, and in the laughter of a group gathered under the sun. It’s a message that nature belongs to all of us, and access should never depend on privilege.

Fishing Therapy for Young Caregivers: Our Work Since 2023

Since 2023, Contemplative Caregiver has been applying to the grant program to facilitate a seasonal, four-week Fishing Therapy Group at St. Vrain State Park. Designed for caregivers ages 18–25, this program creates a calm space where young adults can step away from their responsibilities and into the healing rhythm of water, quiet, and community.

Our participants are navigating complex life experiences. Some are caring for a parent with dementia, others for a sibling or grandparent. Some are also working full-time jobs or attending school. Many are BIPOC, LGBTQAI2S+, low-income, or living with disabilities. What they share is the burden of caregiving—and the need for support, connection, and rest.

Participants receive all needed equipment, including fishing licenses, CPW Annual Passes, adaptive gear if necessary, and seasonal outdoor clothing. We aim to provide stipends to help offset the cost of professional caregiving services during the group time. Our therapists are trained in culturally responsive care, and our guides bring environmental education and safety training rooted in respect for diversity and lived experience.

It’s not just fishing. It’s grief work. It’s peer support. It’s learning how to breathe again, in nature

Why HB25-1215 Matters

The expansion of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program changes what’s possible. With new funding, we can serve more youth caregivers without compromising quality or accessibility. It allows programs like ours to keep doing the work on the ground—while also building long-term sustainability and measuring impact.

This isn’t just about covering costs. It’s about building a system where outdoor access is integrated into how we care for people.

Governor Polis, along with Representatives Rick Taggart and Junie Joseph, and Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Jeff Bridges, helped make that possible. Their work supports programs like ours in a very direct way. It creates infrastructure where grassroots, culturally-informed mental health programs aren’t fighting for scraps—they’re recognized and funded as vital public health strategies.

We thank them for showing up for youth caregivers, and for supporting outdoor mental health solutions that meet people where they are.

Preparing for 2025

In 2023 and 2024, we submitted Outdoor Equity Grant applications focused on reaching 50 youth caregivers each year. In addition to the on-site therapy sessions, we included:

The programs were designed around both healing and action: helping participants process their own stress and grief while also building skills, knowledge, and a sense of purpose rooted in the land.

With HB25-1215 now in place, we’re preparing our 2025 application with greater confidence. The vision stays the same—but the scale can grow. More sessions, more accessibility, more long-term impact.

We plan to expand our outreach to other Front Range counties, deepen our conservation curriculum, and pilot a youth peer mentor role within the fishing therapy model. Our goal is to create a program that doesn’t just offer short-term relief, but builds a sustainable relationship between young caregivers and Colorado’s wild spaces.

Support Outdoor Mental Health Equity

If you believe in outdoor mental health programs and want to see more access for marginalized youth caregivers, now is the time to act. Your support—whether it’s through advocacy, partnership, or spreading the word—makes a lasting impact.

📝 Take 30 seconds to thank the legislators who made this possible
Let Colorado’s leaders know that you value their investment in mental health, youth equity, and environmental access:
https://westernresourceadvocates.org/actions/thank-hb251215-sponsors

📩 Reach out if you want to collaborate or contribute
Are you a mental health professional, community leader, guide, or organization looking to co-host or support a program? We welcome collaborative partnerships that align with our mission. You can also sponsor a youth caregiver’s participation or donate gear and supplies.
Contact us or email andrew@contemplativecaregiver.com

💡 Amplify our work
Follow us on social media, share this blog, and tag a friend or colleague who works in mental health, education, outdoor leadership, or caregiving. Word-of-mouth and digital visibility help us grow our reach and serve more communities.

🌱 Support financially or in-kind
Contributions help cover direct program costs like adaptive fishing equipment, caregiver stipends, transportation, and food. We also welcome donations of gear, guide time, and printing services. If your organization or business wants to underwrite a season, let’s talk.

🌎 Learn more and get involved year-round
Explore our current offerings to see how you can plug in. Whether it’s volunteering at a workshop, attending an event, or offering administrative help, your time and presence are deeply appreciated.
Check out our Fishing Therapy Group, Brush With Grief, and Workshops pages for more.

Together, we can create systems of care that go beyond four walls and into the landscapes that ground and heal us. The outdoors are waiting—and with the right tools and community, we can ensure every caregiver has a way in.

Contemplative Caregiver LLC
Together we heal, together we thrive.
https://contemplativecaregiver.com
Boulder, Colorado
© 2025

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