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UpaDowna’s mission is to provide access to outdoor adventures for all through events and programs that empower individuals, create healthier communities, and foster a respect for the environment.
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2019, The Path Forward!
Wow! We can't believe that another year has flown by! This year provided a lot of changes, challenges, and celebrations! Through thick and thin, you all have been there and we greatly appreciate it! Some of the amazing things we accomplished this year were:
- Helped close to 2,000 get outside to be active during our 6 programs
- Participated in the 1st year of the Generation Wild Inspire Grant with the City of Colorado Springs and 25 other program providers, where we helped kids learn paddleboarding
and also
However, with increased growth and accomplishments also comes change. Please see the following message from our outgoing Executive Director and Founder, Steve Hitchcock about his announcement;
Welcoming 2019 is an amazingly refreshing opportunity to reflect on the amazing successes of the past and clear vision for the future. At UpaDowna we know once an individual has been immersed in the healing power of Nature, it is hard to deny how empowering that experience can be both internally and externally. Over the past few years UpaDowna has become a dream realized that started as a result of seeing a need to slow down and live more. UpaDowna helps you experience more and focus your reflection less on instant gratification and the chaos of technology. After years spent trying to catch up to the ever changing world, watching everything move too fast and become so disconnected from what it means to exist, to truly live, to be human, UpaDowna was created. When the idea first came to me it was a direct result of needing peace and quiet and also realizing that what our ever crowding world needs is more space, space for movement, thought, reflection, and growth, and most importantly empathy. By providing Nature based activities we strive to make the world a better place by removing barriers, removing excuses, and removing apprehensions. As UpaDowna has grown from a weekly gathering “club" to an ever expanding non profit organization, we are in need of fresh approaches and the freedom to explore new avenues and chase new dreams and with this in mind, I have decided that my time as Executive Director has run its course. Replacing me is the best person I can image to carry on this quest. I have never seen a person more fiercely independent, passionate, and hungry for creating social change than my wife, Randi Hitchcock. Randi has shepherded UpaDowna through its most amazing growth periods over the past years as the Chief Operations Officer and with this has come a unique understanding of the needs of our community and our organization. I have full confidence that Randi will carry our beloved organization in the direction it needs to go in and impact an even greater demographic. As we leap into 2019 there is great promise of fantastic structural changes, new exciting programs, and outreach avenues that will no doubt have an astonishing impact on our community. So please join me as we welcome the next Executive Director of the best non profit ever. The seed has been planted in our community and the roots are running deeper now, more than ever we have the tools and the leadership to change the world.
Unleash Your Adventure now and forever,
Steve Hitchcock
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One day, one donation
can make the difference!
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Please support our end of the year fundraising campaign, Indy Give! Our goal was $10,000 and with our matching grant, we are a little bit OVER at this moment! THANK YOU to all who have donated! But don't let that stop you if you haven't given yet... there is still time to impact our programs!
We only have until TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT
Can you help us?
Please click here to donate!
Drink black lager at Bristol Brewing or After you pay your tab at Trails End Taproom
Old Chicago and vote for UpaDowna! be sure to vote for UpaDowna!
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2019 Program Name Changes
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In 2019, we're shifting our program focus to better connect with our mission, and want to put more emphasis on the "three peaks" of our mission which is to;
empower individuals, create healthier communities, and
foster a respect for the environment.
To do this, we're going to keep, but split our current 6 programs (hike, bike, camp, climb, SUP, speaker series) between the NEW program titles: "The Summit Series" which is a series of classes that focus on individualized activities and the betterment of one's skills in that activity. "Community Campfire" which creates an atmosphere in the outdoors that is fun, friendly, and open to all and is centered around a group activity. And finally, "Environment Essentials" which is focused on taking care of the areas we use for recreation and making the connection from outdoor activities to environmental stewardship.
To learn more about this shift, please see our program proposal here: https://issuu.com/upadowna/docs/3_peaks_programs.
You can also leave feedback on this shift here: https://goo.gl/forms/2uAJxh36JchGTeu63
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2019 Activity Waivers
2019 events are right around the corner! Get ahead of the game and sign a waiver today! This covers you all year! We do need a waiver for each activity. Please choose one, or more than one of the following, even if you dont' make it, at least you're covered! We'll also have these available to sign at our activities.
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Adventure Rx Challenge
Speaking of our activities...get a head start on our 2019 Adventure Prescription Challenge by signing up for FREE today! Just fill out your info, print out a form (or grab one at an event) and start earning prizes for your participation in our 4 featured events; hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and climbing! Once you've come to all 4, you're in the drawing to win a grand prize! Check out our website here for more info:
https://www.upadowna.org/programs/adventure-rx-challenge/
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For close to three years, Pocket Pals Trail Maps has been a supporter and financial sponsor of UpaDowna. They have generously provided maps for our hiking program, gear giveaways, and silent auctions. Their maps are the #1 go-to for us when folks ask about local trails! Thank you for the support John & Julie!
We encourage you to check them out today at https://www.pptrailmaps.com/
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please click here!
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~UpaDowna Programs & Events~
Click the blue links for more info
Dec.
- Mon. 31st, Midnight: End of Indy Give! Fundraising Campaign Help us push BEYOND our $10,000 goal by donating today at indygive.com/upa! Donors of $10-$49 are in a drawing to win a Yeti mug...donors of $50+ earn one!
Jan.
- Tue. 1st, First Day Hike @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park 10a-12p Limekiln Trailhead, 410 JL Ranch Heights, Cheyenne Mountain State Park. $8 for parking. Carpool from Black Bear Coffee on Academy/115 at 9:30am. More info here
- Tue., 8th, Intro to Climbing @ CityROCK (21 N. Nevada Ave.)- An Intro to CityROCK and indoor climbing! All equipment, instruction, food & beverage available for a donation! Spaces limited, More info and sign up here
- Adventure on Tap Speaker Series, 6:30-8pm, (The UpaDowna Library of Adventure, 525 N. Cascade Ave, 80903)- Join UpaDowna volunteer and adventurer Andy Brinkman as he shares his experiences of mountains, medicine, and finding himself in the Himalaya of Nepal through pictures and stories.! Spaces limited, More info here
- Sat. 19th, 10am-12pm: 3rd Sat Adventure Hike- Aiken Canyon Trail, More info here!
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