Greater Arkansas River Nature Association

GARNA, through community collaboration, inspires a conservation ethic by providing educational opportunities and experiences so that those who live, work and play in the Upper Arkansas Valley are motivated to take care of the natural resources and leave a legacy of responsible use of the natural environment.

GARNA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization based in the Upper Arkansas Valley of Colorado.

Focused on more than environmental issues, the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) recognizes that how it builds, plans and cares for the communities in the Upper Arkansas Valley increases community resilience, and that makes a difference in how the community values and stewards the natural environment.  In the heart of the Rocky Mountains of South Central Colorado, spanning the 143 mile section of the jointly managed Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area State Park and US Forest Service, public lands are part of the heart and soul of the valley. Nearly one third of the valley’s economy is based on tourism where outdoor recreation visitorship is growing at 13% per year. Without GARNA, a valuable community and public lands connection would be missed. Without the valuable education about how to take care of these public lands, an uninformed community would risk losing public lands and losing values and participation in the valley’s amazing outdoor opportunities.

GARNA is a community connector through its Youth Ecological Literacy Program, it popular clubs, such as the Birding, Hiking, Photography and Book Clubs, as well as it’s community education programs that draw residents and visitors to the area. GARNA is a popular landing place for new residents to the area who want to know more about the valley’s natural resources, water management, public lands management and sustainability issues. They learn about these issues and more, through GARNA programs ranging from Fire Ecology to composting and recycling, to mushroom and wildflower hikes.

GARNA manages the largest group of volunteers in the Upper Arkansas River valley through the Upper Arkansas Wilderness Volunteers and Friends of Fourmile chapters, as well as Chaffee Green  Sustainability Program and Youth Ecological Literacy Program (YELP).  GARNA public education programs reach almost 5,000 people per year, with a Youth Ecological Literacy Program that reaches over 1,800 youth per year with place-based, pro-social and STEM programs in Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida, Colorado.

GARNA programs and volunteer work days on public lands offer opportunities to connect intergenerational community members and cross-pollinate public lands user groups. GARNA’s youth program targets underserved youth, by participating as one of the lead organizations in a Chaffee County Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Inspire Effort. GARNA also partners with Chaffee County Boys and Girls Club, and Lake County, Buena Vista and Salida School Districts, to make fun and educational outdoor learning available to all youth of the Upper Arkansas Valley.

GARNA’s tagline is “Nature Centered. Community Driven” and GARNA embodies this by collaborating with over 50 other community organizations to provide volunteer stewardship plus pro-social, outdoor, educational programs, while helping to support and promote partner organizations.  “GARNA, through community collaboration, inspires a conservation ethic by providing educational opportunities and experiences so that those who live, work and play in the Upper Arkansas Valley are motivated to take care of the natural resources and leave a legacy of responsible use of the natural environment.” GARNA is proud that community collaboration is in the first four words of its purpose, as the organization feels strongly that it’s one of the most important things it can do.

Program dates, locations, and info are available by emailing programs@garna.org or feel free to call the GARNA office at (719) 539- 5106 if you are interested in or have any questions about getting plugged in.