August 1 is Colorado Day. On that day in 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado as a state. As we celebrate Colorado and all of its gifts, we think about the role conservation plays in keeping it special. Our thoughts also turn to the culture of conservation that will be required to keep Colorado wonderful into the future.

The pandemic has changed so much in our lives – and may continue to do so for some time to come. One thing that has really struck me is the optimism of our conservation community and our ability to meet this challenge with new opportunities.

How can we address racial injustice in conservation? This question weighs heavily on me; and I welcome the burden and the responsibility. I know it’s a question that weighs on many of my colleagues in conservation as well.

Since COVID-19 hit, trails and other open spaces have seen significant spikes in visitors as more people itch to get out of the house and head to the hills. We’ve created #KeepItInMind to share tips for keeping our outdoor spaces special.

We believe in keeping it Colorado for ALL Coloradans – including Black people and all people of color. And we stand behind the Black community.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve seen how critical the outdoors and access to nature are to people around the world. Keep It Colorado has an opportunity to help make conservation a priority across the state. After all, that connection with the outdoors people are craving is made possible by conservation.

Connecting with the land is a way to seek solace, and growing up in Colorado creates those connections in unique ways. Linda Lidov shares how her childhood experiences getting dirty evolved into a conservation mindset.

On Earth Day we had much to celebrate: In addition to honoring Earth with love letters and tributes to our beautiful blue planet, we celebrated Melissa Daruna! Earth Day was her one-year anniversary as our fearless leader.

Take a deep breath. Go ahead, do it as you read this. Over the past few weeks I’ve had to continually remind myself to just take a deep a breath. Like for many of you, at times everything feels overwhelming, and at other times the slower pace and time at home with family is warmly welcomed.

Our coalition members, partners and industry colleagues may be wondering how we as organizations can support local communities in the face of COVID-19. Here are 11 ideas.

Conservation means something different to just about everyone, but it is almost always personal and rooted in a powerful connection to a natural place or space. It is that connection that drives us to do this work and protect those places.