Building Rural Community Capacity Through Outdoor Recreation and Main Street Development

Program Contact

Natalie Ooi

Teaching Associate Professor

Natalie.Ooi@colorado.edu

720.380.7688

The Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) is a collaboration between CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment (MENV) program, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program and Colorado State University Extension. It is a planning assistance program offered each spring that assists three rural Colorado communities to revitalize their Main Streets and strengthen economic opportunities through outdoor recreation. RTAP is housed within a three-credit, graduate-level course (ENVM 5067 – Building Community Capacity) within the MENV program.

Graduate student teams take on the role of community consultants and facilitate the RTAP through the following steps: convening a steering committee; facilitating planning meetings; organizing and facilitating a two-day, in-person community workshop; facilitating post-workshop meetings; and developing a Community Action Plan that captures the vision, goals, and action items for outdoor recreation and Main Street development for each partner community.

  • Community Workshops

    Additional Info

    The in-person workshop is a central element of the RTAP. Over two days, graduate students run a series of activities focused on community visioning, identification of assets and challenges, asset mapping, and the detailing of specific action items to achieve its desired goals. A successful workshop is one that is attended by a diversity of stakeholders that represent the broader community.


    Location 1

    in colorado

    Lake City

    Dates

    3/10/2024 - 3/11/2024

    Public or Private

    Public Program (open to the public)

    Program Fee

    No charge to attend/participate in activity or program


    Location 2

    in colorado

    Rangely

    Dates

    3/18/2024 - 3/19/2024

    Public or Private

    Public Program (open to the public)

    Program Fee

    No charge to attend/participate in activity or program


    Location 3

    in colorado

    Walsenburg

    Dates

    3/15/2024 - 3/16/2024

    Public or Private

    Public Program (open to the public)

    Program Fee

    No charge to attend/participate in activity or program

Sponsoring Units

  • College of Arts & Sciences

  • Environmental Studies Program

Program Partners

  • Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC)
  • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Program
  • Colorado State University (CSU) Extension

Audiences Served

  • Business
  • General Public
  • Government
  • Non-Profit Organization
  • Rural Communities