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The purpose of the Forest Collaboratives Summit is to connect place-based forest collaboratives from across the state and facilitate learning about issues most relevant to collaboratives.
Field trip | 9:00 am – 1:30 pm | Location: Mount Vernon Country Club, 24933 Club House Circle, Golden, CO 80401 | Lunch provided
Storytelling workshop | 2:00 – 5:00 pm | Location: Chief Hosa Lodge, 27661 Genesee Lane, Golden, CO
Welcome social | 5:00 – 7:30 pm | Location: Chief Hosa Lodge, 27661 Genesee Lane, Golden, CO | Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided
Happy birthday everyone! Join us for beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and birthday cake as we shine the spotlight on several local collaboratives that are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. Then, take a moment to reflect on and celebrate your own organization’s growth over time – whether your group is 1 or 50 years old, at the CFCN we believe every new trip around the sun deserves to be celebrated.
The Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit
Hybrid
In person: Golden Community Center, 1470 10th St., Golden, CO
Virtual: Zoom
9:00 – 10:00 am | Welcome, setting intentions, & getting to know each other
Join us for an opening presentation from Summit co-coordinators John Sanderson and Audrey Miles Cherney, who will welcome us to the 2025 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit and share key takeaways from our September 17th field trip and storytelling workshop. We’ll do an introductory activity, and in-person participants can enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks.
10:00 – 12:00 pm | Rethink, reframe, recharge: Collaborating differently in a changing world
In this session we’ll build on and localize outcomes from the June 2025 Future of the Forests Partnership Summit, and identify actionable/localized ways that we can partner differently through times of uncertainty. Kicking off with a presentation on known strategies for navigating uncertainty, we’ll then move into a solution-sourcing activity and discussion with leadership from several state and federal land management agencies in Colorado.
State and Regional Agency Leadership
12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch
Lunch provided for in-person participants
1:00 – 3:30pm | Getting creative with funding
In “world café” style breakout sessions, learn about creative funding mechanisms (through expert speakers & case studies), and engage in small group conversations to discuss innovative ideas about funding that might not have been thought of yet, and identify barriers and opportunities for diversifying funding. Select up to three topics to attend:
3:30 – 4:00 pm | Closing & next steps
5:00 – 7:00 pm | Happy hour | In-person only | Location: Golden History Museum, 923 10th Street, Golden, CO | Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided
CO Forest Collaborative Network partners are invited to tour the facilities of Charm Industrial. They have developed an innovative industry in Carbon Sequestration Credits in Colorado (many have claimed could not be done!). They are using fire mitigation biomass as feedstock in their process of creating biochar for farm soil amendments and bio-oil to sequester carbon in geologically stable areas underground. For those of you who are available and interested in learning more about the processes involved and touring their facilities, we are happy to offer this BONUS activity. Pre-registration for this tour is required (separately from the Summit).
Note: You may attend this bonus event even if not attending the Summit. Due to Charm Industrial’s security protocols, pre-registration is required before midnight, 9/18. Attendees are encouraged to coordinate ride-shares among themselves (CFCN is unable to provide transportation for this event)
We know that many collaboratives are small, and have limited budgets for things like travel and professional development. Additionally, we recognize that numerous partner organizations and agencies are facing tight budgets this year.
We do not want funding to be a barrier to attending Summit.
We are excited to share that there will be NO registration fee to attend this year’s Summit in-person or virtually.
We estimate that the true cost of in-person attendance at Summit is ~$185.00 per person. This amount covers meals, venue cost, supplies, etc. It does not account for the many hours of staff and volunteer time that goes into planning and executing Summit! We are thrilled to be able to offer Summit at no charge this year – this is made possible thanks to the generosity of many CFCN funders and Summit sponsors.
We encourage you to consider donating to the CFCN to help us cover the cost of your attendance. Click here to donate to the CFCN.
We encourage you to attend Summit in-person if possible, and we know that registration is just one of many financial costs associated with attending a multi-day event in-person. We have funding available to support costs related to attending the event. We can give reimbursements to organizations, or to individuals.
For best consideration, please apply by end of day on Friday, August 8th, 2025. After August 8th, we will continue accepting applications on a rolling basis until funding runs out.
Your sponsorship will support Summit and the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network. Sponsorships may go toward providing financial support for members of place-based forest collaboratives to attend the event; scholarships for students to attend Summit; putting on trainings and field trips; food and drink to fuel networking; and other event expenses! Your donation will positively impact place-based forest collaboratives in Colorado by connecting them to information, resources, and each other, and by telling their stories to make their value and needs understood.
Rooted Together Sponsorship: $500 – $2,499
Branching Out Sponsorship: $2,500 – $4,999
Collaborative Canopy Sponsorship: $5,000+
*Your flyer, sign holder information, and/or ‘Meet the Sponsors’ newsletter feature must feature only information about yourself or your organization, the need it fills, and how that need supports the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network’s mission. Your overview and/or newsletter feature cannot include advertisements or solicitations for products or offer special deals to Forest Collaboratives Summit attendees.
This year’s Summit is co-coordinated by:
For questions about the Summit agenda, registration, in-person portions of Summit, financial support, sponsorships, or other general questions, please contact Katie McNovak and Audrey Miles Cherney.
For questions about attending Summit virtually, please contact Esther Duke and Maria Brandt.
2024 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit: Summary & Resources | blog post by Katie McGrath Novak of Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network
10 of Katie’s Favorite Photos from the 2024 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit | blog post by Katie McGrath Novak of Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network
The 2024 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit: A Hub of Connection and Innovation | blog post by Sandi Good of Peaks to People Water Fund
2023 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit: Summary & Resources | Blog post by Katie McGrath Novak of Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network
15 of Katie’s Favorite Photos from the 2023 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit | Blog post by Katie McGrath Novak of Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network
2022 Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit: Summary & Resources | Blog post by Katie McGrath Novak of Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network
“Having the opportunity to provide feedback and insights to decisions-makers was really valuable.”
“Forest Collaboratives leaders showed up, engaged, and met one another with plenty of time for networking.”
“Great opportunity to network with folks from different regions that I don’t typically get to talk to.”
The best way to keep up with the CFCN is to join our mailing list. We send occasional emails containing news, events, and resources for forest collaboratives and their partners.
