GOCO invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state's parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. Our independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created by voters in 1992, GOCO has committed more than $1.2 billion in lottery proceeds to more than 5,200 projects in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support.
In the years ahead, GOCO's work will be guided by a strategic plan with three primary goals:
- PROTECT more urban and rural land for people and wildlife, notably once-in-a-lifetime, large-scale projects.
- CONNECT people to the outdoors by increasing bike and pedestrian access in communities across Colorado and filling gaps in important trail systems.
- INSPIRE more kids and their families to explore and take care of our great outdoors by addressing the growing disconnect between youth and nature.
My Outdoor Colorado (MOC) is a visionary approach to connecting youth with the outdoors through strategic partnerships that provide access to nature education, recreation and skill-building opportunities. Access to the outdoors fosters a greater appreciation of the natural environment, provides opportunities to build an ethic of stewardship, and helps youth experience potential careers in the outdoors.
MOC Coalition
Nonprofit organizations have partnered to form neighborhood coalitions, providing families in the Westwood and Cole neighborhoods with access to nature education, outdoor recreation and skill-building opportunities. MOC’s goal is to create experiences that foster an appreciation of natural areas and build an ethic of stewardship while exposing participants to potential outdoor careers.
The vision of the Generation Wild Northeast Metro Coalition (NEMC) is that every young person – wherever they live and regardless of resources – has abundant opportunities to connect and engage with the outdoors in ways that are inspirational, transformational, and meaningful to them and will cultivate a new generation of stewards of nature.
The partial funding source for Groundwork Denver's Youth Programs is the City and County of Denver, Economic Development and Opportunity.