FREMONT ADVENTURE RECREATION YEAR END REPORT 2017 Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 1
MISSION FAR s mission is to promote a culture of community and healthy living through human-powered outdoor recreation in the Royal Gorge Region. FAR Charter, 2010, revised 2017 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR In 2017, FAR continued to grow, both in the scope of its projects and the number of people we were able to connect with. It was an exciting year, and one that we are looking forward to besting in 2018. We ll be bringing back old favorites like runblossom and Snow Queen, revamping signature events such as Bikes & Brews and Run the Rim, and creating new events / opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. There is nothing we love more than seeing new faces at any event. A growing community deserves expanding opportunities. Both South Cañon and the Royal Gorge Park trails blossomed this year. The Royal Gorge Park trails now offers more than 15 miles of new, unique, and scenic trails that truly offer something for everyone. We were happy to assist in this process by providing funds and technical guidance during the process. The Royal Gorge trails make accessible some of the most inspiring and scenic vistas in the Arkansas Valley and beyond. Allowing hikers, walkers, and bikers of all abilities the chance to traverse this incredible landscape has been a humbling and exciting experience. We are thankful to the many land management agencies, including the City of Cañon City, Fremont County, the Bureau of Land Management, and also Terra Firma Trails, for working with our community to create recreation infrastructures that will benefit generations to come. Additional thanks goes to our incredible sponsors, volunteers, and donors. We recognize many of them are asked again and again to contribute (both financially and physically) to several worth organizations in the area, and their continued, selfless generosity does not go unnoticed. It is a testament to our small community that a small number of volunteers, businesses, and individuals can accomplish so much. We hope to see you in 2018. Remember that joining FAR simply means that you come to hike, bike, volunteer, or hang out with others in the area who appreciate outdoor recreation. Come find us and let us know what you think of new trails, events, or other topics. Brian VanIwarden Director, FAR Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 2
2017 BOARD MEMBERS & CONTRACTORS Brian VanIwarden Megan Merry Event Coordinator - Ashlee Sack Adam Hartman Joan Sindler Tiny FAR Assistant - Callum Sack Thom LeDoux Joanna McIntyre Grant Writer - Kristyn Econome Brian LeDoux Chris McIntyre 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH 1 Tight/Loose at the Skyline Theater 8 Trailwork Day 11 FAR Snow Queen Frosty February 5K www.snowqueen5k.com 12 Trailwork Day 11 Adventure Guide Release Party 18 Bi-annual Trash Pickup APRIL MAY JUNE 15 FAR UnReal at the Royal Gorge 22 FAR Ales & Trails Work Day / Social 6 FAR runblossom 5K/Half-marathon www.runblossom.org 10 Chase the Moon Meetup 13 FAR Women s Mountain Bike Session 20 FAR Adventure Kids - Session #1 15 FAR Adventure Kids - Session #2 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 15 FAR Adventure Kids - Session #3 26 Summer Social 19 FAR Adventure Kids - Session #4 26 1st Annual Run the Rim Race 23 FAR Bikes and Brews/Royal Gorge Century / bikesandbrews.org OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 10 FAR Birthday Run / Meetup 15 FAR Family Fun Fest @ KOA 21 FAR Bi-Annual Trash Pickup 28 Adventure Kids Dino Painting 24 FAR #OptOutside Meetup NEW EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2018 - Bike Maintenance for Beginners - Sole Mates Run Challenge - FAR Presents John Fielder at the Royal Gorge - Summer Solstice Run and Social - FARm to Table Relay Run and Lunch - Bikes & Brews / Royal 50 MTB Race - New Years Eve Resolution Run Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 3
PROGRAM OVERVIEW - 2017 BY THE NUMBERS 275 Scholarships awarded to local high school seniors Number of volunteer (wo)man hours donated for trail projects and events Trail work days FREE student Adventure Guides distributed to 441 area 6th-graders Amount of 1% for Trails funds generated in 2017 Average cost to build one linear foot of trail Total miles of new trails in 2017 10 (Many thanks to the City of Cañon City. We assisted with some financial and technical support.) 6 Miles of trail design completed (FAR paid for roughly 2.7 miles) Non-FAR community events supported and / or sponsored Total Adventure Guides Organizations Partnered with on 5,450 distributed to locals, visitors, and houseguests 12 projects, events, and programs 4 consortiums State-wide conferences or attended 2 3x$250 $4 5 84 $44,700 Number of donuts consumed at FAR events or workdays COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT EVENT PARTICIPANTS: Fremont Adventure Recreation is committed to supporting not only our sponsors and contributors, but local organizations and entities that focus on the wellness of our community. We were pleased to participate in several community events, such as the Cañon City Police Department s National Night out, American Medical Response s Safety Jam, Fremont RE-2 School District s Health and Wellness Expo, and the Fremont RE-1 Health and Wellness Expo. We also presented at Cañon City Rotary, the John C. Fremont Library, and the University Men s Club. Snow Queen: UnReal: runblossom: Adventure Kids: Run the Rim: Bikes & Brews: = 50 people cleared approximately 1 ton of trash from Oil Well Flats, Temple Canyon Road, and Red Canyon Road installed over 60 new trail signs to assist new and returning hikers / riders in navigating trails hosted 4 social / community events with a total attendance of about 1,000 people applied for a State Trails grant to extend the South Cañon trail to the City of Cañon City s Temple Canyon Park Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 4
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW FAR INCOME TRAILS INCOME Revenue generated for FAR is used to fund events, pay for promotional materials, award scholarships, and fund the YETI (Youth Exercise Training Initiative) program each year. All funds generated by 1% for Trails are used to purchase trail equipment, provide matching funds, hire private trail contractors, and pay for manual skilled labor during trail construction. $3,660 $8,000 $4,700 $7,500 $5,100 $6,500 Donors Sponsors Bikes & Brews runblossom Other Socials Race Services Snow Queen Merchandise Run the Rim $44,700 1% Contributions OPERATING COSTS (NON-EVENT) TRAILS EXPENDITURES $1,000 $3,000 $9,300 $4,500 $6,750 Contract Labor Marketing Director Fees Scholarships Rent Donations $23,500 $7,400 $7,700 South Cañon Trail Ext. Materials / Other Equipment Royal Gorge trails South Cañon (South Cañon Trial Extension funds are earmarked for use in 2018.) For more information on how to become a FAR Sponsor, donor, or 1% for Trails contributor, please contact Ashlee at coordinator@joinfar.org. What happens to unused 1% money? Large sums of expendable money is often saved to pay for upcoming matching grants. While the City of Cañon City generously paid for most of the labor and materials used in trail construction in 2017, FAR is able and willing to assist with grant funds (awarded in February) and / or contractor fees in 2018. Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 5
2018 GOALS Increased trail education (maintenance and etiquette) among various user groups Continued support of local community groups Increase in number of social events to strengthen our outdoor recreation community 10 new miles of trail (about 7 in the Royal Gorge Park Trails and 3 in South Cañon (to Temple Canyon) in partnership with the City of Cañon City W www.joinfar.org /FremontAdventureRecreation @fremont_adventure_recreation 1% for Trails Information: trails@joinfar.org General Information: coordinator@joinfar.org Thank you for your commitment to our community! Fremont Adventure Recreation Contributor Opportunities 2018 6