Community Partners

The Morgan Library at Colorado State University is more than just a place for books—it’s a welcoming, inspiring space to study, research, write, and create. As part of our Dandelions Rising Career Day, we invited participants to explore the library in a fun, interactive way. We organized a creative scavenger hunt designed to help students get to know the library while discovering stories of BIPOC individuals featured throughout the space.

With four unique scavenger hunt paths, participants collected stickers, took photos, and uncovered hidden gems within the library. The experience ended with a QR code upload spot where students could share their favorite moments. Events like this emphasize the fact that the Morgan Library is a space where everyone belongs.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Biology program within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University is where passion for the planet turns into real-world impact. Students and researchers dive deep into the study of animals, ecosystems, and the complex relationships that keep nature in balance. From tracking wildlife to restoring habitats, the work is hands-on and deeply meaningful.

This program prepares the next generation of conservationists to face today’s environmental challenges with science, compassion, and collaboration. Whether in a classroom, lab, or field site, students are building the knowledge and tools needed to protect the natural world for years to come. At camp, we went dip netting in the stream, using small nets to catch and observe aquatic creatures like minnows and insects up close.

The Cottonwood Institute is all about getting kids out of the classroom and into the wild. Through immersive outdoor education, students learn survival skills, environmental awareness, and teamwork, all while having a whole lot of fun. They hike, cook over campfires, build shelters, and learn how to care for the earth and each other.

These experiences help students grow confidence, find their voice, and understand their role in protecting the planet. Cottonwood doesn’t only teach outdoor skills—it teaches life skills, helping young people feel capable, curious, and connected to both nature and their communities. During the Dandelions Rising Camp, we explored the natural world through animal tracking, foraging, camouflage games, and plant identification, gaining hands-on experience and ecological awareness.

At Dandelions Rising, we believe in the power of culture, connection, and care, and that’s why our partnership with the Cultural Enrichment Center (CEC) means so much to us. The CEC is a vibrant, community-rooted space where people come together to share stories, celebrate identity, and heal through connection.

This is a place where diversity is honored, voices are uplifted, and culture is seen as a source of strength. Together with the CEC, we create programs, events, and conversations that center belonging, resilience, and joy—because just like dandelions, we rise stronger when we grow together.

FOCO Café is a special spot in Fort Collins where everyone is welcome, and everyone matters. It runs on a pay-what-you-can model, where people are invited to enjoy fresh, healthy, locally-sourced meals regardless of their financial situation. Volunteers help prepare and serve food, making it a true community effort from start to finish. The café believes that good food and dignity should go hand in hand—and that kindness can be a powerful ingredient.

Dandelions Rising has had the pleasure of collaborating with FOCO Café on several occasions, including fun and engaging workshops like cookie-making classes, where community members can learn new skills, bond over shared activities, and enjoy each other’s company. Whether you’re there to eat, help out, or just connect with others, FOCO Café offers more than just a meal. It’s a place where generosity, respect, and care fill every table, and where the community truly comes together. During the Dandelions Rising camp, we planted in the Cultural Enrichment Center garden and explored food preservation by making our own fresh salsa from garden ingredients.

The Fort Collins Natural Areas are some of the city’s most beautiful and peaceful places. These protected outdoor spaces include forests, wetlands, grasslands, and rivers, all carefully preserved so people and wildlife can thrive side by side. They’re perfect for walking, biking, birdwatching, or simply taking a moment to pause and breathe. These areas aren’t just about scenery—they’re about connection. The engagement specialists with Fort Collins Natural Areas gave Dandelions Rising participants the chance to feel grounded, find their home in nature, and explore the land with respect and curiosity. Whether through short strolls or longer hikes, every visit provided us with a reminder of how healing and important the natural world is.

The Fort Collins Symphony is a big part of the city’s arts and music scene. They bring beautiful, live orchestral music to the community through concerts, education programs, and special events. The musicians are incredibly talented, and the Symphony works hard to make music something everyone can enjoy. Dandelions Rising partners with the Symphony, inviting participants to partake in the Open Note program at the Lincoln Center.

During this event, students explore how music and visual art connect, guided by our friend and violist Alyssa Roggow. In this program, they meet a Symphony musician, learn about their instrument, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how a rehearsal works, providing a fun and welcoming way for students to experience music in a new way.

No Barriers is all about helping people discover what’s possible when they step outside and push past challenges. Through outdoor adventures like hiking, obstacle courses, and camping, participants learn to face challenges, support one another, and build confidence in themselves. The program especially welcomes those who may not have had access to outdoor spaces before, making nature feel open, safe, and empowering.

Each experience helps participants find strength in community, reconnect with the land, and realize that barriers can be moved, broken, or even transformed. It’s nature as a teacher, a healer, and a place of growth. Dandelions Rising, in collaboration with the Cultural Enrichment Center, did our first camping experience with No Barriers. In this camp, we hiked, worked on mindfulness, played games, accomplished a challenge course, and practiced survival skills.

She’sFly is creating something special in the world of outdoor adventure. Designed by and for women, She’sFly offers empowering fly-fishing experiences that help participants learn new skills, connect with nature, and feel confident on the water. She’sFly creates space for women to feel strong, welcome, and free in the outdoors.

Through guided trips, workshops, and community gatherings, She’sFly helps break down barriers that often exist in outdoor spaces, offering mentorship, support, and joy. She’sFly guided Dandelions Rising Campers through an amazing workshop on the basics of fly fishing, which included making our flies, the use of fly rods and reels, floating and sinking our lines, and fishing accessories.