Colorado Wild works to protect, preserve, and restore the native plants and animals of the Southern Rocky Mountains with particular attention given to habitat protection of Colorado's forested, roadless, public lands and other ecologically important areas. We focus on two general types of threats to wildlands in Colorado: logging and industrial ski area development on public lands. To address each of these threats we operate our Forest Watch Campaign and Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition programs.
In operation since July 1998, Colorado Wild has grown considerably and become recognized regionally for its expertise and accomplishments related to forest ecosystem protection and forest policy. Comprised of more than 800 concerned skiers, hikers, photographers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, Colorado Wild continues to fill a critical niche. We are the only group that researches, critiques, and strategically challenges logging and ski resort development proposals on the ground statewide. We also review and challenge policies and regulations that might make it difficult to protect ecological values and/or for citizens to participate in decisions about how public lands are managed. By challenging and publicly opposing ill-advised, ecologically damaging projects and policies, Colorado Wild strives to proactively foster sound public land stewardship while galvanizing public support for long-term forest and biological diversity protection.
Colorado Wild works as a part of the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, a coalition conservation organizations dedicated to protecting Colorado’s public lands, air, water, and wildlife habitat.
Staff and Board Members
Leah Bathen, Office Manager [e-mail] (Staff - Durango) Leah Bathen serves as Colorado Wild's office manager and development coordinator. Leah received a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of New Hampshire. At UNH she was awarded an International Research Opportunities Program grant to research rural women's involvement in an environmental NGO in Tanzania. Leah previously served as an Americorps VISA volunteer at PlusTimeNH, a non profit organization, and taught economics as an adjunct faculty member at a Quaker boarding school in New Hampshire.
Ryan Demmy Bidwell, Executive Director[e-mail] (Staff – Durango ) Ryan Demmy Bidwell was hired as Colorado Wild's Executive Director on October 1, 2005. Ryan received a Masters degree in Natural Resource Policy from the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington. For several years he was employed by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks where he was involved with endangered species planning and conservation efforts. Prior to that he gained non-profit advocacy and management experience as The Mountain Forum’s Program Coordinator in West Virginia.
Ben Doon, SACC Research Driector[e-mail] (Staff – San Luis) Ben Doon works as part-time Research Director for Colorado Wild’s Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition, and as a bio-diesel consultant for Costilla County. He has a Master's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and was the director of the Wilderness Study Group there. Ben volunteered full-time for Ancient Forest Rescue for two years and has also worked for the High Country Citizens Alliance in Crested Butte.
Jeremy Garncarz (CW Board – Durango) Jeremy works for the Wilderness Society’s Wilderness Support Center in Durango, CO. Prior to moving to Colorado, he spent nearly four years in Nevada helping to designate almost two million acres of wilderness. Since joining The Wilderness Society in 2004, Jeremy has continued to help grassroots campaigns throughout the country protect special places. Jeremy received his BS and MS in Recreation from Illinois State University. Jeremy joined the CW Board of Directors in 2008.
Paul Joyce, Conservation Associate[e-mail] (Staff – Durango) Paul joined Colorado Wild in July 2009, and will be working to better engage our members, organizational partners, and other interested parties in Colorado Wild’s core advocacy campaigns. Paul has been living and working on Colorado’s western slope for the last 10 years, first as an Interpretive Ranger at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and for the last seven years as a public school science teacher. Paul grew up in Minnesota where he acquired a BS in Recreation Resource Management from the University of Minnesota.
AmyMall (CW Board - Boulder) Amy works for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Boulder, CO. She spent five years in NRDC's Washington, D.C. office as a lobbyist - developing and implementing strategies to influence Congress and the federal agencies on forest policy and other public land matters. Since moving to Boulder in 2006, Amy's new role for NRDC's Land Program has her working on both energy and other environmental issues throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. Amy joined the CW Board of Directors in 2007.
Randal McKown (CW Board – Durango ) Randal McKown was a co-founder, in 1988, of McKown Belanger Associates, an Architecture and Interior Design firm with offices in Albuquerque and Durango. In 2002 the he and his family moved to Durango and he became a Colorado Wild member and active volunteer shortly after. Randal joined the Colorado Wild Board of Directors in 2005. Randal is a Licensed Interior Designer and Registered Architect. He has a degree in Art and Masters degrees in Architecture and Business.
Dan Olson (CW Board – Durango) Dan joined the board in April 2008 and is excited to help Colorado Wild be an effective voice for protecting the wild lands and wildlife of the Southern Rockies. Dan completed an undergraduate degree in Philosophy with a focus in Environmental Ethics at Colgate University in upstate New York. After managing Harvard University's Green Campus inititative for four years and later running his own consulting firm, Dan recently joined Ecos Consulting and is a Senior Manager in their Climate and Sustainability divisions.
JeffParsons (CW Board – Loveland) Jeff Parsons serves as the President of Colorado Wild’s Board of Directors. Jeff is a staff attorney for the Western Mining Action Project (WMAP) in Boulder . A lifelong Colorado resident, Jeff graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1998. He has developed a strong grasp of federal public land law and the National Environmental Policy Act through his work with WMAP, in Washington D.C. with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, as well as with numerous Boulder-based environmental non-profit organizations such as the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, Sinapu, and the National Wildlife Federation.
Rocky Smith, Forest Watch Program Director[e-mail] (Staff – Denver) Rocky Smith serves as Program Director of Colorado Wild’s Forest Watch Campaign program. He moved to Colorado in 1975. He soon became aware of how easily forested ecosystems were damaged, and served as staff forest ecologist for the Colorado Environmental Coalition from 1985 through 1998. He has been defending forests from destruction since 1980 and has become an authority on Colorado ’s National Forest lands and the U.S. Forest Service. He received a BA in communication and public address from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Hunter Sykes, Conservation Associate[e-mail] (Staff – Durango) Hunter grew up in the mountains of Colorado and has lived in the Intermountain West for the majority of his life. He has spent more than 18 years working in outdoor recreation, including 15 years in the ski industry, guiding, teaching, and working in the retail and service sectors. Hunter joined Colorado WIld in May 2008, and is focused on Colorado Wild's Ski Area Citizens Coalition Campaign and the Friends of Wolf Creek Campaign. In addition to his work with Colorado Wild, Hunter also co-owns an environmental and social documentary film company, Coldstream Creative. He holds a BA in History from the University of Colorado and an MA in International Environmental Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Jim Turnbull, Friends of Wolf Creek Mineral County Coordinator[e-mail] (Staff – Creede) Jim serves as the Mineral Country Coordinator for Colorado Wild’s Friends of Wolf Creek Campaign. Jim received a Bachelors degree in Natural Resource Management (1980) from Northern Arizona University School of Forestry. He was employed by the Colorado State Forest Service working in Timber management, silviculture and fire science capacities before moving onto the private sector as Timber Sale regional administrator for Southwest Forest Industries. Jim later worked as Resource Analyst for City of Scottsdale Water Resources/Operations Division. Jim originally retired in 2000, and was later employed by Colorado Wild in April, 2006.
