Celebrating Excellence: Outdoor Recreation Wins CPRA Columbine Award

Each year, the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association (CPRA) brings together parks and recreation professionals from across the state for its Annual Conference. As part of the conference, CPRA recognizes outstanding programs, projects, and professionals through eight major award categories, including the prestigious Columbine Awards for Innovation, Programming, Facility Design, and Park Design.

This year, Mountain Recreation submitted nominations in four different categories, putting the work of our staff alongside some of the top parks and recreation departments and professionals across Colorado. We are incredibly excited and proud to share that one of our nominations was selected as a winner!

Kaili Schroeder, our Outdoor Recreation Supervisor, and her team received the CPRA Columbine Award for Excellence in Programming for the Colorado National Monument Program.

This recognition is especially meaningful because of the tremendous work Kaili and her team have put into rebuilding the program following COVID. Since restarting the trips in 2024, the program has served nearly 500 students, teachers, and chaperones from six local elementary schools. Through these experiences, students have the opportunity to camp, hike, rock climb, learn about the environment, and explore a unique part of Colorado that many may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

What participants see is an incredible outdoor adventure, but behind every trip is an enormous amount of work that most of us never see. From rebuilding school partnerships and supporting families through bilingual outreach to developing curriculum, coordinating staff, checking gear, preparing meals, securing permits, hosting parent meetings, and working with rangers, museums, and community partners, Kaili and her team make each experience possible.

This award reflects not only the quality of the program, but also Kaili’s leadership. We have watched her meet challenges with positivity, determination, and an incredible ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned. She has helped bring unity, culture, and joy to the Outdoor Recreation Department while continuing to grow as a leader. Whether navigating difficult conversations, developing partnerships, supporting her staff, or finding ways to make programs stronger, more inclusive, manageable, and meaningful, Kaili leads with a commitment to both her team and our community.

That leadership is reflected in the quality of the experiences her team provides. Our school partners describe these trips as highly organized, safe, and meaningful experiences that challenge students and help them grow. Kaili and her team have created a program where students learn, push themselves outside their comfort zones, build relationships, and have so much fun that one of the biggest complaints on the final night is that they don’t want to go home.

We are incredibly proud of Kaili and the entire Outdoor Recreation team for this accomplishment and, more importantly, for the lasting impact their work is having on our community. This statewide recognition is a well-deserved celebration of the dedication, leadership, and behind-the-scenes effort that make the Colorado National Monument Program such a meaningful experience for local students.

Please join us in congratulating Kaili and the Outdoor Recreation team on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement!