Northern Colorado’s CYO honored for creating summer job opportunities for young people
At its core, Colorado Youth Outdoors works to bring kids and parents together through outdoor recreational activities. However, the Fort Collins-based nonprofit is also making an impact as a source of summer jobs for young people.
By providing positions for youth, such as camp counselors and facilities staff, as well as volunteer opportunities, CYO is helping to build work skills for a new generation. For many, this is often their first work experience. It’s why the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt (GSJH), an annual initiative to drive youth employment, has named CYO as the winner of its 2024 Young Employer Award. 
“We love our younger staff members. CYO is often their first job; it’s an honor to help prepare them for future jobs, interviews and careers,” says Bob Hewson, CEO of CYO. “Each one brings a unique talent and great energy.”
In addition to employing youth directly, CYO has partnered with the Larimer County Economic & Workforce CareerRise program to host its annual Spring Employment Event, a job fair for teens. The CareerRise staff nominated CYO for the state award, pointing out that “CYO truly sees the value in fostering our youngest generations and does so through several events and community connection points each year.”
From the GSJH employer nomination:
“CYO is truly award-worthy because of its deep commitment to building strong relationships between youth, their parents and their communities through outdoor recreation. CYO offers a unique blend of experiential learning and personal growth by using traditional outdoor activities like archery, fishing and shooting sports. However, the heart of their mission goes far beyond these activities—they believe that time spent together outdoors, guided by their PACD teaching model (participate, appreciate, communicate, dedicate), helps to cultivate meaningful relationships.
What sets CYO apart is their holistic approach, supported by a passionate staff that acts as the foundation of their operations. If CYO were a bow, the staff would be the frame that provides balance and stability, while the instructors are the powerful string that helps the youth, the ‘arrows,’ soar toward their potential. Their dedication to the personal growth of the young people they serve, combined with the nurturing environment they create, makes them exceptional partners for youth development initiatives.”