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Dec 17
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Press Release: Historic National Heritage Area Program Bill Passed in the House Supports Future of Colorados Heritage

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NEWS RELEASE

December 17th, 2020

For immediate release; for more information, contact:

Kathleen Benedict, Executive Director

Poudre Heritage Alliance

(970)-222-5795

Historic National Heritage Area Program Bill Passed in the House Supports Future of Colorados Heritage

 

Washington, DC – Colorado, USA (December 17th)– The December 4th passage in the House of Representatives of the National Heritage Area Act of 2020, H.R. 1049, establishes a National Heritage Area System and reauthorizes funding for the nation’s 55 National Heritage Areas (NHAs), three of which are in Colorado, until the fiscal year 2034. National Heritage Areas are places designated by Congress for their cultural, natural, historic resources that combined tell a nationally significant story about our nation’s diverse heritage. The bill is currently under review in the Senate. 

The three Colorado Heritage Areas, Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (designated in1996), South Park National Heritage Area (designated in 2009), and Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area (designated 2009), are currently authorized to only receive appropriated funding for three more years until the year 2024. While not considered National Park Units, NHAs receive technical and financial assistance from the National Park Service who administers the program. Among championing historic preservation, educational programming, and heritage tourism, NHAs generate economic value for their communities, on average $5.50 per $1 of federal funds spent. An Economic Impact Study completed in 2017 by the Poudre Heritage Alliance (the managing entity of the Cache la Poudre River NHA) showed an annual $81.6 million impact on their region and $6.9 million generated in tax revenues. 

This bill would allow for 10 additional years of federal funding for the Colorado NHAs before the Department of the Interior evaluates the accomplishments of the areas, and submits to specified congressional committees for a recommendation on future federal funding. Based upon the evaluation, the Department of the Interior will prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service’s continued role, if any, with respect to the area. The bill had bipartisan support and over 220 co-sponsors including Colorado Representatives: Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Diana DeGette, and Rep, Scott Tipton. 

On December 7th, 2020, nearly two years after its first introduction to the House in February 2019, the bill was introduced in the Senate. After two readings, it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for review. This committee will meet in the new year, on January 29th, 2021. 

 

ABOUT THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AND THE POUDRE HERITAGE ALLIANCE

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA), a 45-mile stretch of the Lower Poudre River, tells the story of the river where Western Water Law took shape and how the river still informs the use of water throughout the arid West today.  CALA’s 501(c)3 nonprofit managing entity, the Poudre Heritage Alliance – PROMOTES a variety of historical and cultural opportunities; ENGAGES people in their river corridor; and INSPIRES learning, preservation, and stewardship. Find out more at:  https://poudreheritage.org/

 

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Nov 24
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Support Poudre Heritage Alliance on Colorado Gives Day!

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There are two weeks left until Colorado Gives Day! This state-wide day of giving on Dec. 8th unites all Coloradans in a common goal to strengthen the state’s nonprofits by giving to their favorite charities online.

Help the Poudre Heritage Alliance reach our goal of raising $2,000 in 24 hours to support programs that PROMOTE historical opportunities, ENGAGE people with the Poudre River & INSPIRE stewardship!

Colorado Gives Day features a $1 Million Incentive Fund, created by Community First Foundation and FirstBank. It is one of the largest gives-day incentive funds in the country.

Every donation made through ColoradoGives.org on Colorado Gives Day is boosted by the fund, which increases the value of every dollar. For example, if a nonprofit organization receives 10 percent of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, that same nonprofit receives 10 percent of the $1 Million Incentive Fund.

To schedule your Colorado Gives Day donation for PHA today visit: www.coloradogives.org/PoudreHeritageAlliance/overview

Nov 10
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PHA Welcomes New Project Coordinator

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The Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) is excited to welcome Linden Pearsall as our new Project Coordinator. A local to Massachusetts, Linden graduated in 2020 with a degree in Hospitality Tourism Management, a minor in Sustainable Community Development, and a certificate in Sustainable Tourism. She completed two exchange semesters at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and Mahidol University International College in Thailand. She went on to work in international education as a study abroad advisor for students – finding them a program based on their academic, personal, and professional goals. In this position, Linden went on to develop and write the Accessibility Abroad Handbook, a best practices guide for sending students with disabilities abroad. Linden joins the PHA after volunteering in Argentina and completing an internship for the National Park Service (NPS). Linden finds joy in diving headfirst into a project, and can typically be found working in her garden or visiting a unique museum.

Linden has already made a big impact at the organization, helping to create our newest program, the Study Outdoors, Learn Outdoors (SOLO) Field Trip program, during her NPS internship. We look forward to having Linden on our team, working to improve our efforts to PROMOTE a variety of historical and cultural opportunities, ENGAGE people in their river corridor and INSPIRE learning, preservation, and stewardship.

To contact Linden please email programs@poudreheritage.org.

 

Nov 02
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2019 Annual Report Now Available!

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As we look back retrospectively at 2019, we realize what a wonderful and fun year it was for the Poudre Heritage Alliance and the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area.

This annual report celebrates so many significant accomplishments – educational programming, fun events, leadership within the Heritage Area, volunteer power, critical funds raised, and more! Then, as we moved into 2020, everything changed for so many of us in ways completely unforeseen.

This leads us to further appreciate the uniqueness of that 2019 journey to promote, engage and inspire people with the Heritage Area.

With this report, celebrate with us the achievements of 2019 that demonstrated the Poudre Heritage Alliance commitment to bringing our river legacy to life!

– Kathleen Benedict, Executive Director

 

Read the 2019 Annual Report

Oct 20
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New Program: Study Outdoors, Learn Outdoors (SOLO) Field Trips

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The PHA’s new “Study Outdoors, Learn Outdoors” (SOLO) field trips provide students with the opportunity for a self-guided learning adventure within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Local educators have developed active, engaging curriculum routes in Greeley and Fort Collins, providing students with a safe, educational experience by biking or walking routes on the Poudre Trail while answering place-based learning questions related to the Poudre River. Plus, the route curriculums align with Colorado academic standards. Current routes include:

We believe that the Cache la Poudre River is an engaging and inspirational learning environment. Together, we can continue to build our next generation of river stewards, even during a pandemic!

Calling all educators! Interested in learning more about SOLO field trips for your classes? Follow the link below or email Linden at programs@poudreheritage.org.

Oct 12
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Lifting Voices from the Shadows on Indigenous Peoples Day

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Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Join us today, and every day, in honoring the Native American tribes that occupied the lower Cache la Poudre valley in northern Colorado for thousands of years before Euroamerican settlers arrived in the area. These tribes included the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Ute, and Arapaho tribes. At the National Heritage Area, we seek to preserve and share the many different cultures that make the Cache la Poudre River valley so unique. Part of this work involves preserving historic knowledge, oral traditions, and language and honoring the ancestral connections these groups have to the land.

The “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project is one such opportunity to preserve and share Native American history. In particular, an opportunity for Northern Arapaho women, like Florita Soldier Wolf featured in this video, to tell about their personal experiences with voting, both past and present. The project is funded by a “Women in Parks Innovation and Impact” grant from the National Park Foundation.

“I think it was a good thing that we voted ‘cuz we were counted too in our voting. So, that’s what I know about voting.” – Florita Soldier Wolf, Northern Arapaho

Learn more about the Poudre Heritage Alliance and the “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project at: https://poudreheritage.org/lifting-voices/ 

Sep 21
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Virtual Poudre Pour Happy Hour – Sept. 25

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The Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) is hosting a virtual Poudre Pour Happy Hour – an educational celebration of the Cache la Poudre River – on Friday, September 25, 2020 from 4:00-6:00PM. The event will feature live stream music from Blues musician Grace Kuch, “Meet the Brewer” breakout rooms hosted by Horse & Dragon, Purpose Brewing, Timnath Beerwerks and Odell Brewing Co., infused appetizers to-go from Z Catering, a silent auction supporting PHA programs, guest speakers, giveaways, and more! Event information and FREE tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-poudre-pour-happy-hour-tickets-117676819535

Water from the Poudre River has nourished our region for centuries. Today, the Poudre and other rivers in the West are under exceptional stress due to growing populations, drought, and other demands on our water supplies. The Poudre Heritage Alliance raises awareness about water issues and connects people to their water heritage through a variety of year-round programs and events such as the Poudre Pour.

“We care deeply about the Poudre River. I grew up playing in and on it, and only in adulthood came to realize how much we and downstream neighbors rely on its abundance and health,” Said Carol Cochran, owner of Horse & Dragon Brewing Company. “For our product, delicious craft beer, a healthy watershed is vital.  For all of us in our community, this beautiful river is at the root of what drew us here and is the thread that connects us all.”

All proceeds from the virtual happy hour event will benefit the Poudre Heritage Alliance, the 501(c)3 managing nonprofit of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. The Poudre Heritage Alliance works to PROMOTE a variety of historical and cultural opportunities, ENGAGE people in their river corridor and INSPIRE learning, preservation, and stewardship. To view the silent auction and place your bids visit: https://www.32auctions.com/poudrehappyhour2020 

The PHA’s 3rd Annual Poudre Pour was scheduled for March 28, 2020 but, due to COVID-19, had to be cancelled. The PHA staff and board hope to continue the momentum around the in-person Poudre Pour event with this virtual happy hour, bringing together community members from around Northern Colorado to celebrate our shared Poudre River heritage. The next in-person Poudre Pour is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Boardwalk Park in Windsor, CO.

Sep 10
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Celebrate Success: National Heritage Area’s 2019 Impact Numbers

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Photo: The Cumbres & Toltec zooms along the tracks in the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area in southern Colorado, one of 55 National Heritage Areas in the United States.

 

From the National Park Service – National Heritage Area’s blog:

National Heritage Areas are a grassroots, community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects.

Check-out the NHA 2019 impact numbers:

In 2019, NHAs:

  • Leveraged $84.5 million in cash and in-kind support to carry out heritage projects and programs, greatly increasing the impact of the $19.3 million in federal Heritage Partnership Program funding received.
  • Engaged 2,674 formal partners and 5,286 informal partners in heritage area activities.
  • Benefited from 36,289 volunteers contributing over 475,511 hours for heritage area projects – a $12.3 million-dollar value.

Preserving our Heritage. Across the country, National Heritage Areas and their partners are reviving historic downtowns, preserving battlefields and industrial sites, and sharing our nation’s history through the arts. In 2019:

  • 214 historic sites and 13,840 acres of cultural landscapes preserved and maintained, including battlefields. •
  • 104 community development projects were carried-out, including streetscape improvement and art projects. •
  • 55 collections projects undertaken, including the conservation of artifacts and creation of oral histories.
  • 82 historic preservation grants awarded totaling $904,294.

Recreation and Conservation. Through recreational projects such as land and water trails, National Heritage Areas are improving connectivity and accessibility, creating more vibrant and healthy communities. In 2019:

  • 154 recreation projects undertaken.
  • 567 miles of trails maintained and 95 new miles of trails developed.
  • 72 recreation grants awarded totaling $1.2 million.

Conservation activities led by National Heritage Area entities and their partners improve air and water quality and support healthy ecosystems. In 2019:

  • 12,858 acres of land restored and maintained via invasive species removal, replanting and toxic site clean-ups.
  • 54 conservation grants awarded totaling $601,078.

Educating Current and Future Leaders. Through programs such as Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area’s National History Academy. National Heritage Areas and their partners are providing meaningful and inspirational connections to our nation’s heritage and exploring the qualities and skills of leadership. In 2019:

  • Capacity-building assistance provided to 1,162 organizations.
  • 302 educational programs were offered.
  • 2,700 grants to support educational programs were awarded totaling $2.1 million.

To learn more about National Heritage Areas please visit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/heritageareas/index.htm

Sep 02
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Intern Spotlight: Bekah Schields

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We are excited to welcome Rebekah “Bekah” Schields to our staff as a Programs Intern! Bekah comes to us through the Stewards Program run by Conservation Legacy, which “provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources.”  Bekah will be working on several programs and projects with PHA, including the Heritage Culturalist Volunteers program, Water Legacy oral history project and the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area Strategic Interpretive Plan.

Bekah is passionate about bringing history to the public in a variety of ways. She has worked in heritage and archaeology education for the past five years. She recently graduated from Colorado State University with an M.A. in History and she also holds a B.S. in Anthropology from Montana State University. When she is not researching or reading, Bekah can be found enjoying a local beer, playing board games, or working on an embroidery project.

Aug 27
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“Lifting Voices from the Shadows” – Fay Soldier Wolf interview

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The “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project is an opportunity for Northern Arapaho women, like Fay Soldier Wolf featured in this video, to share their personal experiences with voting, both past and present.

The project is funded by a “Women in Parks Innovation and Impact” grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). The goal of the grant “is to support projects and programs that help the NPS share a more comprehensive American narrative that includes the voices of women.” In particular, the initiative is meant to raise awareness of the 19th Amendment’s centennial this year and to “highlight stories of women who continue to shape the world.” However, Indigenous women did not gain the right to vote in 1920. It was not until the Snyder Act passed in 1924 that Indigenous Americans earned their full U.S. citizenship, though some states continued to deny Indigenous Americans their enfranchisement as late as 1962.

Learn more about the Poudre Heritage Alliance and the “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project at: https://poudreheritage.org/lifting-voices/ 
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