Photo Contest Winners!
November 13, 2025
On October 22nd, we celebrated our volunteers with a Volunteer Appreciation Party at Amalie Bistro & Wine. GARNA couldn’t serve the community without our volunteers, and we are so grateful for the 270 individual volunteers that made our programs a success this year. Our thanks also go out to Amalie Bistro & Wine for hosting this event at their beautiful space in Buena Vista.
GARNA surprised 11 individuals with awards for going above and beyond with their contributions to GARNA programs. Awards are listed below.
Stephanie Shugerman started supporting GARNA’s summer Nature Camp as an AmeriCorps with the Alpine Achievers Initiative in 2024. She returned to support Nature Camp in 2025 and kept volunteering even after her AmeriCorps service term ended. She received the Child Wrangler Extraordinaire Award for providing exceptional education at Nature Camp and approaching every day with unwavering enthusiasm, energy, and care.
Mildred Rogers started volunteering with GARNA’s youth programs this year, and saved the day by volunteering at field trips that were short staffed. She received the Field Trip Hero Award for lending a hand to help when we needed it most!
Jay Scoggins received the Rec Adopter of The Year Award for attending the most workdays and dedicating the most volunteer hours to Chaffee Rec Adopters projects of any volunteer this year.
Sarah Connolly, one of our new Rec Adopters volunteers, received the Rookie Of The Year Award for leaping into public lands stewardship volunteer workdays with enthusiasm and commitment.
Dave Pasley received the On Fire Award for becoming a pro at deconstructing and reconstructing campfire rings throughout multiple volunteer workdays throughout 2025.
Jeff Keidel received the Buck-N-Rail Buff award for attending several events that had to do with fencing this year; from installing gate posts and building buck-n-rail fencing to removing barbed wire fencing, Jeff is a fencing legend.
Alan Robinson received the Arkansas River Valley Steward Award for his decades of commitment and leadership towards forwarding conservation in the Arkansas River Valley with Friends of Fourmile.
Neil Bingert and Darcie Smith both received a Trailblazer Award for co-leading the longest and highest altitude Hiking Club hike of the season.
Sue Sulley received the Golden Sneakers Award for leading the most hikes with Hiking Club in 2025.
Jeremy Ward received the Titration Titan Award for volunteering his time to conduct water quality monitoring along the Arkansas River and its tributaries.
Diane Falconer received the Fundraising Champion Award for supporting GARNA staff in throwing the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and helping GARNA raise over $2,000 in the process!
GARNA works with communities of the upper Arkansas River valley to foster the stewardship of the region’s natural environment and the resilience of our communities.
