Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Grants Awarded
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) and Latino Outdoors will host events during Latino Conservation Week, July 13-20, 2024, to engage the Latino community in outdoor activities and conservation efforts. Through a youth rafting trip, a community festival at Rio Bravo Community Park, and a hike along the Continental Divide Trail, the program aims to empower Latinx youth and their families with the skills and confidence to utilize public lands and recreate independently, ultimately fostering a deeper connection to the environment.
Funding will support a title sponsorship for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition's (CDTC) signature event, CDT Trail Days/Gila Earth Day, in Silver City, New Mexico, from April 19th-21st, 2024. This milestone event aims to enhance community engagement and environmental stewardship by uniting thousands of participants to celebrate shared outdoor spaces and promote the protection of the area's cultural and natural resources.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is requesting $24,950 to improve trail infrastructure and expand community outreach in the Cuba and Lordsburg regions of New Mexico, covering 40 miles. This program is designed to enhance the trail experience, promote sustainable tourism, and foster community engagement, benefiting both participants and the local area.
The partnership between the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) and the U.S. Forest Service, along with New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) and Backcountry Horsemen (BCH), will engage 75 volunteers in maintaining and constructing 13 miles of trail in the Gila National Forest. These efforts will enhance safety and access for trail users, ultimately boosting outdoor recreation and supporting the local economy by increasing visitor foot traffic in southern New Mexico.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) promotes community involvement through volunteer maintenance projects in the Carson National Forest, Adopt-a-Trail training in Silver City, and stewardship events in designated Gateway Communities across New Mexico. These initiatives prioritize addressing deferred maintenance and enhancing infrastructure on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), ultimately fostering greater environmental stewardship and benefiting the local community.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will use funding to design and install two interpretive trailhead kiosks in Carson National Forest, while also facilitating four community-based stewardship events in designated Gateway Communities in New Mexico. These initiatives will enhance local engagement in trail stewardship and improve trail conditions and accessibility for residents and visitors alike.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition’s (CDTC) mission is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) by building a diverse Trail community, providing up-to-date information to the public, and encouraging stewardship of the Trail, its corridor, and surrounding landscapes. Our vision is to see that the CDT is a renowned and revered natural resource for people to connect with friends, family, and community, draw inspiration, and create outstanding personal and interpersonal experiences. We see the CDT as a world-class landscape that inspires pride, passion, respect, creativity, community, and perseverance, connecting landscapes, ecosystems, and communities along the spine of the continent.