COSA Conference – Colorado Open Space Alliance

2025 Colorado Open Space Alliance Conference

October 6–8, 2025
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Celebrating Stories of Open Space: 25 Years of Conservation and Connections

Help us celebrate COSA’s 25th annual conference in Steamboat Springs, Colorado! The conference will be held at The Steamboat Grand, an amazing conference center just steps from the base of the ski area. Accommodations range from a selection of spacious hotel rooms to condos and penthouses, so plan to bring your entire family!

COSA continues to partner with the Rocky Mountain Ranger Association and the National Association of Interpretation Four Corners Region to bring you an amazing line-up of conference sessions and keynote speakers. Offsite field trips and a 25th conference anniversary celebration featuring Mountainfilm on Tour will make COSA’s 25th conference its best yet!

Full Conference Early Bird
Before Aug. 15

$395

Full Conference Standard Rate
After Aug. 15

$450

One Day

$150

Guest Ticket
Mountainfilm on Tour and COSA Networking Event

$30*

Rocky Mountain Ranger Association
After Hours at Snow Bowl

$25 RMRA Members
$45 Non-RMRA Members

*Mountainfilm on Tour and COSA Networking Event are included in the early bird and standard full conference registration.

Conference Agenda

Registration Questions? Please contact our registration provider, iPlanItMeetings. They are available Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm Mountain time. Use the chat in the bottom right corner of the registration page, email them at COSA@iplanitmeetings.com, or give them a call at (800) 781-1193 ext 2.

Christopher Preston

Christopher Preston is an award-winning author, environmental philosopher, public speaker, and clean energy enthusiast based in Missoula, Montana. Christopher grew up on the white cliffs of England’s south coast and moved to Colorado at age 22 to pursue a graduate degree from Colorado State University. While in the United States, he fell in love with the giant landscapes, wildlife, and wildlands of Alaska. Christoper is a accomplished writer and his most recent work, Tenacious Beasts, won the 2024 High Plains Book Award for non-fiction and was included in The New Yorker’s ‘Best Books of 2023.’ Christopher will share his experiences researching recoveries across the globe and the lessons that open space agencies can learn from these success stories.

Marcus Robinson

Marcus Robinson is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ride for Racial Justice, a Colorado-based organization whose mission is to ensure access to resources, education, and community for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) cyclists and to dismantle systemic racism. Through advocacy and lobbying, Ride for Racial Justice works to enhance BIPOC leadership, voices, experiences, community and infrastructure in cycling, from global brand to local events. Marcus came to Colorado as an infant and like many kids, Marcus was lucky to have a bike growing up. That sense of freedom and joy is still a driving force for him today. Marcus attended Denver East High School and Colorado State University. Marcus will share his insights on equity and the outdoors and how open space agencies can ensure our parks and trails are welcoming, equitable spaces.

Now Accepting Session Proposals

The theme for the 2023 conference is From Legacy to Lasting Impact. All proposals will be considered, but preference will be given to proposals that address topics of legacy and forward thinking.

Submit Proposal

Hotel Accommodations

Viewline Resort Snowmass
100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass Villiage, Colorado
970-742-0005
Starting at $149/night

Book Room

Last day to book at the discounted rate is Friday, Sept. 1.

Tax Exemption Information: Each guest is required to provide their individual tax exempt certificates to the Viewline Resort Snowmass prior to arrival. Email your tax certificate to Group.Reservations@ViewlineResortSnowmass.com. The hotel must have one certificate on file for each paying guest.

Colorado Open Space Alliance Conference
"Renew, Recharge, Reconnect"

September 19-21, 2022
Elevations Hotel and Spa
Crested Butte, Colorado

Sorry, but the conference is SOLD OUT and our waitlist has reached capacity.

Registration Tips

Make sure the select the correct ticket type if you want to attend the networking event on Tuesday night (the networking event is an additional $25).
Select your sessions after choosing your ticket type.
Open the event schedule in another widow to reference session descriptions during registration.
Certain field trips have an additional fee. A separate invoice will be sent.
You can change your sessions after registration if needed using the attendee portal.

Networking Event

Everyone is invited to attend the networking event on Tuesday. Tickets are $25 and need to be purchased for each guest or conference attendee who did not register using a ticket with the networking event option.

Purchase Networking Event Ticket

Hotel Reservations

Elevations Hotel SOLD OUT

Unfortunately the Elevations Hotel is completely sold out of rooms. Please try reserving a room at the Grand Lodge.

Grand Lodge

The Grand Lodge is only a two minute walk to the conference and COSA registrants are guaranteed their lowest rate of $126/night + $20 resort fee. $49 is due at time of booking, with 100% due 7 days before arrival. All payments are non-refundable. Parking is free.

Please call 855-332-1601 option 1, then option 7 any day from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to get the group rate.