Are you well versed in any recreation or open space related activity or hands on experience that our conference attendees would find interesting or fun? Then you should submit your proposed idea to our field trip subcommittee, we are looking to connect conference goers to the Crested Butte area!
The COSA Steering Committee is seeking proposals to bring new and unique field trip opportunities hosted by local organizations to highlight Open Space-oriented successes and projects around our conference locations.
The deadline for submitting 2026 proposals is Friday, May 15.
Please review the information below to learn more about the field trip selection criteria.
General Requirements
- Field trips are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, October 6 and typically run 2-4 hours. Participants should be back at the conference venue around 5:30 pm.
- We invite conference participants and/or Crested Butte-Gunnison locals in the industry to submit an application to lead or host a field trip experience during this year’s conference. We are especially interested in creative ideas that offer new perspectives, but we welcome proposals of all types; some topic suggestions are listed below. Whether your expertise lies in outdoor recreation, education, conservation, or another field entirely, we encourage you to submit an RFP. Our goal is to curate a diverse range of engaging, inclusive, and memorable field experiences for attendees.
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- Angling- spin cast and fly fishing
- Wildlife
- Rock Climbing
- Local History
- Water Recreation
- Conserved Landscapes and Agriculture
- Other relevant topics/activities
- Field trip RFP respondents should plan all-inclusive field trip opportunities that include transportation needs, educational content, and necessary logistical support.
- We will prioritize field trips that can be offered at no additional cost to attendees. While we can pass costs along, free opportunities are preferred.
- While no direct compensation is available for field-trip hosts, the hosts will receive recognition on all field trip related materials published by COSA and recognition during the conference plenary presentation.
- You must fill out all information in the fields provided below. Follow-up conversations with the COSA Steering Committee may be necessary to clarify the proposal.
The theme for the 2026 conference is Caring for the Commons.
Field Trip Selection Criteria
The COSA Steering Committee will review and select field trip proposals using the following set of criteria:
- Cost: Preference will be given to proposals that can be offered at no additional cost to conference attendees.
- Thematic Alignment: Clear and relevant connection to the 2026 conference theme: Caring for the Commons.
- Local Significance: Highlights unique local landscapes, conservation successes, and community stories relevant to open space and land management.
- Program Diversity: Contributes to a balanced and diverse program by addressing identified topical gaps (e.g., Angling, Water Recreation, Rock Climbing, Wildlife, etc.).
- Interdisciplinary Focus: Showcases interdisciplinary connections, linking open space topics with other relevant themes.
- Professional Relevance: Direct applicability of the topic to the core work of local open space programs and other conservation organizations.
- Audience Engagement: Provides opportunities for active audience interaction and engagement throughout the trip.
Trip Coordinator Requirements
- Each submitted proposal must designate a Trip Coordinator to manage the trip and work with any other leaders. This is typically the person who submitted the initial proposal.
- COSA will only communicate directly with the Trip Coordinator, who is responsible for sharing all information with others supporting the trip.
- Trip leaders are not automatically registered for the conference and must register individually if they plan to attend other conference activities.
The 2026 proposal deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, MST.
Field Trip Proposal Application
Use the PDF version of the application form to view all of the application questions. All final applications must be submitted through the Google form linked above. 2026 COSA Field Trip Proposal Application PDF
Contact
If you have questions or need assistance with submitting a session proposal, please email fieldtrips@coloradoopenspace.org.