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COLORADO YOUTH OUTDOORS, Fort Collins, CO

Founded in 2001 by outdoor enthusiasts and brothers Bob and Tom Hewson, Colorado Youth Outdoors (CYO) allows families to share outdoor experiences and in the process aims to deepen relationships between parents and children.

Structured as an after-school activity requiring parent participation, the free program provides instruction and equipment to teach youth and their parents about a variety of sportsman education and safety topics, as well as traditional outdoor activities such as fly tying, game calling and tracking, spin and fly fishing, hunting, shooting sports, archery and survival.

A lifelong outdoor sports enthusiast, Mike Calvelage, assistant brewmaster at the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins brewery, has been actively involved with CYO for the past several years.

“I have some great memories from those days on the water or in the field with my father and friends,” said Calvelage. “These days, kids and parents don’t always have the opportunity to share time outdoors. CYO opens that opportunity up for both parents and their children to learn about the outdoors together,” explains Calvelage.

Recently the Anheuser-Busch Foundation donated $25,000 to CYO to help build an outdoor learning center located on CYO’s new campus at Swift Ponds in Northern Colorado. The learning center is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

“The memories and the bonds that are developed in these settings are life changing,” says Calvelage. “With the support of my company, I’m able to help families share these outdoor experiences, while learning about conservation, realizing the importance of preserving our environment for future generations and hopefully developing a lifelong love of the outdoors.”