HELP US RAISE $50K TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF AVALANCHE FORECASTING IN COLORADO!
This season, we are celebrating 50 years of avalanche forecasting in Colorado! The Colorado Avalanche Warning System was founded in 1973 to provide avalanche forecasts for the growing number of people entering the backcountry. The new program operated under the National Forest Service. In 1983, the program moved under the CO Department of Natural Resources and was renamed the CAIC. Originally operating with just three forecasters, the CAIC has expanded tremendously to meet the needs of our backcountry community. We thank everyone who has donated and supported avalanche safety in Colorado!
Friends of CAIC is doing important work as unprecedented numbers of recreationists head into the backcountry this winter. Join your fellow backcountry users in the spirit of giving and help us raise $50K to support avalanche forecasting and education in Colorado. Donate today!
THE MATCH IS BACK! $30,000 match for Colorado Gives donations!
A generous donor has created a $30K match for CO Gives Day! When you donate through Colorado Gives your gift will have twice the impact! Donate today to help us meet the full $30K Match!
The Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center is a 501(c)3 organization that was created to support the CAIC while contributing to avalanche awareness and education throughout Colorado. Since 2014, we have invested just over $2.9 million into avalanche safety. Our work consists of three main program areas, forecasting operations, technology, and education and awareness.
FORECASTING OPERATIONS
Friends of CAIC provides direct financial support to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) to support forecasting operations. This funding allows the CAIC to hire additional seasonal forecasters. With additional forecasting staff, the CAIC is able to collect more snow science data across Colorado's vast areas of avalanche terrain. More forecasters will mean more local field data, which, in turn, will create more accurate and timely avalanche forecasts for you, the backcountry user. With your help, we can support the CAIC and make our entire community safer!
Last year, donors like you helped us provide funding for 5 seasonal forecasters across the state!
TECHNOLOGY
Your gift to Friends of CAIC will help support critical technology developments like the CAIC website and mobile app. These developments are hugely important as they ensure backcountry users can quickly access CAIC forecasts and safety products. Last year, this funding helped the CAIC release a brand new CAIC website, which features some incredible updates, including a new dynamic zone forecasting paradigm. Donor support also helped the CAIC launch the Avalanche Explorer Tool.
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
The Trailhead Outreach Program (TOP) is in its 3rd season, working to keep "checking the forecast" top of mind among backcountry users. This year, we will have two TOP Coordinators visiting trailheads across the state. At each trailhead visit, they will distribute safety information, encourage the use of the CAIC website and mobile app, and answer questions about how to access the safety information generated by the CAIC. Last year, this program allowed us to reach over 8,000 people across Colorado!
Whether newcomers to these sports or seasoned veterans, trailhead interactions with the Friends of CAIC team often lead to discovering new things about the CAIC products and avalanche safety efforts in Colorado. Our goal is to engage with over 7,000 backcountry users at 150 trailhead visits this year!
NEW THIS YEAR - The Friends of CAIC Mobile Avalanche Education Trailer!
With the help of our donors and National Forest Foundation funding, FoCAIC has expanded the TOP to include a new education trailer! We are building out the trailer to be a welcoming place for backcountry users to warm up and engage with avalanche education materials. It will be a focal point at on-snow education events across the state. The trailer will also be used to host more formal education classes, thereby expanding the impact of the TOP across Colorado.
Our other education & awareness programs include:
Friends of CAIC's mission is to support avalanche forecasting and education throughout Colorado.
Our vision is to help build the most robust avalanche forecasting operation in the United States and to make avalanche awareness an essential part of the winter backcountry community's daily plan.
Our organization was established in 2005 to provide additional financial support to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Since 2014, we have invested just over $2.9 million into avalanche safety. This money has funded Know Before You Go, developed avalanche safety videos and signage, created outreach for new and existing users, built new web and mobile applications, and supported the CAIC’s forecast operations.
The Colorado Avalanche Warning Center began issuing public avalanche forecasts in 1973 as part of a research program in the USDA-Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. The program moved out of the federal government, becoming part of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources in 1983. The CAIC joined the Colorado Department of Transportation’s highway safety program in 1993.
Organization name
Friends of Colorado Avalanche Information Center
other names
Friends of CAIC
2005
Tax id (EIN)
76-0788329
Category
Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
PO BOX 1117CO, US