HISTORY OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN MANREACH
Colorado ManREACH changed its name to Rocky Mountain ManREACH in 2025. This History was updated in March 2026.
The idea for Colorado ManREACH formed in 2003 when three Coloradoanswere introduced to a group in Northern California known as the Billy Community. The Billys are a group of gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender (GBQT) men who draw inspiration for creating community from many sources, including Ancestral Puebloans and the Radical Faeries. Billy “gatherings” are hosted several times each year. They are volunteer driven, offer a heart-centered environment, and are recreational drug and alcohol-free.
THE TERM “HEART-CENTERED” REFERS TO A PRESENCE OF MIND THAT ALLOWS EACH OF US TO HONOR OUR FEELINGS AND THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS. SUCH EMOTIONAL AUTHENTICITY CREATES A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEN CAN SHARE THEIR TRUTHS. WITHIN THIS SPACE, EACH MAN CAN SPEAK OPENLY AND HONESTLY, BE HEARD WITHOUT JUDGMENT AND ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY. WITHIN THIS SPACE, EACH MAN HAS THE POWER TO OFFER AND RECEIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, WISDOM, ACCEPTANCE, COMPASSION, AND HEALING.
Having experienced a Billy gathering firsthand, these three individuals representing Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) in Fort Collins, Western Colorado AIDS Project (WestCAP) in Grand Junction, and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in Denver, wanted to create something equally meaningful for GBQT men in rural Colorado. At a meeting in Grand Junction in the summer of 2003, the idea of hosting statewide gatherings, in addition to the local activities coordinated by the ASOs, came into being. The program was named Colorado ManREACH. REACH is an acronym for Rural Education in Action for Community Health.
In the fall of 2003, a “dinner tour” was hosted by NCAP and WestCAP (also known as AIDS Service Organizations or ASOs), CDPHE, and a member of the Billy Community. Six dinners, one each in Fort Collins, Pueblo, Vail, Grand Junction, Durango, and Alamosa, brought together a total of 68 men. The dinners began with introductions and icebreakers, followed by a two hour-long focus group that gave men the opportunity to discuss their local community resources and begin expanding their networks. The dinners concluded with CDPHE staff presenting a condensed program on harm reduction, HIV prevention interventions, and behavioral theory so those in attendance could gain insight into the goals of the publicly funded program.
From “Movement: Stories From A Kinetic Community”.
(Cal-Wood, 2008. Photo by Robby Robertson.)
A COMMUNITY VISION
Based on the dinner tour findings, a visioning retreat was held at Red Rocks Ranch near Westcliff over the 2004 Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-five men, considered to be gatekeepers of local GBTQ communities across rural Colorado attended, along with representatives from CDPHE, the ASOs, and the Billy Community. During the retreat, the original mission of Colorado ManREACH was created: “to build heart-centered connections and community for GBTQ men in the rural, mountain, and frontier regions of Colorado.” I also was at this retreat that the heart circle was introduced, a supportive community began to form, and the seeds of a peer-based prevention program were planted. The visioning retreat in May 2004 at Red Rocks Ranch is considered the time and place when Colorado ManREACH was first established.
HEART CIRCLES ARE ROOTED IN ANCIENT CULTURES; SACRED SPACES WHERE MEN CAN SPEAK FROM THE HEART NOT THE MIND. A TALISMAN IS PASSED AROUND. THE PERSON HOLDING IT MAY SPEAK, SIT SILENTLY, OR PASS IT ON. IF HE CHOOSES TO SPEAK, HE IS WITNESSED BY A COMMUNITY OF LISTENERS. THE HEART CIRCLE IS A PLACE OF EMOTIONAL AUTHENTICITY, ACCEPTANCE, AND COMPASSION. IT HAS THE POWER TO AFFECT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN A PROFOUND WAY.
A second 2004 gathering was scheduled at Bison Peak Lodge near Lake George in August. Sixty-four men traveled from all regions of the state to attend. The sense of community - the acceptance, love, and respect of each individual - was a threshold moment for many. The experience generated inspiration and enthusiasm for future ManREACH gatherings.
The Official Unofficial Welcoming Committee works the check-in table. (Camp Kiwanis, 2005. Photo by John Peters-Campbell.)
WestCAP coordinated two gatherings in 2005, both at Camp Kiwanis on Grand Mesa. The first is known as “Awakening”. Morning heart circles, personal growth workshops, and a fun mix of activities were planned. (Heart circles are held in the mornings to engender a heart-centered approach to each day.) Sixty-two men attended this July event. Fifty-five attended “Autumn Balance” in September. Approximately one half of September participants also attended in July.
Also in 2005, Colorado ManREACH created a steering committee comprised of community members to assist with organizing, marketing, and managing various programmatic tasks. The committee convened for a planning retreat in December at Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown. It was at this retreat that committee members developed the core principles and values for the ManREACH program, as well as the framework for the curriculum. Additionally, ideas about how to sustain the program emerged, including a suggestion to file for tax-exempt non-profit status in order to become eligible for other sources of funding in addition to those received from CDPHE.
In 2006, Colorado ManREACH further developed its programming, implemented additional outreach activities, and planned three statewide events. The first was to be held at a retreat in Beulah in July, but was canceled due to a hostile reaction from some individuals who did not want GBTQ men to use their facility. The second was held at Camp Kiwanis on Grand Mesa in August. Thirty-three men attended this gathering named “Rising.” It was here that the ManREACH curriculum was piloted. A third gathering, “Harvest”, was held in October at Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown. Forty-seven attended. The theme was chosen to remind us to celebrate the bounty of our lives and, ultimately, that we reap what we sow. 2006 attendance data showed each gathering was comprised of approximately one-half returning participants and one-half new arrivals.
A NEW CHAPTER
In 2007, Colorado ManREACH applied for and received its tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the federal government. “A New Chapter” gathering was held at the Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown in July. “A New Chapter” referred not only to ManREACH’s new non-profit designation, but also to the new chapters each of us begins at various points in our lives. “Evolution”, the September event at Camp Kiwanis was the second gathering that year. “Evolution” honored the history of the ManREACH program and underscored how each of us is in a continual state of growth and change, and how each of us can affect our future by making decisions and acting in ways that support our long-term goals. Unfortunately, the heavy rains that occurred during this event overwhelmed Camp Kiwanis’ water and septic systems. What became the “Rain Soaked and Plumbing’s Broke” gathering ended early, and Camp Kiwanis closed indefinitely.
Colorado ManREACH added a third statewide gathering to its schedule in 2008. Events were held at Stone Forest Retreat Center in Cedaredge, Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown, and La Foret Retreat in the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs. Now ManREACH was hosting multi-day events in Northern and Southern Colorado, and on the Western Slope.
In 2009, ManREACH received a grant from the Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (CHAPP) that funded six, new, one-day gatherings and “Yes, We Camp!”, a multi-day camp out. The funds allowed Colorado ManREACH to expand its programs into the Central Mountain and Four Corners Regions of the state. “Conversation in the R.A.W. (Real Ass World)” was the educational component offered at these events. The conversations built on the trust community members had nurtured among themselves in order to discuss issues relating to sexual heath.
The first “Yes, We Camp!” was held in June 2010 at Angel of Shavano Campground near Maysville on Monarch Pass. Twenty-five men attended. The outdoor component was exhilarating. Three additional gatherings were held that summer and six one-day events in the spring and fall. ManREACH hosted 10 events in 2010. Locations included Stone Forest Retreat in Cedaredge, Tamasag Retreat Center in Bellvue, La Foret Retreat in Colorado Springs, and Cal-Wood Retreat Center in Jamestown.
In the spring of 2011, Colorado ManREACH added the Sophia Peace Center in Dolores to its list of locations. It was the first time ManREACH hosted an event in the Four Corners Region. Twenty-two men attended this inaugural, one-day event. In total, ManREACH hosted 10 events in 2011: four summer gatherings and six one-day events. The summer schedule included Angel of Shavano, Cal-Wood, Stone Forest, and La Foret. The other one-day locations included Tamasag and La Foret. Sadly, this was the last year Colorado ManREACH hosted “Yes, We Camp!” Looming federal budget cuts forced the organization to reduce its offerings going forward. 2011 This also was the last year ManREACH hosted a summer gathering at Stone Forest due to its small lodging capacity. It did, however, continue using the venue’s geodesic dome for one-day events.
A BIG CHANGE
Colorado ManREACH was created by and for rural GBQT men. It received federal dollars for its efforts to help limit the spread of HIV in rural areas of Colorado. It also received funding through individual donations and private grants. When the National AIDS Strategy was updated in 2010, nearly all federal HIV prevention funding began flowing to urban-based organizations. In Colorado, most federal funding went to the Denver metro area. Because ManREACH was rural-based, federal funds were not available after December 31, 2011.
Thankfully, because ManREACH was well known for its efforts to limit the spread of HIV, it received a three-year grant from the Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (CHAPP) in 2012. That year, ManREACH hosted three multi-day gatherings in the summer and seven one-day events in the spring and fall. Summer gatherings were held at Cal-Wood, La Foret, and Sophia. One-day locations included Rock Ledge Ranch in Colorado Springs, Tamasag Retreat Center in Bellvue, Hotel Melrose in Grand Junction, Stone Forest, and Sophia.
In 2013, ManREACH added Cross Orchards in Grand Junction and Primrose Studio in Fort Collins to its list of venues for one-day events. A total of eight gatherings were held this year, including two more one-day events at Rock Ledge and Sophia. Summer gatherings took place at Cal-Wood, Sophia, and La Foret. 2013 brought another significant challenge: the loss of state funding. Like federal funding before it, CDPHE shifted state grants away from rural programs to urban ones, i.e., Denver. ManREACH did not qualify for state funding after June 2014. The loss did not prevent the organization from celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2014 at Cal-Wood in June and La Foret over Labor Day. It did, of course, present a challenge moving forward.
Heart-Centered. (Cal-Wood, 2013. Anonymous photo.)
THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY
2015 was the first year of a plan to transform ManREACH from a publicly funded organization to a self-sustaining one. Funding came from individual donations and Gamma Mu Foundation. Gatherings were held at Stone Forest over Memorial Day Weekend, Cal-Wood in June and La Foret over Labor Day Weekend. The community’s new sense of self-determination was reflected in the depth of the connections at each event. Through a series of “Community Conversations”, it became clear that most participants wanted Colorado ManREACH to continue – to thrive! – while ensuring that men from all walks of life could benefit from it. Toward that end, Steering Committee and community members worked throughout the year to create a new business model that would allow ManREACH to host a small number of multi-day gatherings each year. The new model - to begin in 2016 - included charging a registration fee and offering scholarships.
2016 was another busy year for Colorado ManREACH. An online registration system and scholarship fund were created. The organization also launched a Local Potluck Initiative to help community members stay connected and encourage new participants to attend. Eight potlucks were hosted up and down the Front Range that year. ManREACH received another grant from Gamma Mu Foundation in 2016. Gamma Mu supports organizations that serve the GBQT community. Thanks to its funding, ManREACH also held two multi-day gatherings in 2016: one at Cal-Wood over Fourth of July Weekend, the other at La Foret over Labor Day Weekend. Registrations numbered approximately two dozen at each.
In 2017, Colorado ManREACH expanded its programs to include Heart Circles and Men’s Forums via video conference. These new events along with the potlucks and summer gathering provided many opportunities for the community to stay connected. The two summer gatherings were held Fourth of July Weekend at Cal-Wood and Labor Day Weekend at La Foret. ManREACH received another grant from Gamma Mu Foundation in 2017.
Due to rising costs, however, ManREACH dropped the Cal-Wood Center from its annual lineup in 2018. It was difficult to say goodbye to this beautiful place at which so many of us had gathered for over a decade. As an alternative to Cal-Wood, ManEACH hosted three one and two-night gatherings designed for up to a dozen participants in 2018 and 2019. The new locations included the Bunkhouse Lodge in Breckenridge and the Tennessee Pass Yurts. Three-day gatherings were held at La Foret both years in June.
The success of the smaller events was encouraging. Colorado ManREACH planned to continue them in 2020. And after hosting several late summer gatherings at La Foret’s rustic Yurt Village, the organization decided to try something new: it rescheduled the La Foret event to May and moved into the comfort of Indian Paintbrush cabin.
In 2019, five years after losing its state and federal funding, ManREACH had transformed itself by ad+opting a new business model in order to continue addressing the unmet needs of GBQT men. Now an all-volunteer organization, the number of annual events has decreased as has participation since registration fees became the norm, but ManREACH’s ommitment to creating heart-centered connections and community remains the same.
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Colorado ManREACH believes heart-centered friendships and relationships among men who love men are the cornerstone of a healthy, vibrant community. From its founding in 2004 through 2019, the organization hosted over 100 in-person events at more than 20 locations in Colorado.
In 2020, however, state health department guidelines for the Coronavirus prevented ManREACH from hosting in-person gatherings. The organization cancelled the events it had planned at La Foret Retreat and Shadowcliff Lodge. As an alternative, it coordinated regularly scheduled virtual heart circles. It also announced two RFPs seeking online programs that resulted in serval workshops, including Your Whole Self, Reframing Anger, Reclaiming Our Power, and Coexistentialism. ManREACH continued its online circles and programs until in-person gatherings were allowed again in 2021.
POST PANDEMIC
Once CDPHE lifted its restrictions, ManREACH was ready to bring people together. In 2021, Welcome Back! gatherings were hosted at La Foret Retreat north of Colorado Springs in May and Shadowcliff Lodge in Grand Lake in August. The event at La Foret, a frequently used Southern Colorado venue, was held at Indian Paintbrush Cabin instead of the Yurt Village due to the unpredictability of spring weather. Shadowcliff Lodge, perched on top of a cliff overlooking the town and lake, was selected for its proximity to men in Northern Colorado and on the Western Slope. This pairing of events continued in 2022 with gatherings at La Foret in May and Shadowcliff in September. Scheduling complications would prevent the organization from returning to Shadowcliff in 2023.
ManREACH discovered Buckhorn Camp and Lodge in Bellvue west of Fort Collins in 2023. That summer, when a Halloween Sleepover was scheduled there, no one knew an October blizzard would show up. Buckhorn’s remote location made the trek in and out even more challenging. Many who signed up were unable to attend, but those who did shared a cozy, unforgettable time together. A June gathering at La Foret also was held that year. Gathering*s at La Foret in May and Buckhorn in August continued in 2024 and 2025. It also was in 2025 that Colorado ManREACH began operating as Rocky Mountain ManREACH in order to “expand its REACH”.
RETURN TO YURT VILLAGE
ManREACH will host one gathering in 2026. Since the pandemic, costs associated with coordinating a large event have increased steadily while MR has continued to keep its registration fee low. As a result, the organization decided that having two gatherings per year is no longer financially viable. The Steering Committee also believes two gatherings only a few months apart lessens the number of attendees at each event. Hosting one gathering per year will be more cost effective and bring more men together at one time.
Located in the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs, the Yurt Village at La Foret Retreat will be the site of this year’s Fourth of July Weekend Gathering, Friday-Sunday, July 3-5, 2026. ManREACH has a long, rich history at La Foret, hosting over 30 events here since 2008. Several facilities scattered across its 440 acres have been used, including Ponderosa Lodge, Indian Paintbrush, Blue Spruce, the Carriage House and most of the smaller cabins. Yurt Village is a favorite! Hidden away in a densely wooded corner of the property, many men have bonded over shared meals and starry summer nights in the village. Registration for this event opens in April 2026.
*A limited number of scholarships are available for most Colorado ManREACH events. For more information, click here.