Everything you might want to know about the Rico Land Collaborative — who we are, what we do, how to get involved, and how you can support community-based land stewardship in our historic mining town.
The Rico Land Collaborative (RLC) is a Rico-centric non-profit organization dedicated to community-based land stewardship in Rico, Colorado. Our purpose is to encourage our community's connection with place and local lands through the stewardship of intergenerational connection and regional education.
While most mountain communities have sold their souls to tourism, retail, and real estate, RLC strives to shape a different future for the historic mining town of Rico — one rooted in community values, connection to nature, and collaborative reciprocity. We were formed by a group of passionate community members who believe in a sustainable future for Rico.
RLC is based in Rico, Colorado, a historic mountain mining town sitting at an elevation of 8,827 feet in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado.
Our mailing address is PO Box 147, Rico, CO 81332. You can reach us by email at ricolandcollab@gmail.com or by phone at 970-343-2741.
The Rico Land Collaborative was developed by a group of dedicated Rico residents. Its founding leadership includes Jordan Carr (President), Teal Stetson-Lee (Treasurer), and additional community members serving on the board.
Our team is made up of Rico residents seeking to engage deeply with our neighbors to envision a future rooted in community values. You can meet everyone on our Team page.
Many mountain communities have been reshaped by tourism, retail, and real estate development, often at the expense of their history and natural surroundings. RLC exists to chart a different course for Rico.
We strive to build a community vision toward a future that honors our relationship with history and the natural world — protecting local lands, deepening our connection to place, and passing that stewardship on between generations.
There are many ways to plug in. The simplest first step is to sign up for our updates so you hear about roundtables, projects, and volunteer opportunities as they come up.
You can also attend a community roundtable, volunteer on a stewardship project, spread the word to your neighbors, or reach out directly at ricolandcollab@gmail.com. If you'd simply like to say hello, drop us a note through the Stay in touch form below.
Our board is made up of committed Rico community members who care deeply about the future of our lands. Board membership generally begins with active involvement — attending roundtables, volunteering, and building a relationship with the organization and its work.
If you're a Rico resident interested in serving, the best path is to introduce yourself and share your interest by emailing ricolandcollab@gmail.com. Board openings and the selection process are handled on a rolling basis — [ confirm current board application timeline/requirements ] — and we'd love to hear from neighbors ready to help steward Rico's future.
Our work is grounded in and led by the Rico community, and our board and core team are made up of Rico residents. That local rootedness is central to who we are.
That said, we welcome support, donations, and interest from anyone who believes in community-based land stewardship and a sustainable future for Rico. If you have a connection to the area or simply want to help, please reach out — [ confirm any residency requirements for volunteers ].
Thank you for supporting community-based land stewardship in Rico! You can make a donation directly through our Venmo (@ricolandcollab).
You can also mail a contribution to PO Box 147, Rico, CO 81332, or email us at ricolandcollab@gmail.com to discuss other ways of giving. Every gift helps us protect local lands and invest in regional education.
Yes — the Rico Land Collaborative is a Rico-centric non-profit organization developed to serve our community.
For details on our tax-exempt status and whether your specific contribution is tax-deductible, please reach out to us at ricolandcollab@gmail.com and we'll be glad to provide documentation — [ confirm 501(c)(3) status & EIN for tax-deductibility language ].
Your support fuels RLC's mission of land stewardship, intergenerational connection, and regional education in Rico. Recent work highlighted in our newsletter includes the Rico Geothermal Grant Award — a $100,000 grant supporting the implementation of a natural geothermal energy solution — and our ongoing RLC Community Roundtables that bring neighbors together to shape a shared vision for the town.
You can read more about our current initiatives on the Projects section of our site and follow along through News & notes.
"We strive to build community vision towards a future that honors our relationship with history and the natural world."