Connect with Friends of Colorado State Parks

Meet the Board:

Matt Martinez - Board President

About Matt
I was born in Lakewood, Colorado and have spent my professional career organizing volunteers to take care of their public lands. I started my path volunteering with AmeriCorps, which allowed me to serve communities throughout the western region of the United Sates including Alaska. After completing a term with AmeriCorps I was able to work with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado for 10 years. I currently have the pleasure of working for Jefferson County Open Space. When I’m not working I’m probably camping, hiking or riding bikes with my family.

Why did you join the Friends of Colorado State Parks board?
I joined Friends of Colorado State Parks 8 years ago as a way to support the statewide friends of groups that I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career. Colorado State Parks have been a gateway for my sons to experience some of Colorado’s most special places.

What is your favorite park activity?
My favorite park activity is hiking with my family. If you see me, I’m the one with the small person on my shoulders.

What state park are you visiting next?
I’m really hoping I can get the family out to Sylvan Lake State Park where I saw my first black bear in Colorado.

Anything else you would like to share?
I would just like to thank all of the statewide friends of groups for all that they do for Colorado’s public lands. Serving you through Friends of Colorado State Parks has always been an honor and a privilege.

Terry Gimbel - Board Treasurer

About Terry
I am a retired Colorado State Parks ranger and I still work as a seasonal employee for the State Forest State Park during the summer months managing trail projects involving volunteer organizations and youth corps groups. I am currently on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Colorado State Parks serving in the Treasurer role. I volunteer frequently for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado doing trail work and trainings across the state. I also work for our local ambulance service as an EMT and driver.

Why did you join the Friends of Colorado State Parks board?
I joined the board in 2014 because, as a former employee, I believe in the mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and wanted to contribute to accomplishing that mission by being an advocate for CPW as well as bringing my skills and experience to the Friends of Colorado State Parks and communicating the value of Friends groups. Local Friend's groups have been vital to supporting individual state parks in so many ways. I got first hand experience in seeing how important a Friends group can be when I worked as a park ranger at Roxborough State Park - the first state park to have a Friends group.

What is your favorite park activity?
I enjoy volunteering at state parks and wildlife areas performing trail work. I also hike, snowshoe, and cross country ski frequently in state parks.

What state park are you visiting next?
State Forest State Park. I live 23 miles from this park, so I not only work as a seasonal employee, but I frequently recreate there as well. The next park I will be visiting later in the spring is Golden Gate Canyon State Park where I have been designing a new trail reroute on behalf of Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and the park.

Kaitlyn Cummings - Board Secretary - (She/her)

About Kaitlyn

I moved to Colorado from the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend Colorado State University. I often get asked why I moved to a landlocked state, and I my answer is, "Of course I miss the ocean, but the beauty of the mountains and the connection I feel to the natural spaces here is just as great as the wonder of the ocean and the connection I feel to the natural spaces in the USVI."

Why did you join the Friends of Colorado State Parks board?

I joined the board at the end of March to help with communication aspects such as social media and website content. I spent the last six years studying communication with the hopes of working in the environmental communication field. As I was graduating with my master's degree I wanted to put my education to use and reached out to the Friends of Colorado State Parks hoping they were looking for a new board member or volunteer!

What is your favorite park activity?

My favorite park activity is hiking! I grew up hiking with my parents every weekend and I love being on trails. It's fun to see new places, but it is also fun to do the same trail over and over till you know it pretty well, especially as the seasons change and the landscape starts to look different.

What state park are you visiting next?

The next park I will likely visit is Lory State Park! I did my last bit of school in Fort Collins and enjoyed a lot of my hiking adventures in Lory. When I head back that way I will make a point to visit.

Anything else you would like to share?

I would encourage younger adults to reach out to their local friends groups or state parks to get involved! As a young adult trying to get involved myself it can be a bit intimidating if you don't have the experience that older adults might have but some friends groups and parks may be looking to engage with younger volunteers/advocates.

Mark Shulman - Board Member

About Mark
Raised in Maryland, I arrived in Colorado nearly a half century ago. My career work in multi-family housing, both market rate and affordable, enabled me to travel extensively throughout our beautiful state. With fly rod and hiking stick in hand, my greatest joy is sharing Colorado’s great outdoors with my wife and grandchildren.
 
When did you join the board and why?
 I joined the Friends of Colorado Parks and Wildlife in January 2023.  I look forward to work with people who share a love for our open space and a passion to preserve and protect our state’s public lands.
 
Favorite Park Activity?
Hiking, watching wildlife and birds, fly fishing.

What Park will you Visit Next?
Colorado’s newest state park, Sweetwater Lake.

John Semich - Board Member

About John

I have the pleasure of serving on the FOCP Board, along with being the VP of West Denver Trout Unlimited, serve on their membership committee, and as the Peaks to Plains Trail liaison. Other activities include work on conservation projects and kids fishing events.
I was the Broker-owner of a residential and commercial Real Estate and mortgage company, along with holding an appraisal license. Previous to that field, I served as a petrochemical facility designer and construction manager.

Why did you join the Friends of Colorado State Parks board?
I have always enjoyed and appreciated the outdoors, and now have more time available to assist others to participate in, educate, and help to conserve our Parks and watersheds. As a family, we spent a great deal of time hiking and camping in the Parks and wilderness areas. As a Boy Scout leader, I truly enjoyed the activities such as winter campouts in Golden Gate and Jackson Lake State Parks. My goal is to assist a diversity of people unfamiliar with the outdoors to participate, and to show the benefits of leaving the environment in a better condition than when they arrived, for future visitors to equally enjoy.

What is your favorite park activity?
We have enjoyed hiking, snow shoeing, and cross-country skiing, along with boating with anyone offering a ride. We now have grandkids getting old enough to share the beauty of Colorado with.

What state park are you visiting next?
During the year, we regularly like to visit many of the front range Parks. I would like to visit the developing Parks such as Trinidad and Fishers Peak this next year. At least once a year, I enjoy Navajo State Park for the boating and fishing, in addition to the surrounding area with its native American cultural resources.

Anything else you would like to share?
I appreciate all of the time and effort expended by the numerous State Friends groups, along with the improvements they are making to their Parks infrastructure, public education and physical accessibility. The FOCP State Board is always ready to assist the State Friends groups whenever possible. I would also like to thank the entire CPW staff for their support and sometimes unrecognized efforts to keep everything running and organized.

Becky Mares - Board Member/CPW Liason - (She/her)

About Becky

Greetings! I grew up in Estes Park, CO with the privilege of having a national park in my backyard. I went to college in the Pacific Northwest, took a scenic detour into agriculture and food education for 12 years, and started working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in 2019. I love being outside, cooking and sharing food with people, playing games, reading, and am passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What is your role at CPW and your role with Friends groups across the state?
I am the Statewide Volunteer Coordinator with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). I act as the liaison between CPW and the Friends of Colorado State Parks board, offering support, information, and resources where possible. Friends groups are a key part of state parks' success by growing additional capacity, funding, friendraising, creativity, talent, and community engagement for each location.

What is your favorite park activity?
Hiking, camping, and practicing my basic plant and animal identification as an aspiring naturalist.

What state park are you visiting next?
I have been to 31 of the 42 state parks, and will mark another one off my list when I am at State Forest State Park in October.