Orvis Names Colorado High-country Educational Treks 2024 Breaking Barriers Award Winner

February 27, 2024

Denver-based non-profit founder receives award for diversifying the outdoors

MANCHESTER, Vt. (February 27, 2024) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Dominic Lucero, angler, outdoor educator, and founder of Colorado Treks, has been recognized by outdoor retailer Orvis with its Breaking Barriers Award for 2024.

“Orvis created the Breaking Barriers Award in 2015 to recognize the individuals or organizations going above and beyond to bring new communities into the outdoors through fly fishing and wingshooting,” said Orvis President Simon Perkins. “We are proud to celebrate Dominic and the work of Colorado Treks, which embodies the spirit and mission of this award.”

Based in Denver, Lucero founded Colorado Treks in 2016 to inspire life-changing confidence in indigenous and Latinx youth in Colorado through cultural experiences and outdoor education.

Lucero grew up an avid outdoors person thanks to family generational outdoor cultural practices passed on by his uncles and Grandfather. He understands the importance and need for that kind of mentorship and accessibility for under invested communities. Through partnerships with public schools in the Denver Metro Area, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and others, Colorado Treks has helped open the outdoors to more than 1,000 youth in the greater Denver area.

“I’m honored to receive this award from Orvis and excited to have their support to help introduce more kids to what I call the medicine of the mountains,” said Lucero. “Community and connection to nature and culture have the power to heal individuals and change the world.”

Lucero joins previous Breaking Barriers Awards winners, including Durrell Smith, founder of the Minority Outdoor Alliance, Tracy Nguyen-Chung of Brown Folks Fishing, and Jess Westbrook of The Mayfly Project. 

Founded in 1856, outdoor retailer Orvis is the trusted guide to the adventure and wonder in nature. Orvis operates more than 80 retail stores around the United States and maintains a network of over 400 dealers worldwide as a trusted source of discovery and adventure in the natural world through fly fishing, wingshooting and our connection with dogs. A purpose-led company, Orvis was one of the first to establish a corporate philanthropy program in the 1980s. The company commits 5% of pretax profits each year to ensuring the sustainable future of fly fishing, wingshooting, and the natural world for future generations. To learn more visit Orvis.com.