PAW was organized as Physically-challenged Access to the Woods on June 23, 1988
as a partnership between the Vail-Eagle Valley Rotary and the White River National Forest. PAW's first project was an interpretative
trail, fishing deck and accessible restroom at USFS's Yeoman Campground, south of Eagle, Colorado. PAW also started a school
awareness program in Glenwood Springs during December 1988. The program introduced a large yellow mountain lion called Paw,
who uses a wheelchair. Paw, the mountain lion and Smoky, attend many events together to help make children aware of disabilities.
The Secretary of State approved our Articles of Incorporation for a Colorado Nonprofit
on August 20, 1990.
PAW moved from Eagle, Colorado to Empire, Colorado in June 1990. In May 2000,
PAW moved to Grand County, Colorado, where it is today.
Over the years, PAW has worked closely with the Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation,
National Park Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks, and other federal and state agencies to address
accessibility issues on public lands. PAW also has provided training classes and materials for government agencies in 17 states
addressing the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related federal legislation related to outdoor recreation on public
lands.
On September 6, 1989, the independent Idaho PAW Chapter was created in Boise,
Idaho. In July of 1990, the independent Anasazi PAW Chapter was created to serve the Southwest Region of Colorado.
Our name was changed to Partners for Access to the Woods on October 16, 1996 for
two reasons; first, to show that persons of all disabilities would be represented by PAW and second, that everything PAW accomplishes
is through the help of our partners.
PAW was selected to be a member of the Department of Justice's Access Board's
Regulatory-Negotiation Committee. The purpose of the Committee was to write the Americans with Disabilities Act for Outdoor
Developed Recreation Sites. PAW is working with college students and outdoor recreation providers from both the
public and private sectors to test these new ADA requirements along the Berthoud Pass Research Corridor for Universal Design.
Our partnership agreements:
MOU between the Vail/Eagle Valley Rotary and the White River National Forest on February 1, 1989 This
would be the document that would first create PAW.
MOU between PAW and the United States Forest Service on November 3, 1989
MOA between the National Park Service and PAW on February 26, 1990
MOU between PAW and the Bureau of Reclamation on September 11, 1990
MOU between PAW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on December 18, 1990
MOU between Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife and PAW was signed at the State Capitol
on March 17, 1992. The ceremony was hosted by Colorado Senator Sally Hopper. (Sally was and continues to be our Treasurer.)
MOU between Colorado Easter Seals and Partners for Access to theWoods on October 6, 1997
MOU for the creation of the Berthoud Pass Research Corridor for Universal Design on April 17, 2000 see The Corridor
*MOU: Memorandum of Understanding
**MOA: Memorandum of Agreement
