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
