A partner program of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, The Wright Challenge prepares Colorado higher-ed students to enter the workforce by providing first-hand experience working alongside businesses, non-profits, civic and governmental organizations to develop actionable solutions to current-day challenges within their respective organizations. The Wright Challenge seeks partners and challenges reflecting Colorado's essential and wide-ranging outdoor sector.

Representing business, non-profit, and public sectors, the 2025 Wright Challenge Partner organizations were selected from a competitive applicant pool to work with teams of Colorado higher-ed students to develop an actionable solution to a current-day challenge facing their respective organization. Challenges brought forward by these organizations are reflective of the wide-ranging work taking place behind the scenes in building a healthy statewide ecosystem supportive of Colorado’s dynamic outdoor sector.

Read on to meet the 22-participating project partners. Scroll or click over their logos for a snapshot of the challenge each team is out to solve!

The Wright Challenge partners with academic programs across Colorado that are dedicated to cultivating talent for the outdoor recreation industry. Each program equips students with specialized knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in the outdoor sector. Through their participation in the Challenge, students gain invaluable hands-on experience, applying their education to real-world challenges while contributing fresh ideas and solutions to support the growth and sustainability of the outdoor industry. To learn more about each participating Academic Partner, click below.