Capture the Cache is an annual exhibition designed to highlight the beauty, culture, and heritage of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Photographers of all skill levels are invited to get outside and capture the images that reflect their personal connection to the heritage of the river. Selected works will be featured in the exhibition at Visit Fort Collins in the heart of Old Town.

Eligibility - Submission is open to any amateur or professional photographer. Photographers must be at least 16 years of age to participate. The exhibition is open to residents and visitors alike. Cache NHA employees, board members, judges, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

Contest Categories – The Capture the Cache Exhibition is divided into three categories that change every year. 

• Farm-to-Table - Capture the essence of the farm-to-table journey within the National Heritage Area. Your photos might feature any stage of the agricultural process, such as cows munching on grass in a pasture or farm machinery in action. Highlight a scene from the food production process or the atmosphere at a bustling farmers’ market or CSA (community-supported agriculture). Snap a shot of the culinary dining experience, the lively nature of a brewery patio, or the dedicated work of local producers like Hazel Dell Mushrooms. Tell the story of how local produce transitions from farm-to-table in this region.
• Nature - Reveal the breathtaking beauty of nature as you perceive it in the National Heritage Area. Your photographs could encompass the serene presence of water, the plethora of wildlife, or a sunrise/sunset. Consider capturing the varied landscapes of the many Natural Areas or raindrops falling on leaves. Each photo should reflect the natural wonders and environments that define this region's ecology.
• Recreation - Illustrate the ways people recreate in the National Heritage Area, including hiking along rugged trails, paddleboarding/kayaking across calm waters, or the exhilaration of rock climbing. Did you spend the day enjoying the sunshine at one the many reservoirs, raft down the Poudre, or take your dog to the river? Those pertain to this category. Your photos should convey the Colorado spirit of outdoor activity.

Photography Guidelines – 

• Photos must align with one of the above categories. 
• Photos must be taken within the 45-mile Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, and surrounding regions including Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor and Greeley.
• If you’re unsure whether your location qualifies, contact Rylyn Todd at rtodd@poudreheritage.org. 
• Photographs must be submitted digitally.
• Images can be in color or black and white. 
• Images must be a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) and no smaller than 3072 x 2304 pixels (or 10.24 x 7.68 inches). 
• Images must be submitted as JPG or PNG (at highest quality). 
• Photographers working with drones must follow applicable local ordinances and FFA guidelines. 

Submission Specifications - 

• Submissions must be made digitally through our designated platform by Monday, March 16 at 11:59 pm. 
• Each submission’s file name must be formatted as: FirstName_LastName_Category_SubmissionNumber
• o For Example: Jane_Smith_History_1
• Each submission must be accompanied by
• o Photographer’s name
• o Location of photograph
• o A title for the photograph
• Each photographer may submit up to three pieces per category for consideration. Maximum entry is nine submissions per photographer. All pieces must be submitted to one Entry Form. 

Notification of Acceptance – Photographers whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified via email after submissions end. 

Submission Fee – Capture the Cache Exhibition is free to enter. 

Prizes and Exhibition 

• The winning photos in each category will be selected by a jury and displayed in a digital exhibition on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s website.
• Photographers will receive a $25 commission for each image selected for the exhibition.

Jury Process -

• Cache NHA will select photographs to be included in the exhibition at its sole discretion.
• A panel of jurors will award first, second, and third place for each category as well as an overall Best of Show. Awards will be in the form of a ribbon and/or certificate. All award decisions will be final.

Terms

Each photographer will retain all rights to any image submitted – including ownership if applicable – other than those rights licensed in the next sentence. By entering the contest, each photographer hereby grants the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, sell productions, distribute, publicly display the images submitted to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s Capture the Cache competition and (ii) the right to use the photographer’s name, city and state of residence in promotions and other publications. The winning images with appropriate credit will appear on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s website, social media channels and upcoming printed materials. 

Photos containing recognizable people/faces of individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a release form (found under Photo Release) signed by the subject or parent or legal guardian. 

Submission to this call for entry constitutes acceptance of all the requirements and terms outlined above.

Participation Notice: Submission into this contest does not guarantee selection for the exhibition. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area retains the right to reject or accept submissions.

Participation Notice: Submissions that do not follow these requirements may be rejected.

Program Overview
 Started in 2010, Learning in Our Watershed™ (LIOW) was designed with a simple mission: to help youth understand and value the Cache la Poudre River and their water heritage while inspiring a next generation of river stewards. A growing body of research points to the beneficial impacts that nature has on health, well-being, and the promotion of healing. LIOW is designed to take learning from the classroom to the great outdoors for improved well-being while developing a of a sense of connection to nature, history,  and the heritage area. Designed by educators to align with the 4th grade Colorado education standards, students experience the following lesson objectives:
   • Connect students to their river corridor
   • Immerse students in their local heritage, cultures, and landscapes
   • Help students develop critical thinking skills including interpreting maps and signs
   • Encourage students to reflect on human-environment interactions within their watershed region
 Learning in Our Watershed™ is an adaptable three-touch model with hybrid options for on-site and distance learning, designed to create pathways for kids to enjoy, understand and connect with nature and history in exciting ways by facilitating outdoor activity, experiential learning, and cultural heritage exercises. Teachers can self-select from a variety of activities in each of the three touch points to customize a field trip specific to their learning objectives and subject matter.

Funding for LIOW is made possible by the National Parks Foundation, National Parks Service, Nutrien, and donations from community sponsors and donors.  

Eligibility
All K-12 schools that are located in Northern Colorado qualify to submit an application to the Learning in Our Watershed program, however the 3-touch model the program is based on is geared toward grades 2-5.  Priority will be given to Title 1 schools and 4th grade classes per grant requirements for the largest funder of this program. Additional requests from schools from areas beyond NOCO will be considered as funding allows. 

Requirements

Field trip destinations must be within the Cache NHA boundaries.  A list of pre-approved destinations includes the Centennial Village, CSU's Environmental Learning Center, the Poudre Learning Center, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Windsor History Museum, and Colorado Youth Outdoors.   Other destinations may be approved based on funding and how the destination ties to the mission of the program. Funding typically covers costs associated with transportation and/or admission. 

If you have questions regarding your school's eligibility or your field trip destination please contact admin@poudreheritage.org. 

Upon completion of the field trip, awardees must complete a post trip report, provide receipts or invoices, and provide at least one photo from the trip.  A photo release form is available for parent/guardian to fill out prior to your trip.  Grant funds will be distributed to the school AFTER the field trip and post trip report are completed.  

Community Projects- Our goal is to honor the history and culture of the Cache la Poudre River and its people. The Community Projects program supports the preservation, interpretation, and development of the heritage area resources. The community projects grant guidelines can be found here.
The project must:
 

•  preserve, interpret, or develop historical and/or cultural assets within/for the heritage area
•  be aligned with one or more interpretive themes identified below
•  secure at least equal contribution for the project from nonfederal sources
•  be for public benefit
•  be available for use and/or distribution by Cache NHA at the conclusion of the project (Interpretation & Development projects)

Original Themes:

1. Settlement in the Cache la Poudre river basin highlighted tensions over use of water

2. Water laws, institutions, and allocation methods influenced the development of the American West

3. Innovative irrigation techniques for diverting, delivering, and measuring water still endure

4. Debates over the appropriate use of the Poudre River's water continue today

New Interpretive Themes

1. Homelands: Northern Colorado is the ancestral homeland of the Ute and later the Arapaho people, as well as other historic tribes such as the Cheyene, Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa. Indigenous understanding of the environment and of native plants and animals offers a different way of knowing the Poudre. 

2. Ancient Voices: People have been drawn to the life-sustaining waters of the river for over 12,000 years. Before it was known as the Poudre, Paleoindians and Folsom people called this river basin home. The Kaplan-Hoover Bison Kill Site - one of the largest bison kill sites ever found - provides a compelling local story. 

3. New Roots: Germans, Russians, Hispanics, African Americans and others settled in the Poudre River basin to farm or work in the sugar beet factories and fields, establishing communities and bringing new cultural and religious traditions.

4. Following the Water: Fur trappers and traders, including diverse people of many cultures who traveled with them, hunted beaver and game animals along the Poudre’s banks, leaving behind their multicultural stories and legacy.

5. Rethinking Colorado Water Law: Early disagreements over the Poudre River led to the establishment of Western water law and the notion of “First in Time, First in Right.” As demand on the Poudre increases—combined with a hotter, drier climate—it is time to rethink this historical precedent.

6. Collaboration & Compromise: Water from the Poudre ends up in Northern Colorado’s taps, produce, beer, and more. Animals, plants, and competing interests share the river today. In addition to agricultural and industrial use, the Poudre offers a place of recreation, reflection, and observation. Collaboration and compromise ensure the Poudre’s health and a sustainable quality of life and future for Northern Colorado.

7: River of Life: Colorado’s rivers comprise less than 2% of the state’s ecosystems but the majority of Colorado’s birds, fish and wildlife depend on riparian habitat. The Poudre River watershed is key to the ecological health of Northern Colorado and is critical for biodiversity.

Letter of Intent
 All applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent through the application portal prior to completing a full application so Cache NHA can learn more about your proposed projects.  Staff may request a meeting to learn more about your proposed project or provide additional guidance for the application. Projects are subject to decline at this step in the processes or may go on hold until additional funding can be secured. Proposed projects that move beyond the letter of intent stage will be sent the full application for completion.