The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) recently appointed Jarret Childers to serve as an Assistant Regional Director for the Southwest Colorado region.
Jarret was born in northern Arizona but spent most of his youth in the southern part of the state exploring the unique landscape and often hunting and fishing for whatever was nearby with his family. Growing up Jarret was the “bird dog” on many dove and quail hunts, even when an actual dog was present! He tagged along with his dad every chance he got to participate in a hunt or a fishing trip.
Jarret grew up enjoying the lands of southern Arizona in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, even when drug and human trafficking and immigration were at their peak. The trash left behind from these activities first sparked his interest in land conservation and human impacts in wild places.
Ultimately, he pursued a BS degree at Northern Arizona University in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis on Management, then followed that with a MS in Climate Science and Solutions. Jarret then moved to the front range of Colorado for a job he landed in the renewable energy sector. Currently Jarret lives outside of Mancos, Colorado, with his wife and son growing and harvesting as much of our own food as possible.
Jarret is an avid river rafter with his family and spends much of his free time on a variety of outdoor pursuits from multi day float trips across the west, fishing for whatever may be in the waters he is near, hunting nearly anything that is in season, and foraging for wild foods when the opportunity is presented.
In 2019 he joined BHA to become more in tune and involved with land and wildlife conservation across the west. He is most interested in ensuring equal access to public lands and ensuring hunter’s and angler’s voices are heard when local decisions are made regarding public lands management.
“Jarret has been participating in local conversations pertaining to public lands conservation in our area,” Southwest Colorado Assistant Regional Director Alex Krebs said. “Recent enthusiasm and individual effort extended to the Dolores River protections as well as interest in the Dolores Ranger District Travel Management Plan have shown evidence of dedication and thoughtful approach that suits leadership within BHA. Jarret would also bring something unique to the table for our region with his experience in rafting, from family trips down the Dolores to fishing adventures through the Gunnison.”
Are you interested in serving on the Colorado BHA Chapter Leadership Team? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.
Founded by Mike Beagle, a former U.S. Army field artillery officer, and formed around an Oregon campfire, in 2004, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our nation’s wild public lands, waters and wildlife. With members spread out across all 50 states and 13 Canadian provinces and territories—including chapters in 48 states, two Canadian provinces and one territory, and Washington, D.C.—BHA brings an authentic, informed, boots-on-the-ground voice to the conservation of public lands. The Colorado BHA chapter was founded by David Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) in 2005 (the first official BHA chapter)
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