Historic Overview
Chartered in 1967 as a 501-C3 not-for-profit corporation, Canyonlands Natural History Association, commonly known as CNHA, has been serving the needs of its public land partners for almost forty years. Those partners are the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the USDA National Forest Service. The region we support is the Colorado Plateau - the canyon country desert of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado.
Board of Trustees
A volunteer board of trustees governs CNHA. Our board of trustees is a diverse group of volunteers that donate their time and service for the benefit of the organization. Our board also includes a cross section of leaders from the communities that we serve. Each member of our board brings a slightly different perspective to the table as they work together to develop a viable long-range vision for the organization. Board meetings are held quarterly, with a significant amount of board work done in the committee format.
Sales Outlets
CNHA currently operates eighteen sales contact outlets throughout the Colorado Plateau. Our main office and warehouse facility is located in Moab, Utah. Our distribution system allows us to receive stock at the main warehouse from which we forward materials to our outlets. Some of our outlets are very large with more than 750,000 people contacted per year, others are simply small racks of interpretive materials located in federal offices serving remote rural locations. Regardless of size, each one supports our goal of providing high-quality interpretive materials to the visiting public.
Staff
We have a permanent full time staff of seven, while our seasonal staff can sometimes grow to thirty-five. We have a full time accountant and a full time inventory specialist, which helps to assure that our outlying branches are well documented and serviced.
Moab Information Center
The Moab Information Center has become our flagship facility. A premier multi-agency information center, the MIC has become a model and template for several similar visitor centers throughout the country. With visitation exceeding 250,000 per year, the MIC has become the area's "one stop" information experience for visitors in southeastern Utah. Regardless of whether a visitor chooses to recreate on BLM, Forest or Park areas, the MIC staff can provide the correct answers to their questions.
The MIC was voted Moab's "business of the year" in 1998. The MIC features a lecture series and an interpretive xeriscape garden that surrounds the building. Located at Main and Center, the MIC is a pleasant and convenient visitor's rest stop.
Amenities such as these, coupled with excellent customer service have helped the MIC become a staging area for Moab's downtown businesses.
Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
CNHA participates in a regional consortium of interpretive associations from around the Colorado Plateau called Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons. This group allows us to participate in region-wide interpretive projects including Sojourns, an excellent publication specific to this region. The group also sponsors a convention every other year that provides great training opportunities and a full day of trade show activities.
Association of Partners for Public Lands
CNHA is a long-term member of the Association of Partners for Public Lands, or APPL. This national organization has advanced its mission of education, representation, and communication for member associations for more than twenty years. Increased levels of professionalism and a degree of visibility at a national level have been the benefits of our membership to APPL.
The Future
CNHA strives to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the operation of our outlets, while remaining firmly rooted in our dedication to our mission. Our plan for the future is to increase our support for the beautiful parks and recreation areas of the Colorado Plateau through increased sales and memberships.
