Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote the enjoyment of outdoor activities for the general public through no-fee events focused on nature and human/natural history - in and around the region's mountains.
Background
In 1994, Celebration of Our Mountains was founded by Professor Phil Goodell and other Geology department professors and students at the University of Texas, El Paso. The organization has changed throughout the years, beginning as a rather hands-on club-style organization in the early days and in 2019, becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit in Texas. Many generous people have been involved over the years (organization board members, officers, associates and volunteers, donors, etc) putting in a lot of sweat and hard work to develop the vibe and comradery that now exists.
What has not changed about the group is the focus on providing outdoor recreational and educational activities - primarily through field trips and events which are all offered fee-free, where possible. What defines our team is our enthusiastic and qualified group of leaders – consisting of general scientists, geologists, surveyors, biologists, medical professionals, historians, entrepreneurs, ecologists, archaeologists, and veteran hikers - who give their time and focus to help develop and lead our program of events. What started as a focus mostly on geology in the nearby mountains has evolved into all aspects of nature, climate, sky, and earth history. In summary, we know of no boundaries – we welcome and associate with fellow groups, organizations, and individuals with interests that are aligned with ours.