2022 & 2023

Funding and support for summer travel was provided for both 2022 & 2023.  

The Koshares visited both coasts from Seattle to New York.

To make it possible for Scouts and Scouters to travel, the Koshare Foundation helped acquire an additional modern van.  Troop/Crew 232 traveled to the Southwest in August.  A highlight was camping in Zion National Park.  Foundation trustee Andy Amparan contributed a $1000 memorial in his brother Richard's name to support the trip.  Trustees Dave Smith and Paul Sedillo met the KIDs near Zion and spent several days camping with the Scouts..  

During COVID year 2020, the Koshare Foundation maintained its misson to serve. The Koshare Museum requested grant funding from the Koshare Foundation.  Funding was provided to the Koshare Museum and Youth Group, sustaining museum operations and programing.

Art Image:  “Returning War Party”  Painted in 1985.  The work of noted Potawatomie artist, 

Woody Crumbo.  1912 – 1989.  

This work vividly depicts a glimpse of the horse culture of the Native American Plains People.  

Minisa Crumbo Halsey, daughter of Woody Crumbo, donated several prints of this piece to the Koshare Foundation 

and Koshare Museum.  Minisa tells us the painting was his last creation.

 The primary project for 2019 was to support the renovation of the museum theater and stage flooring.  Colorado State Historical Society provided a grant that required a matching of funds to complete the project.  Museum director Jeremy Manyik and contractor staff provided much of the labor for the project with Koshare Foundation providing the matching funds and moral support.  Renewing the wooden flooring started with researching previous floor overlays and colors needed to meet the grant requirement.  After approval of the selected stain, the flooring was completely stripped, sanded, repaired, stained and then sealed with an industrial polyurethane protective coat.  The results are stunning!  Visitors and alumni have given the new look of the floors rave revues! 

 The Koshare Foundation is proud to help support the largest marketing effort from the Koshare Museum in more than two decades. The marketing plan includes targeted digital media strategies, as well as, traditional marketing methods that includes press releases and brochures. The marketing plan aims to bring an additional 10,000 tourists to the Koshare Museum for the 2018 calendar year.  

  The summers of 2016 and 2017 were rough years for funding for the Koshare Youth program. For the second year in a row, the youth program had to cancel their travels due to lack of funding. However, through a grant from the Koshare Foundation the Koshare Youth were given an opportunity to do two fun trips within the State of Colorado.  

November 2016 saw great spirit power come to the Koshare museum and youth program. Minisa Crumbo Halsey donated a selection of fine Woody Crumbo prints to the Koshare museum. Minisa is the daughter of artist, Woody Crumbo, long time friend of the Koshares. Minisa has followed in her father’s footsteps and is also an artist, spiritualist, author and entrepreneur.

Rare copies of a number of Woody Crumbo favorites are now in possession of the museum. Included in this collection are some long sought after copies of “Spotted Wolf’s Last Request”. The Koshare museum owns the original oil painting. Having a few copies of the print is a much treasured occurrence. Minisa says that this gift is in the form of “Completing the Circle” for her father. Woody and his wife Lilian lived in La Junta for several years. He had always admired the Scouts and their leader, Buck Burshears and appreciated what they were striving to accomplish. Woody spent time working with the Scouts at dance practice, demonstrating art processes at the museum and offering advice.

Minisa, a former trustee member of the Koshare Foundation considered offering a small selection of art prints to the museum for some time. In view of the needs of the museum and the youth program that her father loved, Minisa dipped into her collection. She donated the art prints for the purposes of providing recognition to long time members and donors. Minisa hopes it will also entice continuing membership, new memberships and donations for the museum and youth program. Friends and alumni of the Koshares are encouraged to contact the museum to renew their support.

The Koshare Museum and Foundation thank Minisa for her timely generosity and spiritual boost.

Travel has always been a cornerstone for the Koshare Youth Program.  For a group of small town kids, who do not often get a chance to see beyond their community, Koshare trips play an important role in expanding their horizons to new opportunities beyond their own hometown.  In 2015, the future of Koshare travels was in jeopardy when the Boy Scouts of American changed their requirements regarding the use of fifteen passenger vans older than 2006.

With older vans, the Koshares were required to purchase new vans to continue to have the youth covered under the travel insurance provided by the Boy Scouts of America.  Trips for the Koshare Youth program were canceled in 2016 until funding could be found for a new fifteen passenger van.  Funds from the Koshare Foundation were allocated to purchase one new 15 passenger van for the Koshare Youth Program.

 With a grant from the BNSF Foundation and from funds from the Koshare Foundation, the Koshare Foundation was able to secure $20,000 for the restoration of the Velino Herrera murals in the Koshare Round Room. 

 In 2014, the Koshare Foundation provided funding to the Koshare Museum for the restoration of the Edgar Payne oil painting – “Out of the Canyon”