About the Mentors
In 2022 the Colorado state legislature appropriated funds to assist prospective certified Dark Sky Places with the difficult application process. The state Office of Economic Development and DarkSky Colorado have chosen several mentors to lead this effort.
Amy Brandenburg
for Ridgway State Park
Amy Brandenburg is the Senior Ranger at Jackson Lake State Park, and lives in Brush, Colorado. She successfully lead the certification effort for Jackson Lake State Park as a Dark Sky Park. To Ridgway State Park, she brings this knowledge and experience to help with the Park’s Dark Sky Park application.
Benjamin Katz
for Browns Canyon
Benjamin Katz is the Public Lands Program Manager at the Western Slope Conservation Center. He lives in Paonia, Colorado. He is contributing to the certification proposals for Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area as a Dark Sky Park, and the town of Paonia as a Dark Sky Community. He brings this knowledge and experience to help Browns Canyon National Monument with a Dark Sky Park application.
Camille Richard
for Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Reserve
Camille Richard was formerly Executive Director of the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, where she lead the successful Dark Sky Park certification effort for Slumgullion Center, near Lake City. She brings this knowledge and experience to help the people working on the proposed Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky Reserve with their application.
Sarah Tober
for Durango
Sarah Tober is a consultant for various nonprofit organizations, and she is the Interim Executive Director IDA Colorado. She lives in Durango, Colorado. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help the City of Durango move toward certification as a Dark Sky Community.
