The History of Windstar

 1976
  • The Windstar Foundation is established.
  • Special projects include the film "I Want to Live", focusing public attention on the issue of hunger.
    
 1978
 1979
  • Pitkin County grants formal approval of Windstar's long range development plan.
 
 1980
  • The United States Department of Energy grants $25,000 to retrofit existing ranch house as a solar energy demonstration center and conference facility.
  • Board of Advisors is created.
  • R. Buckminster Fuller's 85th birthday is celebrated at Windstar.
  • Garden education program begins.
  • Windstar is instrumental in the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
  • The Hammer Gallery exhibition of paintings by David Armstrong and photographs by John Denver in celebration and benefit of the Windstar Foundation takes place in New York City.
  • The School/Building Program is initiated by Windstar in cooperation with the University of Colorado.
     
 1981
  • Windstar's Lecture Series presenters include: John and Toni Lilly, Amory Lovins, Buckminster Fuller, Wes Jackson, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • Windstar receives New Land Foundation grant to produce Oil Shale research booklet.
  • John Denver represents Windstar at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
  • Coldframe gardening project begins.
  • First Volunteer Week held at Windstar.
 1982
  • Windstar's Lecture Series presenters include: David Brower, Ram Dass, Michio Kushi, Alan Merson, Buckminster Fuller, Bob Samples, Amory Lovins, John Todd, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • "Earthkeepers," a global/environmental children's education program, begins.
  • The Windstar Biodome Project (passive solar greenhouse with integrated growing system) is initiated.
  • Windstar co-sponsors "An Evening of Peace" at the Colorado State Capital; attended by 30,000 people.
  • Certificate of Appreciation is presented to The Windstar Foundation by the Cousteau Society.
 1983
 1984
  • Windstar's Lecture Series presenters include: Morris Udall, Rupert Sheldrake, Jack Gibb, Randy Kunkel, Tim Gallwey, Kathy Hunter, Jerry Jampolsky, and Tom Crum.
  • Windstar hosts Volunteers for Peace program; an international youth exchange.
  • Windstar audio tape lecture series is launched.
  • Biodome Gardening Project begins.
     
 
 1985
  • Windstar's Lecture Series presenters include: Tim Gallwey, Tony Robbins, Tom Crum, Bob Samples and John Katzenberger.
  • PM Magazine, Entertainment Tonight and the LA Times feature Windstar and the Biodome Project.
  • A $50,000 private donation is received in support of further Biodome development.
  • Three day Global Game Workshops for junior high, high school and college level students are presented by The Windstar Foundation.
  • Aiki series: "Beyond the Gold" by Thomas Crum is presented throughout the summer.
     
 1986
  • The first "Choices for the Future" symposium attracts 1000 participants and receives extensive press coverage.
  • "Choices" speakers include: Rusty Schweickart, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ted Turner, Gov. Richard Lamm, Peter Bourne, William Farley, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • The first Windstar Award is presented to Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
  • More than $20,000 in private contribution is received for production of a "Choices" video documentary.
  • The Windstar Journal, a quarterly publication, is launched.
  • The first pilot project 50 foot diameter Biodome goes into operation in North Carolina.
  • The IRS grants Windstar approval to become a public not-for-profit educational organization.
  • Educational Foundation of America supports Land Education Program with $29,000 grant.
  • State of Our Planet presentations are made at the University of Washington, Southern Oregon College, and Ashland, Oregon High School.

 1987
  • The second "Choices for the Future" symposium reaches 36 states via live remote broadcast.
  • "Choices" speakers include: Dick Gregory, Peter Grace, Jean Holmes, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • The Windstar Award is presented to David Brower, founder of Earth Island Institute.
  • A 50 foot diameter Biodome goes into operation at Windstar.
  • A second Biodome is built in North Carolina.
  • The Land Education Program attendees include 4 interns and 18 apprentices from 13 states.
  • The CBS Morning Show and National Public Radio feature Windstar.
 1988
  • The third annual "Choices for the Future" symposium is held in Aspen with 1200 attendees.
  • "Choices" presenters include: Alexandre Gradsky, Ken Blanchard, Andrew Young, Leo Buscaglia, Dennis Weaver, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Al Huang, Soviet commentator Vladimir Posner, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • State of Our Planet presentations are made in Denver, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; Des Moines, Iowa; and Los Angeles, California.
  • US/USSR Youth Exchange Program is hosted by Windstar.
  • The Windstar Board of Directors is expanded to include eight additional members.
  • The third annual Windstar Award is presented to Soviet academician and scientist, Yevgeny Velikhov.
  • The Windstar Connection Program is launched.
  • Windstar designers participate in the design of an international youth exchange camp to be located in the Soviet Republic of Georgia with the theme of "Problem Solving for the 21st Century."

 1989
  • The fourth annual "Choices for the Future" symposium features John Bradshaw, Jeremy Rifkin, Rep. Claudine Schneider, Stephen Schneider, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • A company is spun-off from Windstar to design and manufacture Biodomes around the country.
  • The Windstar Award is presented to Wangari Maathai, founder of Kenya's Greenbelt Movement.
  • NASA joins with Windstar to create an "Institute for Global Change", a think-tank of scientists from around the world, administered by Windstar. The formative meeting, funded by a grant from NASA, takes place in Aspen in August. (The Institute was later renamed: The Aspen Global Change Institute or AGCI)
  • Windstar membership tops 5000, including people from all 50 states and 22 foreign countries.
  • Windstar hosts ecology students from Moscow University as part of a US/USSR exchange program.
  • The Windstar Connection program expands to include 13 cities in the US, as well as Toronto, Tokyo, and Sydney.
  • Windstar launches the EarthPulse Handbook Series, entitled "Creating a Healthy World - 101 Practical Tips for Home and Office". The first three handbooks, "Everyday Chemicals", "Energy", and "Recycling" sell 9000 copies in 6 months.
  • Higher Ground, a multimedia environmental presentation hosted by John Denver is made in 5 cities in the US as well as Toronto, Sydney and Tokyo.
  • The Discovery Channel presents "More Than Enough For Everyone: The Windstar Experiment".

 1990
  • "Windstar in Washington" speakers include: Jesse Jackson, Mary Berry, Lou Gold, Jay Hair, Thomas Adkins, William Reilly, Jeffrey Hollender, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • The Windstar Award was presented to Akio Matsumura, Director of the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival.
  • The Windstar Foundation enters into a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation in order to expand opportunities to communicate the Windstar vision to people around the world.
  • Through Windstar Connection world wide and appearances by John Denver, Windstar participates in the celebration of Earth Day 1990.
  • The first formal meeting of the Aspen Institute on Global Change advisory board takes place in Aspen and plans are made for the Summer of 1990 institute.
  • "Windstar Checks" program launched.
     
 
 1991
  • The six annual "Choices for the Future" symposium speakers include: Whoopi Goldberg, Anthony Zerbe, Pat Schroeder, Ben Cohen, Betty Sue Flowers, Hal Bidlack, Matthew Fox, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • Windstar and the National Wildlife Federation helped to sponsor Eco Expo - The National Marketplace for the Environment, held in Denver, Colorado.
  • The Windstar Award is presented to Lester Brown, President of the WorldWatch Institute.
  • The first annual Windstar Youth Award is presented to Kortney Johnson, founder of Children for a Safe Environment.
  • "Holiday ReLeaf" card program initiated to assist in reforestation, with a portion of the proceeds going to the "Rainforest Action Network".
 1992
  • The seventh annual "Choices for the Future" symposium presenters include: Ed Begley Jr., Linda Ellerbee, Al Gore, Chief Oren Lyons, Dennis Weaver, Barbara Pyle, Rev. Carla Berkedal, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • The Windstar Award is presented to Phil Lane, Jr., coordinator of The Four Worlds Development Project.
  • The Windstar Youth Award is presented to ten year old Erika Pena, founder of Kids for the Earth recycling organization.
  • The Windstar Foundation hosts "Grass Roots Aspen Experience", for 50 disadvantaged urban youth, providing outward-bound style activities.
  • Biodome workshop for preschool through college level students are held.
    
 1993
  • The eighth annual "Choices for the Future" symposium presenters include: Noel Brown, Lou Gold, Bill Curtis, Tony Huston, Rosa Perez, David Suzuki, Mo Siegel, Tom Crum and John Denver.
  • The Windstar Award is presented to Marian Wright Edelman, President of The Children's Defense Fund.
  • The Windstar Youth Award is presented to Cory Dunne, for his concern, commitment, and consistent efforts on behalf of the environment.
    
 1994
 1995
 1996
  • Windstar Restoration Rendezvous is held, a celebration of Windstar's 20th year, marking the commencement of restoration of the Windstar Land in keeping with the newly organized Windstar Land Conservancy.
  • Pitkin County Open Spaces officially signed the land conservation easement which was the final step in protecting the land in perpetuity.
  • The Windstar Youth Award is presented by John Denver to Tara Church, founder of Tree Musketeers, in El Segunda, California.
  • TREES from GrassRoots program is launched in cooperation with Plant-It 2000.
  • Summer Work shops include... "The Zen of Seeing", by Lee Shapiro, and "Aikido and Human Relationships", by Roderick O'Conner
 1997
  • Workshops include: EarthDay Birthday Party, Volunteer Work Weekend, Camp Windstar for Kids, An Evening with J. Baldwin (editor of the Whole Earth Catalog) and "Holistic Resource Management" by Rio de la Vista.
  • First Annual Educator's Week.
  • Windstar Connections newsletter is introduced.
  • The Windstar Foundation's World Wide Web site is created.
  • Environmental Studies Scholarship program is launched.
  • October 12: Windstar mourns the death of its President, Cofounder, and friend, John Denver.

 1998 
 1999
 2000
 2001

 2002
2003
2004
2005
  • "New Choices for Your Future" Symposium featuring Dr. Jane Goodall, Nina Fascione, George Sterzinger, Thomas Crum, Alan Hale, Rico Racosky, Gino Gizzardo, HawkQuest and Steve Coley..Televised live on-line thru KIDzONLINE and via Dish Network. Based on the seven National Science Standards and featuring downloadable curriculum for middle and high school teachers to teach along with the sympoium, prior, during and after the Symposium.
  • EARTHcamps in Texas, Ohio, Minnesota and Israel
  • 2005 Connection Retreat
  • October Celebration
  • Environmental Studies Scholarship Recipients announced
  
2006
  • "New Choices for Your Future" Symposium featuring featuring John Sagebiel, Reese Halter, June Scobee Rodgers, Lyle Estill, John Coonrod, Joanie Klar Bruce, and Woody Vaspa. Televised live on-line thru KIDzONLINE and via Dish Network. Based on the seven National Science Standards and featuring downloadable curriculum for middle and high school teachers to teach along with the symposium, prior, during and after the Symposium.
  • EARTHcamps in Colorado (with Spirit of a Child Foundation) and in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Minnesota
  • October Celebration
  • Windstar Connections Breakfast in Aspen
  • "Starlight in Aspen" gala benefiting the Windstar Foundation and Challenge Aspen.
  • Environmental Studies Scholarship Recipients Announced
  
2007
  • "Windstar.....A Voice For the Future" John Denver tribute benefiting the Windstar Foundation and the Aspen Camp for the Deaf
  • EARTHcamps in Colorado (with Spirit of a Child Foundation and UrbanPromise), Illinois, and Minnesota.
  • October Celebration
  • Environmental Studies Scholarship Recipients Announced