Outdoor Buddies was founded by representatives of Craig Hospital and Colorado Parks and Wildlife who wanted to provide outdoor adventure experiences to mobility-disabled outdoor lovers. The founding president was Sid Sellers, a hunter safety instructor with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The organizational efforts were initiated primarily because of a need to find therapeutic recreational opportunities for patients who had suffered debilitating spinal cord injuries. Through the years, Outdoor Buddies has
expanded its programs to include all mobility-disabled persons and a youth program.