The Ute Mountain Ute & Southern Ute Tree Planting Retreat (2023), centered around the theme of reparation, recreation, and reciprocity, brought together partners including the Telluride Institute, the Apple Core Project, and members of the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute communities. This initiative combined ecological restoration with cultural connection through two distinct planting efforts in Nucla, Colorado and at High Camp on Lizard Head Pass.

In Nucla, 17 volunteers, including Patagonia staff, planted 40 grafted heritage apple trees as part of the Apple Core Project, supporting local food systems and long-term sustainability. Separately, at High Camp on Ute ancestral lands along Lizard Head Pass, youth participants from the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute communities planted 25 native trees, including white fir, aspen, and Douglas fir, with an additional 20 trees provided for future planting. Together, these efforts reflect a meaningful approach to restoration that honors both the land and the communities connected to it.