You may not be aware of them but it appears that there may be clubs in your area.

http://www.ama-dist-8.org/Clubs/Locator.php

I used 25 miles from Fort Colins and got four results.

FRONT RANGE AIR SHOW TEAM......RC......FORT COLLINS CO 80525
LOVE-AIR R/C INC...............RC......LOVELAND CO 80538-1781
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MODELEERS.......RC......FT COLLINS CO 80525
VALLEY VIEW FLYERS.............RC......LOVELAND CO 80538

There is contact info listed also. Before heading out on your own, please try to contact some of them.

A good, inexpensive ARF trainer is the Tower Trainer 40:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCAS2&P=0
65 bucks