2024 PROJECT SEASON!
Project Registration is Live!
Are you excited for warmer weather and sunny days on the trails?! Registration for your favorite projects and trainings officially opened on Monday, April 1. RFOV is offering a variety of projects and trainings this year including the popular Marble Extravaganza, an overnight at Betty Bear Hut, Crew Leader Training, and more!
This year, there will also be THREE projects that offer Little Explorers, our free program for students ages 4-8 that provides structured nature activities while parents volunteer.
The first project of the season is at the Linwood Cemetery/Doc Holliday Trail in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday, May 7 from 4 pm - 8 pm.
For more information about our 2024 projects and trainings, please visit our website.
Chainsaw Trainer Needed!
RFOV is looking for a qualified instructor to help facilitate our volunteer S-212 chainsaw training on May 17th -19th. Instructors would supervise students during the field portion of the course in limbing, bucking, and felling techniques. Instructors must be certified with a B-Faller or higher certification. RFOV is willing to offer $350/a day in compensation. For more information please email Jack Douglas at jdouglas@rfov.org.
In Search for Seasonal Housing
Do you have a room for rent? RFOV is hiring 6 seasonal staff positions this year and we're helping them secure housing before the season starts (April- October)
If you're interested or have any questions, please email Jack Douglas at jdouglas@rfov.org.
Team-Building Projects!
The time is NOW, our group project calendar is filling up FAST! Many of you know about RFOV's community projects, but did you know that RFOV also offers organizations of any type — businesses, families, civic, youth, faith groups, schools, and nonprofits — the opportunity to participate with their crew in their own stewardship project?
Group Projects & Adopt-A-Trail:
RFOV offers organizations of any type—businesses, families, civic, youth, faith groups, schools, and nonprofits—the opportunity to schedule a group stewardship project that allows you to build connections with each other and the land. Organizations can also do a financial adoption of a trail that needs continuous work and maintenance.
For more information and to schedule, please email Claire Woodward at cwoodward@rfov.org
Youth Service Learning Projects:
From planting wildflowers to building new trails, RFOV offers custom service projects for youth groups! Available to youth of all ages, these educational programs connect your group with fun and impactful service opportunities in your community.
For more information and to schedule, please email Ben Sherman at bsherman@rfov.org
Learn New Skills, Become an RFOV Expert
RFOV is offering exciting trainings this season. Do you want to get involved with RFOV beyond the trails? Become a Project Ambassador or Crew Leader or just learn more about our restoration work. Learn more below:
Project Ambassador Training
6 pm - 7:30 pm on April 16
RFOV's community projects depend on Project Ambassadors to sign in and orient volunteers, talk to the community about the project and other RFOV work during the volunteer day, and support general project logistics. Come learn about the Project Ambassador program and join us in this accessible, low-impact volunteer opportunity.
Crew Leader Training
8:30 am - 4:30 pm on May 4-5
RFOV relies on volunteer crew leaders to make such a busy project season successful. Have you ever wanted to help lead other volunteers in trail, restoration, and fire mitigation projects? The only experience required is love for the work we do and a desire to support RFOV projects!
Intro to Restoration Skills
4 pm - 8 pm on June 5
Learn more about the skills and concepts that make local restoration projects a success. Help a degrading ecosystem recover from invasive species and past grazing activity. We discuss some of the basic restoration skills, including seeding, planting, and simple erosion control.
OTHER RFOV EVENTS
5 Point Film Encore Show
We are excited to partner with 5 Point Film! Join us on Saturday, May 4 for their exclusive 2024 Encore shows at TACAW that will benefit both 5 Point Film and Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. Both showings will feature the best adventure films from their flagship festival, special guests, legendary emcees, and great prizes to win presented by Bristlecone Mountain Sports and Lulubelle.
Mount Sopris Run-Off
Join Independence Run and Hike, and RFOV on Sunday, May 19, as we revitalize this historic trail race up and over the Crown in Carbondale. There will be a 25K and 10-mile race. The race starts at 8 am at Flying Dog Ranch and finishes at Rock Bottom Ranch.
$80 race fee. All proceeds benefit RFOV.
YOUTH NEWS
Adventure Stewards
2024 is bringing you THREE sessions of Adventure Stewards. This exciting program introduces students, ages 11-14, to local, world-class outdoor adventure activities, such as rock climbing and white water rafting, while giving back through hands-on stewardship. Sessions are filling up quickly!
Little Explorers
Little Explorers is open to students ages 4-8 while their parents volunteer, this free program occurs on-site during select Community Projects from 9 am - 12 pm! Little Explorers includes a scavenger hunt, art with natural materials, and structured nature play for your kids while you take part in the project.
This season, Little Explorers will be offered at:
Silt River Preserve - May 11
Rock Bottom Ranch - June 1
Coffman Ranch - October 6
Youth In Nature
In March, Youth In Nature students took a flight to view the Elk Mountains from above with EcoFlight. The Group met at Aspen Flight School and spoke with our local avalanche forecaster from The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), Dylan Craaybeek. Students learned about dust on snow events, changes in snowpack, and the snow's effect on our watersheds. This month we will be heading to the Silt River Preserve for a stewardship project with Aspen Valley Land Trust.
If you know a student who would benefit from this program, our application is now open through April 15! Youth In Nature is a cost-free outdoor internship for high school students in the Aspen to Parachute region. YIN provides transportation, outdoor gear, and a $1,500 educational award for each student.
VALLEY HAPPENINGS
Earth Day 2024
Earth Day is on April 22, see what events are happening in the valley!
Farm Collaborative Earth Day BINGO card - Celebrate Earth Day every day and connect with the outdoors
Roaring Fork Conservancy River Cleanup - Registration REQUIRED
Glenwood Springs Compost Pick-up - Glenwood Springs Residents can responsibly drop off hazardous waste and then celebrate Earth Day with free compost pick-up
EASY WAYS SUPPORT RFOV
THE ASPEN PLEDGE
Simply by signing the Aspen Pledge, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) will make a donation on your behalf to Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers.
Go to citymarketrewards.com
Login or create an account
When asked to "Link your card", choose "Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteer" from the list of organizations
