Reflections from the Field
5:30 AM – We wake up early, full of nerves and questions before a Community Project. Will the weather hold up for us? How many people will show up? The very early morning buzz is an anxious one as we drive to the work site, hustle to set up the tent, and get all the tools out of our big van. Then we wait. Sometimes volunteers trickle in one by one and sometimes they all show up at once. But either way, the start is a bit awkward as people are standing around waiting for the work to start and making small talk with strangers.
As soon as our Programs Director starts her welcome talk and introduces all the project partners, things begin to fall into place. You can feel the positive energy radiating from the crowd as people become more and more excited to get started. The energy buzzes as our crew leaders can’t wait to meet their crew for the day. Volunteers are bursting with energy to start the project and get their hands dirty. It is an inspiring experience, as RFOV staff experience people telling stories, working together towards a common goal, laughing, and getting to know people they may not have had a chance to meet without this project.
The day ends in the complete opposite way it started. Instead of awkward standing around and small talk, people have worked up an appetite and are enjoying pizza, seltzer and beer, full body laughing and making real connections.
-Claire Woodward
Field Coordinator
UPCOMING VOLUNTEER EVENTS
To find out if a project suits you, please click through to the project webpage where project ratings and description are available.
Register here to improve wildlife habitat by removing fencing in this migratory zone.
Sign up here to help restore >140 acres of productive ranch land and native habitat.
Check in here to implement much needed fire mitigation tactics.
Register here to enhance accessible riparian trail for all ages and abilities.
YOUNG STEWARDS UPDATE: YOUTH IN NATURE
RFOV, with support from the Jonathan Devan Lewis Foundation, Aspen Community Foundation, and our partners has launched an exciting new program focused on youth development, sense of place, civic engagement, and land stewardship. Youth in Nature, open to all area high school students (Aspen-Parachute), started off with a four-day trip at Margy’s Hut, near Aspen in July (pictured above). Students spent time building community, connecting with the natural world, and completing service projects at the Hut. These 11 students will spend the next 9 months engaging with partners, including Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Buddy Program, Farm Collaborative, Ski Co. and Glen X. We look forward to watching these students push their comfort zones, give back to the community, and come together as the Youth in Nature team.
PLEASE SUPPORT RFOV BY SIGNING THE ASPEN PLEDGE
Our wild, wonderous lands mean everything to us. Help preserve them by signing the Aspen Pledge and ACRA will make a donation to your choice of either the Independence Pass Foundation and Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers as the beneficiary organization. ACRA has committed up to $50,000 in donations.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Corey Schaefer
In August, Corey joined us for two days in the backcountry at Capitol Creek and then for our second project on the new Sky Mountain Park climbing trail. We are so grateful that he decided to give RFOV a shot and then join us again! Thank you Corey for taking on all of the random tasks we throw your way.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Many thanks to two new corporate donors, REI and KEEN Footwear. RFOV launched relationships with these great brands at the REI Grand Opening in July 2022.
