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Boulder County
Parks & Open Space

5201 St. Vrain Road
Longmont, CO  80503
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tel (303) 678-6200
fax (303) 678-6180

Boulder County Fairgrounds
9595 Nelson Rd.
Affolter House
Longmont, CO  80501
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tel (303) 678-6235
fax (303) 678-6322

 


Wild Work: One-Day Work Project
Volunteer Opportunities
 

Volunteers

We hope you or your organization will consider volunteering for one of the work projects listed below. Most projects are one day.

Please pass this information on to family and friends who may be interested, too! For a list of ongoing volunteer opportunities, please see our Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities page.

To receive regular email notices about our programs, please visit http://www.bouldercounty.org/lists and follow the instructions to sign up for the Parks & Open Space Volunteer Work Projects list.
 


June Projects July Projects
August September
October November
   

Fall Projects At a Glance

 

September


Collect Native Seeds in the Mountains on Saturday, September 6

Discover a little known, but picturesque open space area while helping collect nodding brome, a valuable native plant. We will work at Grassy Top Open Space (off Peak-to-Peak Highway), wandering through open meadows while carefully looking for seeds from this beautiful mountain area. Locally collected seed is exceptionally valuable because it is well adapted to local soils and climate and often cannot be purchased. Collected seed will be used to complete ecological restoration projects throughout Boulder County. If you enjoy being outdoors and are interested in learning more about native ecosystems and plants, seed collections are a great opportunity for you. Collections are great family events with a minimum age of eight with adult supervision. This project runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Please register by September 4 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.


Caribou Ranch Fence Removal on Sunday, September 14

Grab your camera and meet us at Caribou to enjoy the beautiful fall color change. Work with a wildlife biologist to remove an old fence that litters the forest and endangers wildlife. Volunteers will work in Caribou Ranch’s backcountry an area normally closed to the public. This is amazing wildlife habitat, often inhabited by elk and moose. Expect to hike up to two miles off-trail. Minimum age is 14 with adult supervision. This project runs from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Please register by September 11 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.


Aspen Habitat Enhancement on Saturday, September 27 (Free Lunch!)

Help celebrate National Public Lands Day and enjoy the magnificent fall colors in the mountains of Boulder County. Learn about montane forest ecology, while working with other volunteers to improve quaking aspen stands on open space south of Nederland. Aspen ecosystems are extremely valuable wildlife habitat, but have been disappearing across Colorado for a variety of reasons, including fire suppression, cattle and elk grazing, drought, and disease. As volunteers, we cannot control all of these factors, but we can improve our forests by mimicking natural disturbances. Your assistance will help restore aspen forests at Reynolds Ranch by using hand saws and loppers to clear small conifers. Bring your camera to capture the remarkable views of the Indian Peaks. Minimum age is 12 with adult supervision. This project runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm and free lunch will be provided! Please register by September 24 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216. Sign up today!


October


Backcountry Forest Restoration on Saturday, October 11 & Saturday, November 8 (you can volunteer one or both days)

Enjoy your time at beautiful Heil Valley Ranch, while helping restore healthy forest and meadow ecosystems. We will use handsaws and loppers to thin unhealthy ponderosa pine stands. The work we will accomplish is part of a larger restoration plan that will re-establish natural forest systems and improve wildlife habitat. Minimum age is 12 with adult supervision. This project runs from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Please register by October 9 or November 6 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.


Restore Native Plants at Bald Mountain Scenic Area
on Saturday, October 18 (Free Lunch!)

Boulder County forestry staff has worked hard at improving Bald Mountain’s ponderosa pine forests. Over 35 acres have been treated to improve wildlife habitat, decrease fire danger to neighboring homes, and restore forest ecosystems. Now that the heavy work is finished, we are looking for 30 volunteers to help us restore the area with native grasses. Revegetation is a vital component of this project, as it will increase habitat quality, prevent soil erosion, and keep invasive weeds from taking over. Volunteers will use rakes, shovels, and other hand tools to spread and rake native seed into disturbed areas. Come back in the spring to watch your carefully sowed seeds grow into healthy native plants. Minimum age is 12 with adult supervision. This project runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and free lunch will be provided! Please register by October 16 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.


Betasso Preserve Fence Removal on Saturday, October 25

Hop on up Boulder Canyon and volunteer at Betasso Preserve. Betasso once was a working ranch with miles of cattle fences crisscrossing the property. These old fences no longer serve a useful purpose, and they are dangerous for foxes, deer, and other wildlife. Your work will help improve valuable wildlife habitat at the park. Minimum age is 14 with adult supervision. This project runs from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Please register by October 23 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216. Space is limited so register early!


Improve Fish Habitat on Sunday, October 26

A small group of volunteers is needed to help build fish structures at Braly Open Space near Longmont. Work alongside a wildlife biologist to improve fish habitat at local fishing holes. Volunteers will work on shore and in a boat, constructing and sinking artificial fish homes. This is a special opportunity to be part of this unique and fun event. The project runs 9:00am to 12:00pm. Minimum age is 14 with adult supervision. Please register by October 23 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.


November


Help Clean Native Seed on Sunday, November 15

Every year Boulder County Parks and Open Space volunteers help collect millions of native grass and flower seeds, that are later used in restoration projects on Open Space lands. Before some of these seeds can be planted, they must be sorted and cleaned. Volunteers will learn to identify native seeds and how to prepare them for use. This project runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Minimum age is 12 with adult supervision. Please register by November 14 by e-mailing WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCounty.org or calling 303-678-6216.

 


Fall Project Summary

 

Date Day of Week Project Location Time
Sept. 6 Saturday Seed Collection Grassy Top(in the foothills) 9-noon
Sept. 14 Sunday Fence Removal Caribou Ranch 9-12:30pm
Sept. 27 Saturday Aspen Enhancement Reynolds Ranch (near Nederland) 9-3pm
Oct. 11 Saturday Forest Restoration Heil Valley Ranch 12-4pm
Oct. 18 Saturday Restoration Project Bald Mountain 9-3pm
Oct. 25 Saturday Fence Removal Betasso Preserve 1-4pm
Oct. 26 Sunday Fish Project Braly Open Space (east of Longmont) 9-noon
Nov. 8 Saturday Forest Restoration Heil Valley Ranch 12-4pm
Nov. 15 Saturday Seed Cleaning Longmont 1-4pm
 

 

Black-tailed prairie dog.

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