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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
map
tel (303) 678-6235
fax (303) 678-6322

 


Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities


Volunteer Naturalist Program

Be a Volunteer Naturalist and inform the public about the natural history of Boulder County. Develop and present outdoor and indoor interpretive programs, and lead nature hikes and other natural history-related field experiences.

Contact the Natural History Program Coordinator at lcolbenson@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6214 for more information.

Click here for a  volunteer application.


Writer for "Images" Quarterly Newsletter

Write an article for the Boulder County Parks and Open Space’s quarterly publication Images. We are looking for articles about local natural and cultural history, wildlife and plants as well as other topics.

If you are interested in writing an article for an upcoming issue, please contact Pascale Fried at 303-678-6201 or email pfried@bouldercounty.org.

Click here for a  volunteer application.


Guides to the Past at Agricultural Heritage Center or Walker Ranch

The Agricultural Heritage Center at the Lohr/McIntosh Farm is looking for volunteers with a passion for cultural history and a strong desire to share that passion with others.  As a tour guide, you will help visitors explore Boulder County’s rich agricultural past at this charming 1868 homestead in Longmont.  Share the secrets hidden inside a restored 1909 farmhouse with inquisitive visitors.  Watch children’s eyes light up as you demonstrate how an authentic player piano works.  Share a story from the past, help tend an early 20th century “war garden”, or just watch the chickens roam in the front yard. 

Recruitment for volunteers at the Agricultural Heritage Center is complete for 2009. The applications process for next year begins in spring of 2010. Please contact Tom McMichen at 303-776-8848 or tmcmichen@bouldercounty.org for more details.

Walker Ranch Homestead is looking for volunteers to demonstrate daily chores of a working western ranch -- including cooking on a wood-burning stove, churning butter, making roof shingles, assisting the blacksmith, and doing laundry the old fashioned way with a scrub board, wringer & tub.

 

This is a great family volunteer opportunity! Costumed volunteers participate in special events up at the historic Walker Ranch Homestead and conduct a variety of historical presentations to school groups and general public throughout Boulder County.  

 

Please check back dates of our next volunteer recruitment period.

 

Volunteers attend a training that covers history, lifestyles of the 1880s, historical ranch activities, and interpretive techniques.  

 

For more information contact Tom McMichen at 303-776-8848 or tmcmichen@bouldercounty.org for an application and more details.

 

Click here for a volunteer application.


Adopt a Park or Trail

Families, schools, community groups, and businesses can adopt a trail and become part of our county's park maintenance system. Adoptees pick up litter at least four times between April and October.  Depending on the site and your group's interests, you may also participate in trail maintenance, wildlife habitat construction, weed control and other park improvements.
Groups or individuals participating in this program will be recognized on a sign posted at the park and an adoption certificate. Contact the Adopt a Park or Trail Coordinator at mbruce@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6216 for more information.

Click here for a volunteer application.


Park Hosts

Park Hosts have lots of opportunities to make a difference while patrolling some of Boulder County's premier open spaces.  Park hosts provide park visitors with information about the cultural and natural history of parks, recreational opportunities, facilities, and regulations. An important part of the department’s field staff, park hosts keep visitors updated about current resource management issues and answer visitor's questions about the parks.

Volunteers must be friendly, approachable, and have a general knowledge of open space flora and fauna. 

Recruitment for Park Hosts is complete for 2009.

Please contact the Park Host Coordinator at volpatrol@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6219 or click here for more information about the program.

Click here for a volunteer application.


Seed Collection Crew Leader

Watch the Seed Collection VideoParks and Open Space is collaborating with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to train residents to lead native seed collection projects. Seeds collected on Open Space are well adapted to local soils and climate, and are utilized in nearby ecological restoration projects. Volunteers who would like to become crew leaders must be 18 years or older and attend a one-day training.

Recruitment for Seed Collection Crew Leaders is complete for 2009. For more information, please contact Erica Christensen at 303-678-6216 or echristensen@bouldercounty.org.

Click here for a  volunteer application.

Watch the Seed Collection Video (1:13)
Please note that you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher to view video.
Mac User?  Get Windows Media Player for Macintosh.
Need help with Streaming Video?


Visitor Surveys

Perform a variety of surveys with park visitors and the public on visitor use. Contact the Park Interpreter at mbauer@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6219 for more information.

Click here for a volunteer application.


Gardening - Group Project

A group is needed to assist with planting and monitoring a flower garden at the Agricultural Heritage Center. Some horticulture and gardening experience is preferred. This is an on-going project through spring, summer and fall. Contact Tom McMichen at tmcmichen@bouldercounty.org or 303-776-8848 for more information.

Click here for a volunteer application.


Trail Crew Leaders

Do you ride, hike or run Boulder County’s multi-use trails? Do you want to extend and improve your local single-track? Parks and Open Space is collaborating with the Outdoor Stewardship Institute to train volunteers to lead small groups at trail construction and maintenance work projects. This opportunity will allow you to meet and work with other trail users, gain leadership experience, and provide a worthwhile service to your community. Volunteer trail crew leaders must be 18 years or older, attend a trail crew leader training and commit to working a minimum of two trail projects between April through October.

For more information, contact Andy Tyler at 303-678-6193 or atyler@BoulderCounty.org

Click here for a volunteer application.


Forestry Crew Leaders

Get into the backcountry! We are recruiting volunteers to lead small groups at forest restoration projects to help maintain healthy tree density and diversity, while improving wildlife habitat for birds and mammals. Your efforts will also reduce wildland fire hazards and prepare areas for prescribed burns. Crew leaders must be 18 years or older, attend training and commit to leading four forestry projects a year.

Recruitment for Forestry Crew Leaders is complete for 2009. For more information about other volunteer opportunities, please contact Matt Bruce at 303-678-6216 or mbruce@boulcercolorado.org.

Click here for a volunteer application.
 


Team-Building Opportunity for Businesses and Organizations

Watch the Forestry Volunteer VideoAre you looking for an opportunity for your business, club, or group to work together, outside of the office, while giving back to the community? If so, then maybe you would be interested in participating in a group volunteer project with Parks and Open Space!

Last year, 32 local corporate and non-profit groups volunteered with Parks and Open Space while serving the communities in their own backyard. We can develop a project to fit your schedule and tailor it to your interests.

If this sounds like a great opportunity for your group, please e-mail WildWorkVolunteers@BoulderCountyorg or call 303-678-6216 to arrange a project.

Click here to learn more about taking your team outside!

Watch the Forestry Video (1:09)
Please note that you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher to view video.
Mac User?  Get Windows Media Player for Macintosh.
Need help with Streaming Video?

 


Natural Resource Monitoring

Boulder County Parks and Open Space is now accepting applications for the 2010 Volunteer Natural Resource Monitor program.  

If you enjoy investigating the natural world, then you should become a volunteer natural resource monitor. Volunteers collect important, ongoing scientific data about wildlife, forestry, plant ecology, and noxious weeds.

We are recruiting people who have a background in natural resources, experience collecting field data, and familiarity with the scientific method. Knowledge of local flora and fauna is preferred. 

For more information about the Natural Resources Monitoring program click here.

To see the job descriptions of the different monitoring opportunities click here.

Click here for a volunteer application.
 


Shrub Monitoring

Boulder County Parks and Open Space is now accepting applications for volunteer shrub monitors.

If you have an interest in wildlife habitat and enjoy being outdoors, Boulder County Parks and Open Space has a new ongoing volunteer opportunity that might interest you!

Boulder County has abundant shrub habitats in varying conditions at our foothills properties (Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch, Rabbit Mountain).

Monitors will track shrub health relative to climate, browsing, and fire interval on Boulder County open space properties.

Some general qualifications include knowledge of plant identification or natural resources background, experience with line and point transect monitoring, scientific method and the ability to keep computer records.

To see a job description of the shrub monitoring opportunity click here and scroll to the bottom of the document.

Click here for a volunteer application.

 

 

 

Black-tailed prairie dog.

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