Volunteering and Outdoor Stewardship News for the San Luis Valley
2020 VOC Project Line-Up for the SLV

Here they are: The VOC projects in the San Luis Valley for 2020! The first project will begin accepting registrations on March 1. Click on project titles to learn more and to register.

Registration for the following project will open March 1:
May 16 - Camping and dinner provided for this one-day project!
 
Registration for the following projects will open June 1:
July 18-19
 
July 25-26
 
August 15-16
 
August 24-28
 
Registration for the following project will open on August 1:
October 3-4 
Summer 2020 Community Projects

We've got a fun set of projects across the San Luis Valley this year that are one day and are open to everyone! Save the dates, and keep your eyes out for future emails with registration links for these projects.

Tree Seedling Health @ Lookout Mountain
Thursday, July 9
Join the timber crew and staff of the Saguache Ranger District for a day to remove protective plastic shade cones from tree seedlings.

Fence Removal @ Frisco Creek Wildlife Facility
Saturday, September 12
Help remove barbed wire fencing in important elk habitat at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Frisco Creek Wildlife Facility outside of Del Norte. We'll be joined by the facility manager. Help protect elk and learn more about animal rehab in the area!
 
BioBlitz! @ Conejos Canyon
July
Hike trails in the Conejos Canyon and record data on certain plant and animal species with iNaturalist . A training will be offered one evening and then you can sign up to hike trails over a 2-week period to help us collect important data.

Alpine Lake Sampling
June, July, August
See details in the column on the right of this newsletter.

BLM Wilderness Study Area Adopters
ongoing
See details in the column on the right of this newsletter.

...and more to come!
First Aid/CPR Classes

Do you need to re-certify your first aid/CPR skills or learn these great outdoors skills for the first time? Do you need to get this certification prior to a crosscut saw class? There are a few options for you:

Email Sally Wier at sally@voc.org if you live in the San Luis Valley. She will put you on a list and let you know when a local class is offered at the Rio Grande National Forest. This offering is for volunteers and is free of charge.

You can also join the Outdoor Stewardship Institute at one of their classes:
For questions, comments or more information on volunteering on public lands in the SLV
contact Sally at sally@voc.org or 719-852-6234
Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor's Office
1803 W. U.S. Hwy 160
Monte Vista, CO 81144
Alpine Lake Sampling Volunteers Needed
We are looking for a handful of hardy volunteers to backpack into remote alpine lake basins to collect water samples for the Rio Grande National Forest this summer. Trips are over weekends in June, July, and August. If you are interested in learning more, please email Sally Wier at sally@voc.org .
BLM Wilderness Study Area Adopters Needed
The BLM is looking for one or two volunteers to help monitor two Wilderness Study Areas in the San Luis Valley: one near Antonito, one near Crestone. Help us collect info on dispersed campsites, user-created roads and more. If you are interested in learning more, please email Sally Wier at sally@voc.org and/or Clayton Davey at cdavey@blm.gov
303.715.1010 |  voc@voc.org  |  voc.org
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to motivating and enabling people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. Founded in 1984, VOC is a nationally recognized leader in outdoor volunteerism, having helped more than 110,000 people of all ages get involved in and become inspired to care for Colorado's outdoors.