Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

I was new to Colorado when I learned about VOC. The projects they offer are such a great way to meet likeminded people and explore this amazing state while giving back to the land! I was surprised at how delicious the food was on the overnight projects. The staff goes above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable and included. I highly recommend volunteering with VOC!

VOC is a top-notch nonprofit. As a volunteer and as a former employee, I've seen how they operate on both the front and the back-end, and it's always with the utmost professionalism, attention to their mission, and care for their volunteers, staff, board, and donors. They operate like a well-oiled machine and are always looking to improve and innovate while respecting their roots. Plus, they're super fun! Volunteering with VOC is one of the most unique service experiences you can have; it's a ton of fun, a great workout, and one of the few places where people from different generations and different backgrounds get to come together and work side by side.

I have volunteered with VOC for 18 years and also had the honor of serving on the board. VOC has excellence built in in every aspect of the organization - from exceptional board members who deeply care about the longevity of the organization; leadership who exude passion and energy about VOCs mission and who have built extensive relationships with leading advocates in the outdoor stewardship space; staff who design and execute the most memorable projects and keep the train moving on time; and volunteers (new and old) who are eager to maintain our outdoor infrastructure.

VOC projects send you to a variety of places around the state that you might not have ever known about. Their projects nurture our Colorado environment for outdoor activities. It’s very rewarding work, fun and you get great meals on weekends.

VOC is a truly amazing organization. My spouse and I have volunteered on some of their projects for the past several years - building and repairing hiking trails and clearing noxious plants along the Arkansas river. The people at VOC are committed to their mission and love the work they do - there is no finer small nonprofit anywhere.

VOC is an amazing organization that works with land managers to help protect, restore and maintain public lands. Without this org, I would have never known how much time and labor go into ensuring our natural spaces and parks are in safe and healthy conditions. Apart from the education (and good workout on projects!), VOC focuses on building community amongst volunteers. The overnight camping projects are so much fun, and VOC has really thought of everything - food, happy hour and entertainment/educational speakers are key components of making the projects memorable! I have been able to give back to the trails and parks that I love so much, all while making lifelong friends.

VOC does a great job making all volunteers feel included. Projects are well-organized and I've always felt supported with a great atmosphere and great food!

Since its inception VOC has filled a much and necessary role for the protection of the things that all of us love about Colorado -- the mountains, the environment, the trails. I have been volunteering for over 25 years, sharing the outdoors with so many smiling people, in hot weather, in rain, in snow. Throughout these years so many dedicated volunteers return again and again so that they can shovel dirt, move rocks, push wheel barrells, and just get dirty..

VOC is a wonderful organization to volunteer with. Their projects are extremely well organized, with friendly and welcoming staff. You get to work and camp in beautiful areas of the state you may not see otherwise. They even have volunteer crew chefs working hard to provide breakfast and dinner to the volunteers. I highly recommend learning about VOC and how you can get involved.

VOC’s commitment to a positive volunteer experience, as well as project outcomes, sets them apart. The decades of experience they have shows in every effort where volunteers are welcomed into a community open to anyone who wants to participate, no matter their experience or personal background.

I've done 3 projects with VOC so far and all of them have been great.

My favorite part about VOC is I feel like they utilize their volunteers and funds very efficiently. They're providing maximum impact for their limited funds and time.
They're also well organized and have a good number of experts and old hands on their projects, which ensures that the projects produce quality results and that skills are passed down to new volunteers.
The team leaders are also very focused on volunteer safety. They encourage safety practices during trail building, and constantly emphasize that no one is asked to do more than they're comfortable with. They're very accommodating to make sure everyone there is able to contribute in their own way.
Also the breakfasts and dinners they provide on their multi-day trips are delicious!!!
5/5 would recommend.

Incredibly well-organized organization that makes volunteering easy, gratifying, and rewarding. All you have to do is show up, and you're welcomed to a community of well-intentioned folks willing to do good work for the land they love. Cannot recommend VOC enough to anyone with spare time on their hands

An amazing opportunity to both get to give back to Colorado AND meet really excellent people! Every project I've volunteered on (30+ projects), I always meet the nicest people who share similar values about caring for Colorado and volunteering. I usually come home from a project with the name/number of someone I'd like to know more and I've developed some of my deepest friendships over the past few years with people I met on projects.

Beyond the community, the trail work is extremely fun! I was nervous about not knowing anything about trail work when I started volunteering, but they make it incredibly easy for anyone from any skill level to get involved. Any volunteer can learn as much as they'd like on a project, or even take additional courses online outside of projects.

VOC has become a major influence in how I view my personal mission and values in life, I'm so thankful for this organization and hope more people get to have the incredible experiences I have had.

First time volunteer, it was great. 3 day project. Awesome people, good work, great food. Overall a great experience, hope to do more next year

Working with VOC was so fun and enjoyable!

I contributed to constructing 4,065 feet of new hiking trail at the Pronghorn Natural Area and everything from interacting with the crew and volunteers to the work itself was extremely fulfilling. Even with undertaking such a large project, this was easily the most well organized volunteer project that I have been a part of and it is evident that the VOC crew truly cares about the work.

I have another VOC project coming up at the end of June and I absolutely can't wait to participate!

Working with VOC has been a proud and rewarding experience to help maintain our state's wild lands.

I've been a crew leader for VOC for nearly 50 projects. The training available and the wide range of valuable, fun projects make this a very rewarding organization to work with!

Volunteer Outdoor Colorado makes it so easy to get involved. For my first volunteer experience, they took time to thoroughly explain the work I was responsible for, and made me feel very welcomed. It's an incredible opportunity to work together under a common love of the outdoors with people from all walks of life, and accomplish goals to preserve that love.

I have had the pleasure of volunteering with VOC on a few projects now and each time I left yearning to do more. This year I had the pleasure of attending a week long backpacking trip in SW Colorado. It was the hardest work I have ever done, but it was the most rewarding work I have ever done. I met some really amazing volunteers and got to see a part of Colorado that most people only dream of. Already counting down till my next volunteer trip with them.

So much lifting and digging. Outrageous elevation. Immense climbing to reach the destination. And no income. This was not a chore, this was an experience. An incredible experience. Mind, Body, Nature, friendship and Spirit leaving me fulfilled in so many ways inside and out. This and future projects will leave my body moving on to the next universe.

Was lucky enough to volunteer for the Galena Ditch Trail near Breckenridge in July. This was a "Family" outing with camping available. It was extremely well organized with events for kids during the day, food for all, entertainment and rewarding work.

It was nice to see the side of a mountain with no trail change to have a bike/hike trail for use by all -- 3000 feet of new trail, connecting to the Colorado Trail.

The event was my wife and my first VOC event and we will be doing more in the future!

Volunteering with VOC is hard work and so rewarding. It can be difficult sometimes to find meaningful volunteer work that provides tangible results, but that's not the case with VOC.
As a first-timer, I was pleased to see a variety of options for people of all skill levels and an extremely well-organized operation that made it simple to be involved. I got home and immediately signed up for my next volunteer project with VOC.

VOC blew me away with its organization, friendliness and complete competence in every aspect of both trail building and organizing volunteers. As an added bonus, they are family friendly and work with youth through their youth mentor program. I would recommend a VOC project time and time again! Thanks VOC!

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is the whole package when it comes to volunteer work. The projects are meaningful, well organized and include projects for the whole family. Not to mention, when you volunteer you get the opportunity to see some of the most breathtaking scenery our great state has to offer. We've been signing up every summer for 7 years and hopefully will be for many more. We couldn't be more proud to work with this great organization!

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado has hosted our elementary school and Girl Scout troop on a variety of stewardship projects - trail building, invasive weed removal, and urban gardening. The VOC staff are high energy, organized, and reliable. The kids (and their adult chaperones), many of whom are not used to hard physical work, leave the projects tired, dirty, and proud. Thanks, VOC!

Just went on my first project with VOC. They are a great group of people doing great things. It's clear that their years of experience helps them do amazing work.

I have participated in multiple projects with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, each one exceeding my expectations! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about their work in caring for the Colorado outdoors. Every year they have amazing opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to give back to the environment around them. I would definitely recommend this organization to anyone remotely interested in outdoor recreation seeking a fun way to volunteer.

I very much enjoyed my experience with VOC making a new trail in my area. A great organization, doing great work with great people. Thanks VOC!

VOC is an outstanding organization to get involved in if you're passionate about giving back to the colorful state you live in. There are projects and events for all ages to participate in. If you love nature, you want to be a part of this!

Volunteers of Colorado is a wonderful organization that benefits everybody in our beautiful state. Not only do they help keep Colorado's outdoors beautiful, sustainable, and useful for everybody, but they provide activities and events for people of all ages. The program allows people from all walks of life to feel like they can make an impact. I love the powerful sense of community and unity at the volunteer events. It is so rewarding to work toward a common goal alongside so many devoted volunteers and the passionate VOC staff members. Thanks for all you do, VOC!

I've been a VOC volunteer for over 20 years because I find the projects a physical challenge and I have been exposed through my participation to parts of Colorado I might never have gotten to. Over the years the organization has broadened its scope from only bulding and repairing trails to eliminating invasive plants, restoring historic structures, rebuilding trails after the 2013 floods and more. The two newest state parks, Staunton and Cheyenne Mountain have excellent hiking trails, and VOC volunteers played a major role in their design and construction. At 75 I can't work the way I used to but still manage to do several projects each year.

VOC is a great organization that I feel proud to support financially. I am a frequent user of trails and the outdoors in Colorado but I don't have a lot of time to give to volunteer, so I feel that my small financial contribution is my way to make a difference and give back. Keep up the good work VOC!

I spend a lot of time outdoors from hiking to mountain biking and everything in between. I think that volunteering with VOC is a great way to give back to the outdoors that I spend so much time in. VOC doesn't always work on trails that I frequent, but that's okay. I still feel great knowing that I am working to rebuild and maintain trails that are used and enjoyed by others. The projects are fun, the work is meaningful, and I know that I am giving back to a great cause - the environment. Children to adults, young and old, men and women, from any walk of life can give back to this beautiful state in a meaningful way by volunteering with VOC. So, if you haven't already done so I encourage you to look into joining VOC during one of their many projects from the months of April through October. I promise you won't regret it, plus there's almost always free food and coffee ;-)

VOC is a great organization! I am incredibly passionate about the environment and environmental conservationism and I am honored that an organization such as this exists in my home state. The work VOC does on its public projects is absolutely instrumental in ensuring that our greatest outdoor places are around for generations to come. I feel that VOC's work is particularly important now that more and more people are moving to Colorado and our trails are seeing an increase in use. I love that people are getting outside and enjoying all this great state has to offer, but I love even more that VOC is out there to help repair and rebuild some of our most popular trails. I also love the badge program with its Do It Yourself stewardship emphasis. Sometimes you just can't make it out on a project, but it is great that there is motivation and incentives to do your own work to make this state even better.

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is, hands down, the best volunteer organization around for those who enjoy spending time outside giving back to the outdoors while meeting fun, passionate and like-minded people. I had such a memorable time on my first trail building project with VOC last year, and went on a gardening and fire restoration project this year that were equally amazing! The volunteer crews were extremely knowledgeable and friendly and taught me everything I needed to know to get the job done, and I loved the diversity of volunteers - old and young, male and female, from all different walks of life. The BEST way to give back!

My first crew with VOC was in Brown's Canyon Wilderness Study Area, and NOW Brown's Canyon National Monument! Crew was managed incredibly well, food fantastic, and we were even treated to live music by a band. I would recommend VOC wholeheartedly, for memories and volunteering, over and over!
Thank you VOC.

I've done volunteer trail work throughout the west since 1972. VOC is one of the premier organizations to work with. They not only run numerous weekend and weekly trail projects, they take great care of the volunteers, providing meals, training and respected crew leaders. They also run specialized training classes.

VOC sets a high bar for the volunteer experience. I've done local day projects and weekend-long projects with them, all of which have been fantastic. The volunteer leaders are great, and they work with many other organizations to make sure volunteer hours are going to the right projects, so you really feel like you make a difference. VOC projects are a highlight of my summer!

I don't live in Colorado, but I follow the organization on Facebook because my son works for VOC. I am always blown away by pictures of the work volunteers do! This is truly an amazing organization that motivates people to get out and help care for outdoor Colorado!

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado has helped Grow Local Colorado plant our vegetable gardens every spring for the past four years. The purpose of the gardens is to grow local, fresh, organic produce for those in our community that are in need. Thanks to VOC we are able to plant 5,000 seedlings in ten gardens in ten days in late May. They provide the volunteers, the publicity, and the tools to get the job done. If not for their help Grow Local would not be able to get our gardens going and growing so quickly and smoothly. We love VOC!

I volunteered with VOC for my first time this summer and plan to continue working with them as long as humanely possible. It is a great opportunity to meet inspiring people and to get some exercise working hard in beautiful places to protect those resources for generations to come. VOC is very organized and makes everyone feel like they are an integral part of the team.

I volunteered with VOC for the first time in October of 2013 after moving to the state. I was initially seeking a way to meet new friends while giving a little of my time to improve our parks, but what I ended up getting in return far exceeded my expectations. Now, over 6 volunteer events later, VOC has become a part of my regular life in CO.

They operate like a well-oiled machine and are very safety conscious. I've had the opportunity to meet a bevy of wonderful people from all over the state. Everyone involved is a positive thinker and really take pride in what they do. It is very inspiring for me to do the same. I highly recommend working with VOC - they are ready and willing to accept new people into their fold.

You'll learn tons about trail construction (setting stone or railroad tie steps, erosion control, laying down new trail, etc.) and tool usage and care. If you ever intend to be in a leadership or management position regardless of what walk of life you're in, this is a wonderful place to observe and/or become a crew leader.

A+ for getting Coloradans outdoors and falling in love with the state all over again!

I had volunteered with other outdoor organizations but the recent project at Mt. Crested Butte was my
first experience with VOC. I was impressed with how smoothly everything ran, despite a fairly large crew
(over 50 volunteers) and the additional challenge of conducting the project on the same weekend as the
Bud Light Whatever festival. Obviously a testament to the organizational skills of the VOC leaders.

I have been volunteering with VOC since I moved to Colorado 18 months ago. The projects are in beautiful locations like Crested Butte or the Continental Divide, and I take the opportunity to work with VOC as my chance to see the state. Projects often have a variety of different work needed, ranging from easier work such as re-vegetating a damaged section of trail to hard muscular work involving setting stone steps--meaning that there is something for everyone. The people are fantastic, and I've met Americorp kids to pot-smoking hippies to super-strong athletes to hard-core right wing conservatives to people who have dedicated their lives to living the Boulder mentality, and they all believe that we must take care of the outdoor areas we use. The organizers make sure that everyone is fed healthy meals throughout the day and that volunteers are comfortable with the tools. Working with VOC I get to be outdoors in beautiful places with cool people, creating something of enduring value. It leaves me feeling good about myself and the friends I make and the place I live. A great way to spend the weekend.

VOC provides great opportunities for a variety of skill levels. We recently volunteered for a project near Salida, getting to meet some young people working with AmeriCorp up to the hardest working 80 yr old I know! Hanging around the campfire after a hard day of work giving back to the hiking community is extremely rewarding, and the best way to make new friends.

I did my first VOC project working on the Mt. Bierstadt weekend project a few weeks ago. I will definitely be volunteering again. VOC is organized, professional and super fun (the free food and post-work beers didn't hurt either!).

I have been looking for new ways to volunteer and am really excited I found VOC. Not only do you get to help restore trails and protect the environment when doing a VOC project but you get to do it in a beautiful place while getting exercise and meeting fun and inspiring people from all walks of life. Great organization.

I have been working with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado since 2003. I look forward every year to the upcoming project lists. I have learned skills I can also use at home. I've met a ton of wonderful outdoor minded people and have made a difference on countless miles of trail. I love seeing new areas before the public is even aware. Funny thing is that I love the group, how organized they are, and how much they get done. The fact that this results in something good for the community is actually secondary :). The skills this group has and how they share that knowledge is invaluable.

This has been my first year working with the VOC, they are just amazing. This is a well organized group of extremely friendly people who put together and coordinate awesome work on Colorado's trails and parks. I am very proud to be associated and volunteer my time with the VOC, I would love to see them recognized and rewarded for everything they do!

I first got involved with VOC in the early 90's, became a crew leader and worked on numerous projects before moving to Florida in 1998. I returned home to Colorado in June 2014 and was able to volunteer on a project in August 2014 (Waldo Canyon Fire Restoration). The projects that the VOC are involved with allows us to give back to the people and places in Colorado that are in need as well as to help maintain the beauty of Colorado's outdoors that we all love to enjoy. This organization has done great things for our State and I will continue to be a part of it.