ABOUT

ABOUT VOC

Volunteers For Outdoor Colorado logo

ABOUT US

Founded in 1984, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is the state's oldest outdoor stewardship nonprofit organization. Our mission is to motivate and enable people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.


Each year, we engage thousands of people to provide a volunteer workforce for recreation and habitat improvement projects in partnership with land agencies, nonprofits, and community groups. These volunteer projects take place in every corner of Colorado and over the decades, we've grown beyond our projects - and our borders - to help others start and improve their own volunteer stewardship programs and inspire all of us to find our place in caring for the outdoors.


Our vision is a Colorado where all people connect to nature and care for our outdoor spaces.

OUR STAFF AND BOARD

OUR IMPACT

Learn about the impact Volunteers for Colorado has made over the last 39 years.

$27.18M


LABOR VALUE DONATED

133,700


VOLUNTEERS ACROSS COLORADO

1,600+


OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

100


PUBLIC VOLUNTEER PROJECTS PER YEAR

FINDING COMMON GROUND

For more than 30 years, VOC's mission has been to motivate and enable people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. From our on-the-ground volunteer projects to behind-the-scenes management, everything we do is grounded in our mission and the Guiding Principles that support it.


To achieve our mission and provide the best service for Colorado and Coloradans, we are dedicated to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative culture that encourages stewardship - of the outdoors, of the volunteer experience, and of our organization's sustainability.

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WHAT VOC VOLUNTEERS DO

We offer volunteer projects for the general public, as well as youth and corporate groups in:

  • trail construction and maintenance
  • habitat restoration and invasive species management
  • tree planting and urban gardening
  • flood and fire restoration and mitigation
  • park improvements and historic restoration

 

Projects range in type and difficulty level, and volunteers can also help with project photography, camp cooking, tool transport, and more. No matter how you participate, you’ll find great people working together to address critical needs in Colorado's natural places.

VOLUNTEER

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

In addition to engaging everyday people in addressing critical on-the-ground needs, we host a variety of programs designed to welcome more people into the stewardship community and inspire a lifelong ethic of taking care of the outdoors. These include:


  • The year-long Cairn Youth Program, which guides high school students in monthly outdoor education and leadership activities;
  • Our signature Family Camping projects, which welcome children as young as six to discover the fun of getting outside and giving back;
  • The Affinity Partnership Program, which fosters mutually beneficial partnerships to increase the participation of historically underrepresented communities in the outdoors; and
  • Our Healthy Community Projects, which improve human and environmental health outcomes in communities disproportionately impacted by harms such as air pollution and lack of affordable produce


Our 2023 Healthy Community Projects are supported by:

Johnson Foundation of the Rockies

BEYOND THE BOOTS

Volunteerism is the foundation of VOC, and volunteers' hard work over the years has given us a platform to refine our organization and deliver the highest-quality work for land management agencies of all sizes, from local open space programs to state parks and federal agencies.


The success of our volunteer model has led to the creation of similar groups across the state, and served as inspiration for outdoor nonprofits and agencies across the country and even internationally.


We believe it is up to all of us to care for the outdoors, which is why we share expertise and collaborate with others, elevating our collective ability to tackle the most pressing stewardship challenges. 

PARTNER RESOURCES

HONORING ORIGINAL STEWARDS

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) acknowledges the original stewards of the lands we serve today. Prior to their forced removal, many Indigenous peoples called Colorado home and we thank them for their care of the lands, waters, and wildlife we enjoy today. We also recognize their continuing commitment and connection to the land, and we honor the enduring wisdom they contribute to stewardship today.

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WHY VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP?

And what is "stewardship"?

Simply put, outdoor stewardship is responsibly managing our natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations of people, plants, and animals.

GROWING CHALLENGES...

Colorado’s natural resources, beautiful weather, and world-class recreational opportunities are why so many of us choose to live, work, and play here. Fifty years ago, Colorado's population stood at 2 million people. Today, that number has more than doubled, and is expected to rise to 7.8 million by 2040!

More people means more visitors - and, without hands-on maintenance, more damage - to these natural places. Combined with budget cuts to land management agencies, natural disasters, and environmental changes, there are many challenges to keeping outdoor places healthy, beautiful, and accessible for all.

...ENDLESS OPPORTUNITY

The challenges facing our state offer the chance for all of us to play an important role in making sure our shared lands are well-cared for, not only for our enjoyment today, but for the future wellbeing of our communities and the flora and fauna who also call Colorado home.

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