Cairns - small piles of rocks that make a big difference. They guide your way to fun and adventure. They challenge you to reach the next one. They mark your achievement when you reach the summit.

VOC's Cairn Youth Program guides and challenges young people to become caretakers of Colorado’s extraordinary natural resources. Cairn combines challenging outdoor leadership skills with rewarding hands-on environmental projects that make a difference on the natural world. Youth, ages 14 to 18, meet monthly with mentors and special guests to explore environmental topics, address community needs and participate in adventurous outdoor challenges. The 9-month program culminates in a community-wide volunteer project developed and led by Cairn participants!

Learn more about Cairn at an orientation, September 9th, 6-7:30pm @ VOC - get the details.

Cairn participants build leadership skills through crew leader training and by planning and leading their own outdoor volunteer project. Mentors assist Cairn participants in rock climbing, snowshoeing, learning camping skills and climbing a fourteener. Cairn partners with organizations such as Denver Water, REI and Denver Parks and Recreation to give participants a variety of environmental perspectives and exploration of career paths. Volunteer service hours through Cairn help fulfill graduation requirements, and the Cairn experiences look great on a resume or college application.
 
Make your mark. Join Cairn today! 

Apply to be a Cairn student (.pdf file).

Questions? Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 303.715.1010 ext. 114.

Check out photos from this year's project at Shop Creek