Cairn Program

9-month leadership and stewardship experience for teens

Our award-winning high school program guides and challenges students to become caretakers of Colorado's natural resources.

Applications are closed and will reopen late Spring 2026.

LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP FOR TEENS

The Cairn Program is a 9-month outdoor leadership and service opportunity for high school students who care about the environment and want to make a difference.



Each year, 20 students from across the Front Range are selected to participate in monthly adventures that include trail building, planting, habitat restoration, and other fun, hands-on projects in nature.

Guided by young adult mentors, participants build leadership skills, explore environmental issues in Colorado, meet new friends, and even plan and lead their own stewardship project by the end of the program.

If you enjoy the outdoors and want to gain real-world experience in conservation, the Cairn Program is a great way to grow, give back, and lead.

why join the cairn program?

As a Cairn Student participant, you'll:

• Build leadership skills you can use in school, work, and life
• Fulfill school-required community service hours in a fun, outdoor setting
• Explore careers in conservation, ecology, and natural resource management
• Strengthen your college applications with resume-building experience
• Earn letters of recommendation from program mentors
• Spend time outside connecting and meeting new friends
• Learn about environmental challenges in Colorado and around the world

who can join?

To participate in the Cairn Program, students must:

• Be between 14–18 years old
• Be enrolled in grades 9–12
• Commit to attending monthly activities from September through April
• Have an interest in environmental stewardship and the outdoors
• Attend a required Student Orientation in late August (2-hour evening session)
• Students may participate multiple years in a row, but must reapply each year

why become a cairn mentor?

As a mentor, you’ll:



• Strengthen your leadership skills and build your resume
• Enjoy perks like early registration on VOC projects and discounted trainings through the Outdoor Stewardship Institute
• Make a lasting impact on local youth and the future of Colorado’s outdoors
• Help students connect with nature and grow through outdoor stewardship

To become a Cairn Mentor, you must:

• Be 21 years or older
• Have prior experience working with and leading youth
• Pass a background check and reference screening
• Attend a required mentor training in late August (2-hour evening session)
• Commit to monthly events from September to April (~7–10 hours/month)
• Be comfortable leading group activities like team-building and stewardship projects
• Be willing and able to transport students in VOC vans or pick-up trucks
• Mentors may serve for several years if they are invited back into the program 

read about the cairn experience