Denver, Colorado – June 27, 2017 – Colorado’s largest outdoor stewardship organization, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), is a proud recipient of a National Forest System Trail Stewardship Grant, awarded by the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA) in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, American Hiking Society, Back Country Horsemen of America, the International Mountain Biking Association, the Blue Ribbon Coalition, and the American Motorcyclist Association.

Of 90 submissions, 23 grants were awarded – 3 of which went to Colorado based organizations including VOC, the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD). The grants are designated to reduce the backlog of maintenance needed on trails in the National Forest System, which includes 14.5 million acres of national forests and grasslands in Colorado. VOC will use the NWSA grant to engage nearly 200 volunteers in maintaining and improving at least five miles of trail in three of Colorado’s national forests.

“These projects are critical in supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s increased trail maintenance needs in Colorado,” said VOC’s Director of Statewide Stewardship, Dean Winstanley, “We will put the funds to use immediately this summer with three impactful boots-on-the-ground projects.” VOC will enlist 100 volunteers to repair rock steps and improve drainage features on the Herman Gulch Trail in Arapaho National Forest, a part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). VOC will also restore the Hanging Lake Trail in the White River National Forest, involving 50 volunteers in partnership with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV), and engage 50 volunteers in rerouting a portion of the Cascade Creek Trail System in San Isabel National Forest to improve public safety and access.

Each project is expected to reduce 10-15% of the backlogged maintenance for each national forest, expand access to public lands, reduce the risk of harm to natural resources, improve public safety, and reduce future deferred maintenance costs. Altogether, the 23 grants are expected to engage more than 2,500 volunteers in maintaining over 1,200 miles of trail across the country. To learn more about Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) or to register for one of the grant-funded projects, visit www.voc.org/volunteer.

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a statewide nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to motivating and enabling people to become active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources. Since 1984, VOC’s award-winning volunteer, youth, and leadership training programs have engaged nearly 110,000 people of all ages in caring for Colorado’s outdoors – a total donated labor value of $22 million. Such volunteer efforts have made a lasting impact on Colorado through hands-on work in fire and flood restoration, trail building and maintenance, tree planting and re-forestation, and more. For more information, visit www.voc.org or call 303-715-1010.

Media Contact

Kellie Flowers, kellie@voc.org, 303-715-1010 ext. 130