FAQs

You must register before attending a VOC project. Registration helps VOC plan the work, prepare tools and materials, arrange volunteer leadership, and coordinate meals (on weekend projects) and other project support.

Create an account on VOC’s volunteer portal, then register for projects that match your interests.

Step-by-step registration instructions:

• Create your volunteer account. You will be asked to sign VOC's waiver, which you only need to sign once per year. 

• Select 'Opportunities' on the left navigation bar to search for projects. (You can filter projects based on minimum age, project types and locations, and more!) 

• Once you have reached a project page that you are interested in, select the red 'Register' button to sign up. 

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email. VOC will also send follow-up project details as the project date gets closer.

You can log in to your account anytime to update your profile, adjust project registration details, and manage your preferences.

Need help registering? Email outreach@voc.org or call 303-715-1010 ext. 111.

You may need to reset your password to access your existing account. 

Follow these steps:

1. Go to the login page of the volunteer portal. 

2. Click 'Forgot password?' and enter the email you have used for project sign-ups in the past. 

3. You'll receive an email with the subject 'Password Reset' containing an authentication code. Check your Spam folder if you don’t see it!

4. Click 'Verify and Reset Password' in that email and reset your credentials.  

5. Use your new credentials to login. 

If you still have trouble reactivating your account or resetting your password, email outreach@voc.org or call 303-715-1010 ext. 111.

VOC’s waitlist is first come, first served. When a spot opens:

• You’ll get an email with the subject: “Waitlist: Space is Open.”  
• That email will include a link, click it to officially claim your spot. 
• You won’t be auto-enrolled, so not worries if you’re unavailable when the email arrives.  

Your chances of getting off the waitlist are often good because volunteers frequently cancel and spots commonly become available.

This process keeps volunteer lists accurate and reliable. If the waitlist functioned as an automatic “next in line” system, volunteers could be enrolled even if they were no longer available.

After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with important post-registration instructions. 

About four weeks before the project, the VOC Project Manager will send a reminder email.

About two weeks before the project, you’ll receive detailed project information, including directions, a site map, arrival time, what to bring, provided meals, parking details, and overnight accommodation information when applicable.

If you can no longer attend a project, please cancel your registration as soon as possible so VOC can offer your spot to another volunteer.

To cancel a registration:

• Log into VOC’s volunteer portal.  

• If viewing on a desktop, select ‘Your Projects’ from the sidebar on the left navigation bar.  

• If viewing on mobile, click on the red box in the top left corner of the screen. Then select ‘Your Projects’.  

• Find the project you’re registered for and select ‘Unregister’. 

View our visual guide on how to cancel.

Please try canceling your registration yourself before contacting VOC staff for assistance.

When you register for a VOC project, VOC counts on you as part of its commitment to partners and fellow volunteers. Canceling early helps staff fill your spot; VOC typically needs at least two to three weeks to replace a canceled registration.

If you have trouble canceling, please email outreach@voc.org or call 303-715-1010 ext. 111.

Projects are generally not canceled for light rain or snow. VOC will cancel or reschedule only when weather conditions create a safety risk for volunteers.

If severe weather is forecast before a project and it becomes unsafe to proceed, VOC will notify all registered volunteers by email or phone and continue outreach until the cancellation notice is confirmed.

If inclement weather occurs during a project, VOC will pause the project and assess the safest path forward.

All of our volunteer projects are designed to protect, enhance, restore, and preserve Colorado’s natural places. Specific types of work may include trail construction and maintenance, gardening and planting, wildfire and flood restoration, invasive weed removal, ecological and habitat restoration, forestry management, and preservation of historic structures.

 Thank you for taking time to prepare for your upcoming project! The links below will take you to VOC's packing checklists.

Click the link that matched the format of the project you are signed up for: 

• Single-Day Packing Checklist
• Weekend Camping Project Checklist
• Multi-Day Backcountry Project Checklist

If you don't have an item, you can reach out voc@voc.org to see if you can borrow it from our Gear Lending Library. 

Our volunteer projects take place April through October, with each year's project calendar announced in February. The majority of our projects take place on weekends, but we have several weekday and weeklong options as well.

These projects take place across the state of Colorado, often on public lands including national forests, state parks, and city- and county-managed open spaces. Some projects are in the city, while some are high in the mountains, in wilderness areas, or on the rural plains. To view upcoming project locations, visit our volunteer project calendar.

Some projects are only a half-day or a few hours in the evening; most are a full day or take place over a weekend or several days. Project durations are noted within the project descriptions.

• VOC offers projects for people of all ages and abilities. To help you find projects that fit your desired level of physical activity, each project is rated as easy, moderate, or difficult:
• Easy – These projects are great for youth and people looking for a lower physical effort. They typically have minimal physical demand and worksites that are easy to access. Easy volunteer activities include tree plantings, pulling weeds, or spreading gravel on trails. 
• Moderate – These projects require greater physical activity, such as lifting and digging, and access to worksites may include longer distances and/or require hiking. Projects are typically a full day or longer with a minimum age of 12 to 14 years, though this can vary depending on the project.
• Difficult – These projects are physically demanding with worksites that are often difficult to access and/or take place at high altitude. Tasks are often more technical, such as building rock walls or constructing trail steps. Volunteers are typically required to be 16 or older on Difficult projects. 

Click here to view our full difficulty rating criteria sheet.

Projects range from 10 to 60 volunteers. If you have questions about a specific project, email outreach@voc.org or call 303-715-1010 ext. 111.

Meals are not be provided on single-day projects unless specified otherwise. Breakfast and dinner will be provided on overnight projects by our volunteer Crew Chefs, but volunteers are asked to provide their own lunch.

Volunteers are expected to stay for the duration of the entire project. However, some multi-day projects offer the opportunity to select the day(s) you wish to volunteer.

VOC provides campsites for all volunteers on overnight projects, though volunteers must bring their own tent and other camping supplies. You are also welcome to find alternate accommodations if you wish.

No. We offer volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities! On each project, you will work on a small crew led by an experienced VOC volunteer crew leader who will teach you all you need to know and help you have a safe, fun, and rewarding experience.

Please review VOC's Essential Eligibility Criteria for more information on the mental and physical requirements needed to ensure safety on VOC projects. These criteria are inteded to be helpful and constructive for all participants who are considering attending our programs, however they do not encompass every criteria or function of the various activities you may encounter on a given program. Please read individual project descriptions prior to registering to help you determine if you are eligible to volunteer.

Yes! We can accommodate groups on most volunteer projects, though the group size may vary depending on the project. Please contact us at outreach@voc.org or 303-715-1010 ext. 111 to learn more about group volunteering.

For groups of 15+ people, VOC offers custom Team Stewardship Day volunteer opportunities. Learn more about Team Stewardship Days.

The minimum age varies by project, based on the nature of the work and safety considerations. Volunteer opportunities are available for children as young as 6 years old; we recommend using the filters on our volunteer calendar to find appropriate volunteer opportunities.

Please note that youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects. All youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on overnight projects.  

No. While we love our pets, we unfortunately cannot allow them on projects due to safety considerations, their impact on wildlife, and other risks involved. 

Yes! Whether you’re a student in need of community service hours or need to complete court-ordered community service for a non-violent offense, you can earn your hours on a VOC project. Learn more here.

Please note: youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult on single-day projects (16 & 17-year-olds must have signed adult permission), and minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on overnight projects.

Yes. We are often in need of people to assist with tool organization and transport, take photographs, or blog about projects! Check out our Volunteer Leadership & Project Support options here.

VOC projects rely on dedicated volunteers to serve as:

• Crew Leaders –  Guide other volunteers in small groups of 8-10 people throughout each project; teaching them what they need to know and ensuring everyone has a safe, fun and rewarding experience;
• Crew Chefs – Keep volunteers happy and well-fed by planning and preparing snacks and meals on all VOC projects, including single-day and multi-day trips;
• Tool Managers – Ensure volunteer crews are well-equipped by organizing and transporting the necessary tools.

All volunteer leaders must undergo the proper training. Click here or contact Ben Kromash to learn more about these opportunities.

Yes! If you are unable to make our scheduled projects, you can help care for Colorado by:

• Sign up for our e-newsletter to learn about off-the-field volunteer opportunities such as helping VOC with outreach events, office support and other roles. 
• Provide financial support. Your contributions help us put thousands of volunteers on the ground to care for Colorado and preserve our beloved outdoor places for generations to come.
• Familiarize yourself with responsible recreation. View our shortlist of links to help you care for Colorado's outdoors while you hike, hunt, bike, sightsee, and more.

When registering for a project through the volunteer portal, use the response question that mentions training to indicate that you are signing up as a trainee. Here’s a quick step by step guide. 

You can skip the waitlist and be added directly to the project! Reach out to Abby@voc.org with the name of the project you want to sign-up for, and she will add you to the project on the backend. We want to prioritize getting you on-project experience, which is why we extend this benefit to you as a trainee. 

Reach out to our Director of Programs, Kelly (Kelly@voc.org), via email and she can send you a receipt. 

1. Register for any trail construction project as a trainee, and attend at least 2 of these projects where you’ll be mentored by a certified Crew Leader. 

When registering for a project through the volunteer portal, use the response question that mentions training to indicate that you are signing up as a trainee. Here’s a quick step by step guide. 

2. On your third project, or when you're ready, practice leading a crew on your own with feedback from a certified Crew Leader. 

3. After successfully leading you're own crew, you will officially be a certified leader and will receive your Crew Leader hat at your next project.

Yes! As a mentee, you have three options for what to do on this project. 

You can:

1. Shadow – Crew Leader mentor will lead the crew like normal so you can observe. 
2. Practice – You will lead but with support and feedback from the Crew Leader Mentor
3. Evaluate – You will lead and the crew leader mentor will observe with little/no feedback, with the aim of evaluating whether you’re ready for certification

The mentorship process provides a supportive, hands-on opportunity to apply what you learned in training. You’ll shadow certified leaders, watching them give their safety talk and tool talk, and see how they provide instruction to the group throughout the day. This will help you gain confidence, and as you practice some of these skills yourself, you’ll get constructive feedback to help you grow as a leader.

When you register for a project as a trainee, VOC's staff will connect you with a certified Crew Leader who is serving on that project and can support your learning.

You’ll be evaluated on your ability to lead a crew effectively and safely, communicate clearly, support volunteer morale, and follow VOC’s protocols. A Certified Crew Leader will provide feedback at the end of the day.

Click here for the tracking form with the evaluation criteria. 

1. Sign up for a weekend project as a Crew Chef Trainee. During the project season (April - October, you can view all of our overnight projects here). 
2. Get paired with a certified Crew Chef. Before the project, VOC will connect you with the lead Crew Chef so you can participate in pre-project planning if you’d like. You can choose to help with prep at the Operations Center or simply shadow and support the Crew Chef on-site.
3. Gain hands-on experience and mentoring. You can be mentored as many times as you'd like. Each project helps you build confidence in food prep, timing, kitchen setup, and VOC’s systems.
4. Complete your evaluation. When you feel ready, a certified Crew Chef will evaluate your ability to independently manage the camp kitchen.
5. Celebrate your certification! Once you've successfully completed the evaluation and feel confident leading on your own, you’ll be considered certified and recognized at VOC’s annual Awards and Appreciation Event.

To gain confidence and real hands on-project experience supporting meal prep, distribution, and kitchen logistics before leading on your own.

When you register as a Crew Chef Trainee, VOC will connect you with the lead Crew Chef on that project through email before the event.

A Crew Chef Helper is a volunteer who supports meal prep and kitchen tasks on an overnight project without pursuing certification. A Crew Chef Trainee is someone who has taken the Crew Chef Training Webinar and is working toward becoming a certified Crew Chef. 

Trainees receive structured mentorship from a certified Crew Chef and will be evaluated when they feel ready to lead the camp kitchen on their own.

As a Crew Chef Trainee, you’ll be mentored by a certified Crew Chef who will evaluate your understanding and performance across all stages of kitchen support. 

Evaluation includes your ability to:

• Participate in meal planning and food shopping
• Prep kitchen gear and set up the camp kitchen
• Manage food prep, time meals with the project schedule, and follow sanitation protocols
• Understand VOC’s food storage and dishwashing systems
• Help break down and pack up the kitchen post-project

Start by helping with tool loading/unloading at VOC’s Operations Center or by shadowing a certified Tool Manager on a project.

• Tool loading opportunities are a great way to get familiar with VOC’s Operations Center, the tools we use, and how projects are prepared. These opportunities take place only at the Operations Center.
• Field projects give you the chance to shadow a Tool Manager and see how tools are organized, transported, and managed on site.
• After you’ve participated in a mix of loading/unloading shifts and field projects, you can begin taking the lead on a project with support from a certified Tool Manager. They’ll complete an evaluation form to help you practice and confirm your readiness.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be considered a certified Tool Manager, and recognized at VOC’s annual Volunteer Awards and Appreciation Event!

You’ll be paired with a certified Tool Manager on the projects you sign up for as a trainee. They’ll involve you in each step of the role: planning, loading, transporting tools, organizing the worksite, and returning equipment. You’ll get hands-on experience and have the chance to ask questions throughout the day.

You’ll also become familiar with safe tool storage and basic tool safety practices.

Yes. Tool Managers support projects before, during, and after the event, so availability depends on the type of project:

Overnight weekend projects:

The Project Team (Project Manager, Tool Manager, and Crew Chef) usually meets at the Operations Center on Friday morning to load the truck.

You’ll spend Friday transporting and unloading tools at the project, support tool needs during the project, and return to the Operations Center on Sunday afternoon to unload.

Single-day Saturday projects:

You’ll typically help load the truck on Friday, then drive the truck to the project site early Saturday morning and support tool management throughout the day.

If you ever have limited availability, you can discuss options with VOC staff, there’s some flexibility depending on the project.

On the registration form in the volunteer portal, use the final question to indicate your role as a volunteer leader. 

Click here for a quick walk-through on how to do that. 

As a member of VOC’s leadership community, you are encouraged to just email VOC and ask to be added directly onto the project. We often need leadership support, and priority registration is one perk you receive as a leader. 

• Email Abby (Abby@voc.org), to be added to a waitlisted project.

You can view VOC’s current leadership needs on this shared spreadsheet:

2026 Project Team Roster Spreadsheet

It lists which projects still need Crew Leaders, Tool Managers, and other leadership roles. 

This is updated regularly, so feel free to check it anytime or reach out to your staff contact if you’d like to step in!

Email ben@voc.org and they’ll ensure you are added to the list when we make our next name-tag order. We generally make a name-tag order once a year, in January.