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$50,000 Goal
Summit County, Colorado is one of the best places in the entire country to visit for outdoor recreation. Most Colorado residents are familiar with the lush forests, bubbling streams, majestic peaks, and beautiful alpine lakes that make this place special, but are they familiar with the amount of work it takes to keep these places maintained and accessible for all?
Summit is an incredibly popular destination because of its accessibility and proximity to Denver and the Front Range, while providing truly wild places to get away, detach, and enjoy nature. However, because it's such a popular place, the toll taken on our public lands by locals and visitors is heavy.
Did you know that Summit County and the Dillon Ranger District is the MOST VISITED ranger district in the country? More people visit here than the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, combined.
That's where Friends of the Dillon Ranger District comes in. We're the premier volunteer-based, outdoor non-profit in Summit County. We deploy over 1,000 volunteers annually to help maintain, steward, and protect the public lands that make up our backyard.
Have you ever been on a hike, bike, or other outdoor adventure and marveled at the quality of the trails, bridges, and infrastructure in place in such remote locations? Well, that's what we do. In close conjunction with the local branch of the US Forest Service, we work to make sure that the quality of the outdoor experience here meets the very high bar that's been set by decades of adventure and escape to the great outdoors.
While our projects vary year to year, our mission stays the same. To protect the places that hold a special place in the psyche of residents and visitors alike. The need has only increased in recent years for groups of ordinary people to take on the burden of caring for our public lands and protect them from damage due to overuse. Our budget is constantly strained year after year to make sure that these lands and places are cared for. It takes a dedicated team of engaged, local, stewards to organize and implement the building of new bridges, turnpikes, drainage systems and more to keep the quality of our public lands intact.
These public lands sustain our local economy, comprise one of the most critical watersheds in the Western United States, and benefit millions of people who engage in outdoor recreation in the White River National Forest. Help us take care of the public lands of Summit County by supporting the people that are making it happen by donating today!
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District’s mission is to engage our community and support the US Forest Service’s Dillon Ranger District in stewardship through: adult and youth education and diverse volunteer programs, to preserve and enhance our public lands.
Testimonials
“I have been working as a United States Forest Service (USFS) employee with the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) since the organization’s inception 18 years ago! FDRD has become vital to the success of the Dillon RD Recreation program. Without their tireless support and on-the-ground work, the world class recreation experience we have all come to love on USFS land within Summit County would not be possible!”
-Tyler Kirkpatrick – Trails, Wilderness, Motorized Recreation Manager – White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District
"Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) plays a vital role in Summit County, not only by engaging in trail maintenance and education but also by fostering a sense of community and volunteerism within our residents. Every summer, FDRD brings together volunteers from both across the community and within various groups for its trail days. Employees at Breckenridge Grand Vacations are fortunate to participate in volunteer opportunities facilitated by FDRD. FDRD trail days allow employees to not only strengthen their personal relationships but also to contribute their volunteer time and efforts in Summit County’s incredible outdoor space."
-Tara Dew - BGV Gives Director - Breckenridge Grand Vacations
"FDRD provides a unique opportunity for us volunteers to play a role in sustaining the many elements that we all delight in using, but that would otherwise fall into disrepair because of overuse or inattention. It is no surprise that projects fill up quickly with volunteers. Whether it be trail maintenance, thinning trees, removing noxious weeds or barbed wire in our open spaces, each project leaves you feeling like you made a little difference while enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded community members. It’s just plain fun to get your hands dirty out there, even if you get weirdly fanatical about stalking noxious thistles after the weed pull!"
-Christine Weber, FDRD Volunteer
"After retiring and moving permanently to Summit County in 2019, FDRD was one of the first organizations we joined and committed to supporting both financially and as volunteers. We enjoy serving on the Ranger Patrol, which allows us to meet and interact with visitors from all over the country, sharing with them all the amazing trails, flora and fauna that can be found here. Volunteering at the Dillon Farmers' Market offers that same opportunity to interact with others. Bill really enjoys working on the very well-organized trail maintenance projects. We both appreciate the guided educational hikes and experiences that are offered throughout the year as well as the social events that allow us to interact with so many other supporters of FDRD!"
-Bill & Lee Ann Hieber, FDRD Volunteers
Organization name
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District
other names
FDRD
2005
Tax id (EIN)
20-2343008
Category
Environment, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, Recreation & Sports, Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
680 Blue River ParkwayMailing
PO Box 1648Summit County, CO, US