Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers

On a Saturday in late August, more than 30 people met at Middle Thompson Creek with gloves, shovels, and a shared goal. Some were longtime volunteers. Some were families on their first project. Working side by side as they built beaver dam analogs that help the land hold water a little longer. Our stewardship community came together to install 44 BDAs, endured dicey weather, and had so much fun doing it.

That’s what your gift makes possible.

When you give today, you join the crew caring for this valley, from Independence Pass to Parachute. You help communities get ready for wildfire. You keep trails open and built to last. You protect the places wildlife call home. And you put young people on the ground, learning to care for these lands themselves.

You don’t have to pick up a shovel to be part of the crew. Your gift puts tools in the hands of those who do.

Protect what connects us. Give today.

When you give today, you help protect the trails and public lands that connect our community.

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Inspire the next generation of land stewards—help grow RFOV’s Young Stewards Program!

This Colorado Gives Day, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is celebrating one of our most inspiring and often lesser-known efforts: the Young Stewards Program (YSP).

While we’re known for our trail work across the Roaring Fork Valley, our youth programs are shaping the future of conservation. Through the Young Stewards Program, we meet youth where they are—whether on campus, at a local park, or out on the trail—creating hands-on opportunities to connect with the land and with one another.

There’s no donation too small to make a difference. Every gift helps us bring stewardship education and outdoor experiences to youth across our valley, from Aspen to Rifle.

What makes this program special:

• Free and accessible: We partner with schools and youth organizations regardless of funding ability, ensuring all young people have access to stewardship education.
• Flexible opportunities: We offer on-campus programming, known as Spruce Up Your School, or organize field projects for youth groups, clubs, and schools—meeting each group’s unique needs.
• Community service support: We help students earn volunteer hours, including capstone projects, Eagle Scouts, and Girl Scouts, giving them real-world impact.
• Youth in Nature internship: This one-of-a-kind, paid year-long opportunity allows local high school students to dive deep into conservation work—meeting land managers, collaborating with environmental agencies, and exploring outdoor recreation careers.

At the heart of YSP is our mission: to inspire the next generation of land stewards.

Each project, school visit, and day outdoors helps youth:

• Build confidence and teamwork through hands-on service.
• Develop a lifelong ethic of stewardship and civic engagement.
• Strengthen their sense of place and connection to our valley’s landscapes.
• Discover that caring for the land can be fun, meaningful, and empowering.

Your gift—no matter the size—helps remove barriers so all youth can experience the joy and pride of giving back to the land.