Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Bringing a child, youth group, or signing up as a family?

Please follow this step-by-step guide to register as a team. It’s quick and helps us get all the info we need.

Where You'll Be: 

This project takes place at the Plains Conservation Center managed by City of Aurora’s Open Space and Natural Resources Department. The Plains Conservation Center provides the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Denver Metro’s eastern plains. It features stretches of native prairie and offers a sense of vast grasslands far removed from the city. The Plains Conservation Center also serves as nature preserve and education center that model what Native American camps and pioneer homesteads looked like in the late 1800s.

What You'll Do:

Volunteers will help plant about 200 cottonwood trees along the creek and in nearby wet areas at the Plains Conservation Center.

These trees will be either bare root plants or 5-gallon container plants. After planting, volunteers will install wire cages around each tree to protect them from being eaten by pronghorn and other wildlife.

This work supports a recently installed beaver dam analog (BDA), which aim to slow the flow of water replicating the effect of natural beaver dams. While beavers once lived in this area, they are no longer present. Without beaver dams to slow the creek, water levels dropped over time, making it difficult for cottonwood trees to survive. The BDA helps slow the flow of water, raising the water table and keeping moisture in the soil longer. This creates better conditions for cottonwoods to grow and establishes a healthier riparian area along the creek.

Why It Matters: 

This project builds on the planting that VOC volunteers started in the spring of 2025.

Adding more trees will expand habitat for breeding birds and support existing nesting eagles in the area. Cottonwoods also help stabilize the East Toll Gate Creek's banks, reduce erosion, and provide shade that keeps water cooler and supports long-term water availability. Together, these improvements strengthen the overall health of the creek and the surrounding prairie ecosystem.

Eligibility Requirements:

Ages 12+

Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.

Bringing a child, youth group, or signing up as a family?

Please follow this step-by-step guide to register as a team. It’s quick and helps us get all the info we need!

Project Difficulty:

This project is considered easy to moderate; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

General physical considerations for participating in this project (Some or all may apply): Volunteers will work in sun-exposed areas and on uneven terrain, performing tasks such as bending down, de-potting saplings, and digging. Other tasks may include: moderate lifting, moving soil, walking and tool use.

Access Factors:

Vehicle Access: 2WD accessible

Other Notes: Bathrooms are available at the Plains Conservation Center Visitor Center, about a half-mile from the work site.

If you enjoy planting projects, you can view similar projects here.

Where You’ll Be: 

The McIntire Ranch is a historic archaeological site located in the Conejos Valley, featuring the remains of the ranch headquarters established around 1880 by Albert and Florence McIntire. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, the McIntire Ranch holds significance in the social history of the region. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acquired the site in 1993 to preserve its abundant wildlife habitat. 

Due to very low visitation, the area has become a sanctuary for wildlife and a great spot for birdwatching. Volunteers will camp in a dry meadow near the worksite, surrounded by views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range and just a short walk from the Conejos River, which offers excellent fishing for both trout and pike.

Nearest town: Sanford, CO 81151

The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.

What You’ll Do: 

Volunteers will contribute to a portion of this multi-stage rehabilitation project, focused on restoring the area’s natural ecosystem and preserving the historic ranch. Working alongside BLM and CPW biologists, you’ll harvest and plant native willows and reseed stream banks to restore habitat for native fish species like the Rio Grande Chub and Rio Grande Sucker.  

Temporary fencing may also be constructed to protect the restoration areas from beaver and big game while plants establish. 

After the workday, BLM biologist Taylor, will share the history and importance of the McIntire Ranch during a campfire talk.

Food and Camping:

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, with dinner on Saturday. Bring your own dinner on Friday night, and enough snacks for the weekend.  

Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and volunteers are encouraged to arrive at base camp before 8 pm on Friday. 

Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper! 

We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering, and we could use your help to make it happen! 

View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up.

Why It Matters: 

This project addresses long-standing impacts at the historic McIntire Ranch while restoring critical habitat for native wildlife. Planting willows and reseeding stream banks will reduce erosion, improve stream health, and support fish species such as the Rio Grande Chub and Rio Grande Sucker. The work also benefits the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher by improving riparian habitat.

What’s to Love About This Project?

Opportunities to see wildlife, enjoy bird watching, and fishing access Learning directly from agency staff and biologistsAn exclusive camping opportunity with wide open views, the chance to unplug, and focus on meaningful workEligibility Requirements: 

Ages 14+

For overnight projects, all youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered easy; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

Physical Considerations: This project will include work in sun-exposed areas and on uneven terrain, performing tasks such as using loppers to harvest willows, bending down, digging, moving soil and moderate lifting. Other tasks may include light tool use for temporary fence building. 

Be prepared for variable weather and chilly evening camping during this early season project.

Access Factors: 

Vehicle Access: 2WD dirt road, may require AWD in wet conditions. 

Other Notes: Tent camping: OK. Car and Van camping: OK. NO large vehicles or tow-behinds. This project will be at 7500 ft. elevation. Portable toilets and potable water will be available at camp.

Join us in reducing our carbon footprint by carpooling! Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).

Bringing a child, youth group, or signing up as a family?

Please follow this step-by-step guide to register as a team. It’s quick and helps us get all the info we need.

Where You’ll Be: 

Sprout City Farms is an urban agriculture nonprofit organization based in Denver, CO, founded in 2010 by farmers, educators, researchers, business leaders, and community members. The organization works to increase food access and community resilience by farming underutilized urban land. Its farms serve as spaces for education, health, food justice advocacy, ecological stewardship, and neighborhood connection.

What You’ll Do: 

Volunteers will support work at the Denver Green School Community Farm (DGS), a one-acre organic vegetable farm established in 2011 in partnership with Denver Public Schools. This spring volunteer day will focus on garden bed preparation and planting.

Tasks may include: 

weeding garden beds, setting up trellises and T-posts for vining crops, transplanting seedlings, and possibly wood chipping or dismantling old compost piles.

Tasks will vary and are suitable for a range of ages and experience levels.

Why It Matters: 

The Denver Green School Community Farm supports a Title I public pre-K through 8 school that focuses on sustainability and serves surrounding neighborhoods. The farm produces an average of 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of food each year, with about half going toward food access efforts. Produce supports the school cafeteria, families, and community members, a donation-based Youth Farm Stand run by 6th-grade interns, cooking classes, the school food pantry, and special school events.

Eligibility Requirements:

Ages 8+ 

Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.   

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered Easy. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. 

Physical Considerations: Tasks may include kneeling, bending, working close to the ground for extended periods, lifting or carrying soil, mulch, or plants, and being outdoors in the sun and weather.

Access Factors: 

Vehicle Access: Public street parking available within a 5-10 minute walk to the project site. This project is accessible via RTD public transit or by bike!

Other Notes: Restrooms, handwashing station, picnic tables, and shade structure available at or near the worksite.

If you enjoy urban gardening/farm projects, you can view similar projects here.