Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Join this project and get ready to be surprised by all that Colorado’s preserved grasslands have to offer. Volunteers may have the chance to spot wildlife like bison, wild horses, pronghorn, prairie dogs, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and more.

New to overnight projects with VOC? Learn more about what to expect here.

Where You'll Be:

The Southern Plains Land Trust was founded in 1998 to protect and restore shortgrass prairie across the Southern Great Plains. Today, SPLT stewards more than 60,000 acres of protected land in southeast Colorado, where they focus on ecological restoration, reintroducing keystone species like black-tailed prairie dogs and American bison, and connecting local communities to the land through education and outreach.

This project takes place at the Purgatoire River Preserve, a newly protected 493-acre property in Bent County. Acquired by SPLT in January 2025, the Preserve is intended to protect the Boggsville National Historic Site, provide public access to the Purgatoire River, and create a new outdoor recreation resource for Las Animas and surrounding communities.

Nearest town: Las Animas

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

What You'll Do: 

Volunteers will help build a new natural surface trail on the Purgatoire River Preserve, just south of Las Animas. This trail segment will provide river access and connect to an existing trail at Boggsville.

Trail work will include construction of natural surface trail in a flat landscape.

The goal of this project is to complete a segment of trail that provides access to the Purgatoire River and connects to an existing trail in Boggsville. This is foundational work on a brand-new preserve, and volunteers will play a key role in creating the first public trail access at this site.

VOC provides breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and 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:

Trail development at the Purgatoire River Preserve was guided by a community planning process in Las Animas that identified local recreation needs and priorities. This project represents the first step in creating a new recreational and educational opportunity in southeast Colorado. The trail design considers a wide range of users and mobility needs, helping ensure the Preserve is welcoming and accessible to the broader community from the start.

Eligibility 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 moderate; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

General physical considerations for participating on this project (Some or all may apply): moderate lifting and tool use; digging, shoveling, moving trail material; repetitive bending, lifting, and walking; may require hiking to access work site while carrying tools; you can expect to bend over, pick objects up, carry tools, swing heavy tools, dig, and stretch.

Access Factors:

Vehicle Access: 2WD accessible

Other Notes: Limited to no cell service.

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).

Where You’ll Be: 

Button Rock Preserve is a 3,000-acre nature preserve outside of Lyons that protects the primary drinking water source for more than 110,000 Boulder County residents. The area supports passive recreation like hiking, rock climbing, and fishing along North St. Vrain Creek, Longmont Reservoir, and Ralph Price Reservoir. Volunteers will work in a scenic, high-use recreation area while helping care for an important community resource.

Nearest town: Lyons

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

What You’ll Do: 

Volunteers will support trail restoration work along the South Cove Trail at Button Rock Preserve.

The focus is on approximately 720 feet of trail that is severely undercut and collapsing into the reservoir, creating safety, access, and water quality concerns. Tasks may include defining trail tread, improving drainage for water to flow off the trail, building small reroutes, and assisting with retaining wall construction to stabilize eroding sections. This is a technical trail project in steep terrain and requires focused, hands-on work.

Why It Matters: 

South Cove Trail’s condition directly affects visitor safety, water quality, and access within a high-use recreation area. Restoring this trail segment will reduce erosion into the reservoir, improve safety for hikers, and support long-term stewardship and infrastructure resilience at Button Rock Preserve. 

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.

Eligibility Requirements: 

- Ages: 16+  

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

Project Difficulty: 

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

Physical Considerations:  

This work may include kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods; exposure to sun and outdoor elements; exposure to insects such as bees and wasps; carrying and placing heavy materials like rocks and logs; digging and shoveling; and working near water with potentially muddy or slippery footing. Volunteers should be prepared for a 6.5 to 7-hour workday that requires physical stamina, with breaks encouraged as needed.

Access Factors:  

Vehicle Access: No vehicle restrictions – 2WD accessible  

Other Notes: Cell service may be spotty in this area.

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).

If you enjoy projects that include components of rock work, you can view similar projects here.