Where You’ll Be:
You’ll be volunteering at First Creek on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado first worked at this site in 2017 while helping build the First Creek Trail, marking VOC’s 1,000th stewardship project. VOC returned in 2024 for a native planting project. This project brings volunteers back to restore an underused area of the refuge and support improved access for nearby Montbello and Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods. The work area is also within view of the historic bald eagle nest that helped inspire the creation of the Refuge.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will remove invasive plant species along First Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River. The goal is to support healthy riparian, wetland, and shrub habitat across about 1.5 acres. Target species for removal include curly dock, mullein, musk thistle, Canada thistle, and tumble mustard.
Why It Matters:
This work improves wildlife habitat and enhances the overall visitor experience at the Refuge. It also supports nearby communities by improving access to outdoor space and contributing to local health and well-being.
Previous restoration efforts in this area have already helped reduce flooding during storms and allowed native cottonwood saplings to naturally establish, which would not have happened otherwise.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 10+
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 activity may include some or all of the following: pulling or cutting vegetation, working on uneven or sloped terrain, bending and stooping for extended periods, carrying and hauling vegetation, possible exposure to allergens, potential for a long off-trail walk, and repetitive hand motions.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: 2WD vehicles can access the work site
Other Notes: Cell service is spotty but usually available. Volunteers will park at the Visitor Center, and park staff will shuttle people to the project site (about a 15-minute drive) since it is off the usual Wildlife Scenic Drive; multiple van trips may be necessary for all volunteers. There will be a port-a-potty on site.
If you enjoy noxious weed removal projects, you can view similar projects here.
