Where You’ll Be:
You’ll be working at Jackson Lake State Park, home to Colorado’s first Dark Sky Park. The park supports a wide range of wildlife and recreation, including camping, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and stargazing. The project site is near the marina area, where the new Dark Sky Reflection Courtyard will create a designated, safer space for nighttime use and education while supporting ongoing dark sky stewardship.
Nearest town: Orchard
The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will help build a Dark Sky Reflection Courtyard, creating a welcoming space for stargazing and nighttime education. Tasks may include removing fencing from an old storage yard, laying a new foundation, and upgrading the existing trail to the courtyard to improve visitor access. This is a single day project, but volunteers are welcome to stay and enjoy camping and educational activities that make use of the new courtyard.
Please Note: Camping will be pre-reserved by VOC, however, we will not be providing meals like we typically do on overnight projects.
Why It Matters:
Jackson Lake’s designation as Colorado’s first International Dark Sky Park has drawn a growing number of stargazers, especially during events like auroras, meteor showers, and planetary alignments. Without a designated viewing space, visitors currently lack a safe place to gather or learn about dark sky conservation. By creating a dedicated stargazing courtyard, this project will support safe nighttime recreation and help educate the public on the importance of reducing light pollution. Volunteers will play a key role in making the night sky more accessible for everyone.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages14+
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 include bending over, picking objects up, moving rocks, carrying tools, swinging heavy tools, digging, and stretching.
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).
