Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

What you'll learn:

Colorado’s bumble bees need your help! This summer, join our community of bumble bee loving volunteers across Colorado searching for and documenting these important pollinators.

This training will take place completely in the field and focuses on hands-on practice. Participants will learn how to safely net bumble bees, transfer them to vials, photograph them, and release them. We will also walk through how to complete the BBA data sheet. Please note that this is not a comprehensive training, volunteers should also watch a training webinar and review the Participant Handbook.

To get started and learn more about the project, visit BumbleBeeAtlas.org and sign up for the spring 2026 Webinar on Thursday, April 23.

Where you'll be:

This field training will take place in the San Luis Valley, which is four hours south of Denver. The training site will be located outside of Creede in an area known as Antelope Park. VOC will not be hosting a basecamp for this training but dispersed camping options are available near the field site. More information will be provided via email to registered participants. 

Why it's important:

Bumble bees are charismatic and easily recognizable pollinators thanks to their large size, loud buzz, and distinctive color patterns. They play an incredibly important role in sustaining the health of our environment by pollinating flowers in natural and urban areas, and by contributing to successful harvests on farms.

Working together, Xerces' scientists, state and federal agency biologists, university scientists, and community scientists will be able to rapidly grow our understanding of bumble bees! Our teams of researchers will be able to use the new information to assess species distribution, population shifts, habitat associations and more. Additionally, the data will identify regions that are supporting healthy populations, as well as those in need of restoration or management, and highlight landscape features that are associated with bumble bee habitat. Understanding how species distributions have changed over time, in conjunction with habitat change, will help form accurate predictions as to what we should expect in the future, and aid in the design of effective conservation measures. ​

With your help, we can quickly cover the large regions of the country, collect scientific-quality data, and contribute to bumble bee conservation. Our efforts will help conservation biologists, restoration practitioners, and policy makers do a better job protecting, restoring, and managing effective habitat that support healthy bumble bee populations. 

Eligibility Requirements:         Ages 18+   Students or families are welcome to participate under the leadership of an adult 18+ Essential details: This course takes place on Sunday, June 21.Please note that this is not a comprehensive training, volunteers should also watch a training webinar and review the Participant Handbook. To get started and learn more about the project, visit BumbleBeeAtlas.org and sign up for the spring 2026 Webinar on Thursday, April 23. Anyone is welcome to join the Bumble Bee Atlas and free training is provided. No previous experience is necessary. A detailed email with the exact location, schedule and logistical information will be sent one month prior to the training date. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email Katie at katie@voc.org