Volunteer Projects

If you are an individual volunteer, and would like to work with field crews during the week, please email Kristin at [email protected].

Love your dog-friendly trails? Join our pawsome crew for a dog poop cleanup, and learn about the importance of picking up after your pet. Dogs are encouraged to join! Dog waste can be a major source of water contamination because it contains harmful bacteria and parasites. Our 45,000 acres see 60,000 pounds of dog poop left behind every year! Volunteers will assist in the cleanup around Sanitas trail system, starting at Sanitas Valley. Tasks will include picking up and properly disposing of dog waste. OSMP will provide gloves, bags, extra water, sunscreen. Please wear a hat, sunscreen and be prepared to walk off trail. All ages welcome! 

Saturday, June 16 - Thank you, volunteers!

Join us for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Green Mountain Ridge to build new sustainable trail. Volunteers will receive a healthy and delicious lunch, a NTD custom made T-shirt and an environmental educational discussion on the ecology of the area. This project is open to teens 14 + accompanied by an adult. We look forward to working with you!

Saturday, June 2 – Thank you, volunteers!

Dream it! Build it! Love it! Join Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff in collecting native seed that will be planted in various ecological restoration projects on open space. The seed type and volunteer project locations will be determined once the dates get closer. OSMP hand-collects seeds because commercially available seed from other parts of the western United States may not function as well as locally grown genetic material in our climate and soil types. Seeds collected over the years play an important role in helping to restore and improve areas where OSMP repairs or builds new trails, or for use during major ecological projects such as restoration efforts along Boulder Creek. 

 Thank you, volunteers!

July 12

July 19  

Sept. 20  

Oct. 4

Nov. 1

Join Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) to work alongside the Forestry Crew to help reduce the risk of wildfire and improve habitat by restoring a healthier forest ecosystem. Tasks will involve dragging, hauling and feeding the chipper with slash (tree branches). Forestry Crew Leads will educate volunteers on specific management techniques and provide a tree felling demonstration. Present-day ponderosa pine forests are denser than they were historically. Logging, grazing and fire suppression over the past century have all resulted in dramatic ecosystem change in Boulder’s forests. These changes can mean a higher risk for catastrophic wildfires and a decrease in habitat effectiveness for native plants and wildlife. To learn more, go to the Forest Ecosystem Management Plan (FEMP).

Thank you, volunteers!

Aug. 23 

Sept. 6 – Project Canceled Due to Weather

Sept. 20  

Oct. 4

Trail Project - National Public Lands Day 

Dream it! Build it! Love it! Join the City of Boulder OSMP in the celebration of National Public Lands Day (NPLD) 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September 29. Volunteers will assist with constructing a reroute of the Green Mountain West Ridge Trail, which will improve trail sustainability and protect valuable resources in the area. Volunteers will receive a healthy and delicious lunch and an environmental educational discussion on the ecology of the area. 

Click the date below to register. Thank you, Volunteers! 

Sept. 29 

Volunteers will join staff in collecting native seed to be used in various ecological restoration projects on OSMP land. The type will be determined once the dates get closer. It’s possible this project could be postponed or canceled pending seed production, thanks in advance for your flexibility. 

Thursday, July 13 - Thank you, volunteers!

Thursday, July 27 - Thank you, volunteers!

Thursday, Aug. 3 - Thank you, volunteers!

Thursday, Sept. 14 - Thank you, volunteers!  

Join the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks in repairing the Foothills Spur Trail that connects 6th Street to Foothills South Trail. This trail was damaged in the 2013 flood event and will be resurfaced. To complete the project, OSMP is looking to neighborhood volunteers to get the work done! Volunteers will assist trails staff with repairs by preparing a foundation, transporting surfacing material and installing surfacing material.

Saturday, Aug. 26 - Thank you, volunteers!

Help clean up one of our precious wetland ecosystems. Join OSMP staff for a community work day and a spring hike at Sawhill Ponds. Volunteers will clean-up the area in and around the ponds. Throughout the morning, naturalists will share information about the local wetland ecology. We are asking volunteers to bring their own gloves and trash bags for the event.  Youth and families are encouraged.  After the event, ice cream will be served at Scott Carpenter Park, starting at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 20 – Thank you, volunteers!

Join OSMP to assist with planting hundreds of cottonwood trees and native shrubs such as coyote willows, chokecherries and American plums. Volunteers will learn how to plant trees and why this type of management is being completed. Restoration specialists will teach the importance healthy riparian areas for our water ways.

Saturday, April 8 - Thank you, volunteers 

Volunteers will assist Anne Cure, her interns and OSMP in planting tomatoes and other vegetables. The City of Boulder’s agriculture specialist and Anne will discuss the history of agriculture in the area, organic vegetable production on OSMP and what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc).  Anne will share her particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.

Thursday, June 8 - Thank you, volunteers! 

Thursday, April 20 - Thank you, volunteers!

During the 2013 floods, the Mesa Trail near Skunk Canyon suffered major damage. Volunteers will help to continue construction of a sustainable trail reroute of the Mesa Trail that both improves visitor experience and restores critical wildlife habitat. Work will consist of final trail read excavation, backslope excavation, contouring and stone work.  

Saturday, June 3 - Thank you, volunteers!

Defensible space gives your home a better chance against an approaching wildfire. City of Boulder Wildland Fire Operation Specialists will teach volunteers to create an effective defensible space at Flagstaff Nature Center. This is the area around a home or other structure that has been modified to reduce fire hazards; natural and manmade fuels are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Tasks for the day involve installing stone aggregate, raking needles and replacing wood barriers with rock.  For more information please view the City of Boulder’s Wildland Fire Preparedness Guide .

Tuesday, June 6 - Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will work with the OSMP forestry crew to restore and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire by creating a healthier forest ecosystem.Tasks will involve dragging, hauling and feeding the chipper with slash. 

Wednesday, May 24 - Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will join staff in collecting native seed to be used in various ecological restoration projects on OSMP land. The type will be determined once the dates get closer. It’s possible this project could be postponed or canceled pending on seed production, thanks in advance for your flexibility. 

Tuesday, Aug. 2 - Thank you, volunteers!
Thursday, Sept. 22 - Thank you, volunteers!
Thursday, Sept. 29 - Thank you, volunteers!

Join OSMP to assist with planting an apple orchard at 63rd Street Farm. If you would like to stay for a potluck lunch please bring a dish to share with 63rd Street Farm’s CSA members and staff.

Thursday, April 21 - Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will assist Anne Cure, her interns and OSMP in planting tomatoes and other vegetables. The City of Boulder’s agriculture specialist and Anne will discuss the history of agriculture in the area, organic vegetable production on OSMP and what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc).  Anne will share her particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.

Thursday, May 26 - Thank you, volunteers!
Thursday, July 21 - Thank you, volunteers!

Join OSMP to assist with removing barbed wire fence from the Ryan and Andrea property. This fence is no longer used for livestock purposes and is causing unnecessary fragmentation for deer and elk passage.

Friday, June 17 - Thank you, volunteers!

Join the Mexican Military Volunteer Group, and Anne Cure, OSMP agriculture tenant, in harvesting vegetables. Anne will discuss the history of agriculture in the area, organic vegetable production on OSMP and what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc). Anne will share her particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.

Thursday, Aug. 11 - Thank you, volunteers!
Thursday, Aug. 18 - Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will join Anne Cure and her interns and OSMP in harvesting tomatoes and other vegetables. The City of Boulder’s agriculture specialist and Anne will discuss the history of agriculture in the area, organic vegetable production on OSMP and what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc). Anne will share her particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.

Thursday, Sept. 15 - Thank you, volunteers!

Mackintosh Academy (30-plus 4th graders) volunteers and Community Volunteers will be joining Anne Cure, her interns and OSMP in harvesting tomatoes and other vegetables. The City of Boulder’s agriculture specialist and tenant will discuss the history of agriculture in the area, organic vegetable production on OSMP and what it takes to grow vegetables in this region (soil type, water, etc). They will share their particular farming methods that help the farm ecosystem and the community.

Thursday, Oct. 6 - Thank you, volunteers!

Flatirons Climbing Council (FCC) and OSMP need volunteers to assist with project prep and a full day of creating more sustainable climbing at Dinosaur Rock. We need five volunteers from 8 am – 4 pm to assist with project prep, moving materials and equipment. FCC T-shirt will be gifted but please bring a lunch and personal gear for the day. 

Friday, July 8 -  Thank you, volunteers!

Looking for 20 volunteers from 8 am – 3 pm to assist with improving climbing access and create a flat sustainable staging/belay area at the base of the crag. Lunch will be provided along with a FCC T-shirt. 

Friday, July 9 -  Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will work with the OSMP forestry crew to restore and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire by creating a healthier forest ecosystem. Tasks will involve dragging, hauling, and feeding the chipper with slash (tree branches). 

Thursday, May 26 - Thank you, volunteers!
Thursday, June 9 - Thank you, volunteers!
Wednesday, Aug. 24 - Thank you, volunteers!
Wednesday, Sept. 14 - Thank you, volunteers!

Dry Creek Trail is a popular loop that experienced major erosion and widening due to the 2013 flood. Portions of trail which parallel Dry Creek were swallowed by rushing water. Volunteers will repair, resurface trail with crusher fines, rehabilitate areas of trail widening, and close social trails. 

Saturday, June 4 - Thank you, volunteers!

Join the City of Boulder’s Water Resource Technician for maintenance and clean up of the historic North Toll Gate Ditch. Annual upkeep of this canal helps maximize the efficiency of transport, for agricultural and recreation purposes. Volunteers will trim woody shrubs, trees, and remove sediment build up along the corridors of the ditch.  

Saturday, March 12 - Thank you, volunteers!
Saturday, March 26 - Canceled due to field conditions
Saturday, April 2 - Canceled due to field conditions
Saturday, April 16 - Canceled due to weather

Assist OSMP resource specialists in the removal of invasive shrubs from the Bluebell Creek drainage at Chautauqua. Volunteers will learn about Bluebell Creek and why these invasive shrubs are harmful to our native flora and fauna. Tasks will involve hauling and dragging slash from the drainage.

Wednesday, April 27 - Thank you, volunteers!

Help restore habitat for eagles, red-tailed hawks and other native species at the OSMP Kolb property that boarders White Rocks. This project will follow the removal of non-native Russian Olive trees, which are currently shading and stealing ground water from the Boulder Creek floodplain riparian area, preventing native species from growing. Volunteers will be removing small Russian olive and chipping the cut material on site. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) will be providing breakfast, lunch and safety equipment. The Kolb property is normally closed to the public, volunteers will be able to experience this biodiverse area firsthand. 

Sunday, Oct. 2 - Thank you, volunteers!

Volunteers will work alongside the City of Boulder, OSMP Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Crew to restore prairie habitat from the growth of the invasive tree Russian Olive. Tasks will involve dragging, hauling and feeding the chipper with slash (tree branches). IPM Specialists will discuss why specific management techniques are implemented. 

Tuesday, Oct. 4 - Thank you, volunteers!