The following testimonials are some of the compliments paid to RMFI's work from 1992 to the present.

2009 South Colony Lakes Basin

...I was able to join Mark Hesse for a few days touring the South Colony Lakes Basin and observing the fabulous work that has been and continues to be done there. I was amazed at the ease of access to such a fragile, high-elevation environment, the resultant heavy recreational use and the work that has been done to mitigate that use. I was impressed by the trail work and, particularly, by the commitment to restoration of previous impacts. The attention to refilling the trail tread to grade must explain the success in restoration that is seldom found elsewhere in tundra ecosystems.

- David Cole, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute

2008 Earth Corps

"Earth Corps and RMFI was an experience matched by few others of my life.  The place, people, education, and work were all amazing and helped to shape my values and ethics in the treatment of wilderness.  I would recommend this program to anyone and will take the things I learned this past month and spread them to the people and events of the future." -Joe Lavorini, Univ. of Colorado at Colorado Springs

"Earth Corps has been an incredible experience; challenging to both mind and body; full of unforgettable camaraderie; and a chance to get to know yourself in an entirely new way.  Thirty days of mountain sun and rain have provided a wholesome, nurturing environment to supplement the gratifying work of trail building.  These thirty days could not have been better spent." -Caroline Lamar Pihl, Harvard Univ.

2007 Earth Corps

"Unique, fulfilling, unforgettable and rewarding. The program demands hard work, cooperation, perseverance, and humility, that rewards you with more than you put into it. With an open mind, willing body, and strong commitment, truly unique and powerful results can be achieved. " — Mason Barker, Michigan State

"Earth Corps provides the perfect blend of theory and practice, pairing valuable (and often physically exhausting) conservation work with subject matter that forces your mind to work through the difficult questions and issues of wilderness management. The fact that the view from the "office" of South Colony Lakes Basin is so stunning merely drives home the importance of the work and issues at hand" — Anny Gaul, Yale Univ.

2007 Garden of the Gods

"RMFI has a unique ability to rally and utilize dedicated volunteers and staff who are interested in the opportunity for participating in environmental service programs. Their teams have provided thousands of hours of work in keeping our park sustainable as well as beautiful."
— Suzanne Jarvinen, President, Garden of the Gods Foundation

"The Colorado Springs School has been an active participant in the Rocky Mountain Field Institute's Garden of the Gods Community Stewardship and Restoration Program since it began in 2003. Each spring and fall, students in our Middle and Upper School have worked hard to care for and restore the park under RMFI's excellent supervision. The students have literally "moved mountains" to restore deeply eroded gullies and repair the park's trails. Many of our students have now participated many times. They have enjoyed the experience tremendously, and have loved giving back to this amazing landscape that they love and enjoy so much."
— Linda Harris, Head of Upper School, The Colorado Springs School

2006 Pikes Peak

"I can't express my gratitude for this summer. This project [North Crystal Creek] has been the best one in my past two years in NCCC."
— Brendan Murphy, crew leader AmeriCorps*NCCC team

2006 Earth Corps

"Earth Corps provided me with a whole new perspective on the alpine and sub-alpine. I have a heightened respect now for the natural processes that occur and for the tedious task of managing these wildernesses. This program is extremely valuable emotionally, physically, and psychologically."
— Earth Corps Student, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

2005 Earth Corps

"The spiritual value of this time in the wilderness is invaluable personally in putting perspective on life, society, and the world in which we live. This aspect strengthens to a large extent my personal support of preserving wilderness in years to come and will inevitably lead to more action and involvement in doing so. I can't thank RMFI enough. The experience is something I'll never forget."
— Adam McClymont, Univ. of Arkansas

"I don't get a chance in my "regular" life to live for an extended period of time in the woods and work with my hands for ideals I believe in. Earth Corps gave me that chance, along with an opportunity to get my ass kicked for a month, also something I miss in the softer life of academia. The challenge was spectacular, working at 13,000 ft. was amazing, and the discussions and ecology gave me a different perspective on wilderness management and opened my mind to questions I'm eager to explore. I don't want to leave the basin, if that's any indication of my enjoyment of the experience. I think, I hope, to bring back both my own personal growth and a renewed commitment to the land I fight for in my "normal" life."
— Mila Dunbar, Yale Univ.

"I learned so much in those 30 days-not only about how I can cope in higher altitude, living in a tent, and so on but also about group dynamics. The wilderness information was particularly valuable for me and has affected how I live my life when I'm not in the Sangre de Cristos."
— Nicole, Terwilliger, Univ. of Michigan Outward Bound Wilderness, Service Program- South Colony Lakes Basin, Colorado

"Outward Bound Wilderness, formerly Colorado Outward Bound School and Outward Bound West, has been conducting mountaineering courses in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness for over 25 years. For the last 8 years we have partnered with RMFI on restoration projects in South Colony Lakes Basin, and have made it a high priority to continue to do so... We value our partnership with RMFI because of the quality and relevance of the work they do. Environmental responsibility and service are two of the core values of the programs that Outward Bound provides for its students. RMFI helps our students to live these core values."
— Kendra Kurihara, Associate Program Director- Resource Management Outward Bound Wilderness

2004

"RMFI's work in South Colony Lakes Basin has been absolutely superb. They have successfully reconstructed trails... where representatives of two other groups told me it was not possible to fix the damage. . . As they have for the past decade, RMFI continues to lead the way in designing and constructing solid and sustainable trails in very difficult terrain... When I saw how they had stabilized and filled an enormous erosion gully on Humboldt, I described their work as "brilliant" to others."
— James Ebersole, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, The Colorado College

"The Rocky Mountain Field Institute's work is essential. As a longstanding climber and outdoor enthusiast I believe that (your) work is some of the best, if not THE best, trail work done in alpine areas of the United States to date."
— Peter Metcalf, CEO/President Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

"I have worked in the field of landscape restoration for 35 years . . . My first experience with Colorado Springs was The Garden. (of the Gods) . . . I was simply stunned to see such majesty so close to a city. . . The opportunities for public education about environmental stewardship are unparalleled. The pressures are also extraordinary . . . The Rocky Mountain Field Institute is very well positioned to meet these challenges. Most importantly, they have a track record of performance within the context of a good comprehensive plan. (RMFI's) approach combines good science with strong community involvement. I believe (RMFI's) work has the potential to set new standards locally for stewardship."
— Leslie Sauer, Andropogon Associated, Ltd.

"I have been involved with the Rocky Mountain Field Institute for the past 5 years as they have worked to develop a usable plan to protect the existing trails in the (Garden of the Gods), reroute some of the abused trails, and design alternatives for this high-use area. . . (The work) is a wonderful success."
— John Valentine, District Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service

2003

"As a landscape architect I have had the privilege of working with RMFI for the past 6 years as a volunteer and project consultant. It is my professional opinion that you can find no better organization to partner with. . . While securing private funds for educational programs, fostering stewardship within users and volunteers, RMFI always performs in a professional manner and raises the bar for environmental restoration and planning."
— Jim Houck, RLA, ASLA, Thomas and Thomas, Ltd.

2002

"Our support for the on-going, excellent work of RMFI is unqualified. RMFI is a strong, efficient and important organization to us, and our work with RMFI in every project has yielded incredible benefits for the natural areas in which we have labored as well as for the personal development of our students."
— Headmaster, The Colorado Springs School

2001

"Many great reports have been coming my way on the fine work you've been doing over the past year... I also had the pleasure of climbing at Cactus Cliff last week and was duly impressed with the incredible stonework you've completed... The extensive rock walls that have been completed around the corner from Spinney Ridge kick ass!" — Rick Thompson, Thompson Design Group

2000

"South Colony Lakes Basin, and the surrounding 14,000-ft. peaks, unequivocally receive a higher amount of recreation use than any other areas in the Sangre de Cristo range... This increasing level of use poses a very real threat to the physical environment surrounding the lakes, trailheads, and routes to the nearby peaks. Effective steps must be taken now to address visitor impacts, so as to protect the wilderness values of this vital area... The partnership between RMFI and the FS exemplifies the type of programs needed to preserve our wilderness heritage."
— Paul Crespin, District Ranger San Carlos Ranger District, San Isabel National Forest

1999

"For three years, the Fountain Valley School has been working with (RFMI). Each year the experience has been rewarding for the students and invaluable for the school. . . As head of (Senior Seminar) I have been impressed with the Institute's organization, leadership, and professionalism. . . I admire the Rocky Mountain Field Institute's mission and greatly appreciate (your) diligence and integrity while working with (FVS)."
— Dave C. Reynolds, Faculty, Fountain Valley School of Colorado

1998

"On behalf of the Montrose High School Outdoor Club, I would like to express our gratitude for the outstanding educational experience RMFI provided us at Indian Creek. This was without a doubt the best educational and recreational experience our club has been involved in over the past seven years... Our students have had the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of public lands that would be extremely difficult for me as a classroom teacher to organize."
— Rusty George, Science Teacher, Montrose High School

1997

"I just wanted to say that working on La Plata Peak last September was one to the most exciting and rewarding weekends of my life. Keep up the good work... " — Chris Huber, Volunteer

"I am impressed with the motivation and quality of work that has resulted from the Pike and San Isabel National Forest's four-year-old partnership with (RMFI). Our collaboration has brought much success and accomplishment to one of our most pressing needs- restoring recreation impacts and providing standard trail routes to the 14,000-ft. peaks."
— Rick D. Cables, Forest Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests

1996

"We just wanted to thank you again for all of your hard work on the National Trails Day event in the Garden of the Gods... For many attendees, this event was the highlight of the 1st Annual Outdoor Industry Rendezvous."
— David Secunda, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America

1995

"The professional attitudes, ability to look for common ground, and a good understanding of the BLM mission has helped secure a lasting and productive partnership between our organizations... I look forward to working with (RMFI)."
— Donnie R. Sparks, District Manager, Cañon City District Office, Bureau of Land Management

1994

"On behalf of Colorado State Parks I want to say thanks for all (your) efforts in Eldorado Canyon. Your (organization's) efforts are the single best thing that has occurred in the canyon since it became a state park."
— Bob Toll, Park Manager Eldorado Canyon State Park

1993

"On behalf of the President and the Dept. of the Interior, I want to congratulate you on your fine volunteer work in service to our country. Your leadership contributes measurably toward making the American community and landscape, respectively, as strong and as beautiful as possible. In a nation as diverse as ours, local initiative is essential- and efforts like yours are the key."
— Bruce Babbit, Secretary, Dept of the Interior

1992

"On behalf of the citizens of Colorado, I want to congratulate your organization on being chosen as one of the state's nominees for the national Take Pride in America Award. I want you to know that I consider all of Colorado's nominees to be winners. And, of course, the biggest winners of all are the State of Colorado and our natural resource heritage."
— Roy Romer, Governor, State of Colorado

"Thank you and congratulations on the opening of the West Face Trail at Eldorado Canyon State Park... I hiked the trail with the park's staff Wednesday, What a remarkable job! What you and your people have been able to accomplish in the last three years at Eldorado is amazing. And your plans for the next three years make me sure the park has a bright future."
— Laurie A. Mathews, Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, State of Colorado