We believe the protection and restoration of our public lands lies in cultivating an ethic of public stewardship.  This is why the majority of our trail and restoration projects are completed with volunteers. Our stewardship programs provide opportunities for a variety of people and skills, including youth, adults, and small and large groups. We have developed strong partnerships with schools, universities, military groups, religious groups, and community organizations. We run over 150 workdays annually mobilizing an average of 1,000 volunteers. Our current project sites include local parks, national forest land, and BLM land in the Pikes Peak region; the Sangre de Cristo mountain range; and the dramatic desert landscape of Indian Creek Canyon, Utah.

Community Volunteer Stewardship Program

RMFI runs over 150 project workdays annually to heal and restore public lands throughout Southern Colorado, with an emphasis on the Pikes Peak region. Half of these workdays are run through our open enrollment volunteer program, providing stewardship opportunities for an estimated 1,000 people, including schools, universities, military groups, religious and civic organizations, and dedicated individuals.

Garden of the Gods Restoration Program

With almost 2 million annual visitors in 1,500 acres, this beloved city park sees 100 times the visitor density of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Garden of the Gods Restoration Program connects youth and adults to the sustainable restoration of the park's trails, open spaces, and native vegetation. From April through early June and September through mid-November, we run an average of 40 workdays. With bucket brigades and lots of rocks and dirt, our volunteers focus on restoring erosion gullies and bare areas, reconstructing trails, and revegetating with native seed and plants.

youthDIRT 

youthDIRT's (youth Direct Involvement in ResToration) goal is to foster awareness and understanding of the ecological needs of natural areas by engaging a broad spectrum of youth in the hands-on restoration of public lands in the Pikes Peak region. In 2012, youthDIRT will provide environmental stewardship opportunities for middle and high school youth throughout the region. Stewardship efforts will focus on landscape and trail restoration in the Garden of the Gods Park.