Looking for a challenging, rewarding, and fun vacation? RMFI's Annual Volunteer Vacation is a 5-day work trip that connects you with a much-needed backcountry trail or restoration project. This year, we're mountaintop on Cheyenne Mountain!

Volunteer Vacation is RMFI's longest open enrollment program, and an opportunity to spend a week camped atop Colorado Springs' Cheyenne Mountain while constructing the much anticipated Top of the Mountain (TOM) Trail.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is one of the newest additions to the State Park system and is uniquely situated in a transitional zone between the Great Plains grassland and the forested Front Range Mountains. The park is a popular location for hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and camping just outside the city limits of Colorado Springs. RMFI, with the help of Volunteer Vacationers, will continue constructing a portion of the highly anticipated TOM trail. When finished, the trail will encompass approximately 3.6 miles of ‘extremely rugged’ environment and offer stunning views of the Pikes Peak region. Learn more about this very exciting trailbuilding project HERE.

BASECAMP AND EQUIPMENT

Volunteers and RMFI staff will work out of a basecamp located not far from the Cheyenne Mountain Antennae Farm at approximately 9,500 ft. The base camp will be fully equipped – all group equipment (including base tent, stoves and kitchen supplies) and food will be provided by RMFI. RMFI prides itself on providing volunteers with nutritious and delicious meals – the program menu will consist of hearty breakfasts, pasta, rice and quinoa dishes and, of course, as much trail mix as your heart desires! Vegetarians are easily accommodated. Participants are expected to help cook and partake in camp chores. Volunteers must supply their own personal outdoor gear. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads are available upon request, on a first-come first-served basis.

VOLUNTEER VACATION DATES AND SCHEDULE

August 19 - 23, 2015

August 19: Meet at RMFI office. The group will then carpool up the mountain to our basecamp. Volunteers will help set up camp then get an orientation to the worksite.

August 20 - 22: Complete project objectives: Cut new trail, move rocks, build rock staircases and retaining walls on the new trail system. Enjoy delicious meals after a hard day of work, relax, recreate, and sleep in the crisp mountain air. 

August 23: Finish project objectives, pack up camp, and head home.

Maximum enrollment the program is fifteen (15) participants. Sign up early!

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Due to generous grants from project funders, there is no cost to participate in this project.

  • Participants must be 18 years of age or older
  • Participants must complete the ONLINE APPLICATION to participate. (If you have trouble with the online application form, contact us for a hard copy that can be sent to you.)
  • No prior experience is necessary. However, participants must be in excellent physical condition and comfortable living and doing manual labor at elevations of 10,500+ feet in a remote mountain setting. 
  • Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the RMFI office in Colorado Springs.

Questions? Contact Molly Mazel, Volunteer Coordinator, molly@rmfi.org, (719) 471-7736 ext. 4# 

 

When
August 19th, 2015 8:00 AM to August 23rd, 2015 4:00 PM
Contact
Phone: 719-471-7736 ext. 4#