Make a Difference
Volunteer with RMFI
We rely on the generous support of volunteer stewards to help make the work we do possible. We offer many different ways to volunteer as a steward and would love to have you join us in whatever capacity makes sense to you and fits your needs! Offering volunteer opportunities for individuals, corporate groups, schools and youth groups to specialty volunteer opportunities!
Community Engagement
Volunteer as an Individual
RMFI runs hundreds of stewardship workdays and mobilizes thousands of stewardship volunteers each year in the healing and restoration of public lands throughout Southern Colorado, with an emphasis on the Pikes Peak region. RMFI provides stewardship opportunities for a variety of volunteers ranging in age, skill level, and interest. Our expert crews lead volunteer stewards on days that not only accomplish impressive on-the-ground results, but are also a whole lot of fun. We couldn't do what we do without volunteer stewards and would love for YOU to join us!
Community Engagement
Volunteer as a Corporate Team
RMFI stewardship days are great team-building activities and a way for teams to give back to the Pikes Peak Region in a highly rewarding opportunity. If your place of work, or other type of business group has multiple people who would like to volunteer together, RMFI provides opportunities to schedule a custom group workday for just your team!
Learn more about this opportunity and how to schedule HERE.
Community Engagement
Volunteer as a Student or Youth Group
RMFI stewardship days are great volunteer and education opportunities for classes, student groups or youth groups! RMFI provides opportunities to schedule a custom group workday for classes with students between 5th Grade and College and youth groups with kids over the age of 11!
Learn more about this opportunity and how to schedule HERE.
If you are a student looking to fulfill community service requirements for a class, National Honors Society, or other like requirements without having a group, we are happy to assist. Please see our Volunteer Calendar and look for opportunities in green that are open to anyone in the community, please note age requirements listed for each project.
Other Ways To Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering with us in the office, please send a message to Calla Balliett at calla@rmfi.org.
Gear Volunteer
Gear volunteers are asked to commit 3 to 5 hours a month from March through mid-November to help with equipment maintenance. Some examples of duties include properly sharpening tools, cleaning tools and gear of mud/dirt/rust, applying oil to steel tools, sanding and & re-oiling wooden handles, and repairing tents and other camping equipment. If you are interested in learning more about the gear volunteer position, please email calla@rmfi.org
Photo Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering as a photo or media volunteer, or if you have additional ideas to contribute to RMFI's mission and story, feel free to reach out to us!
Contact Calla, Community Engagement Coordinator, at calla@rmfi.org to learn more.
Have a Question about Volunteering?
FAQs
If you have any other questions not answered below, please contact Calla at calla@rmfi.org.
Most of our volunteer stewardship days are not suitable for children under 11. All volunteer days will show a minimum age requirement that will change depending on the project's difficulty and location. Minors 15 and younger must always have a parent present. Minors 16-17 parents may not always be required to attend the volunteer day depending on the location please refer to the specific project requirements. For minors attending with a school or youth group this requirement is fulfilled by teachers/chaperones.
For children under the age of 11, please reach out directly to Calla at calla@rmfi.org.
RMFI stewardship days are considered moderately strenuous or strenuous depending on project site and location. All workdays involve working in the outdoors for multiple hours with tools and often involve a walk or hike to and from the worksite from the parking area. Stewardship volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and breaks for lunch, snacks, and water are taken frequently and encouraged as needed. Those accustomed to a reasonable level of physical activity are able to take part in most of our projects. Certain days that require a longer, more strenuous hike or more physically demanding work tasks on variable terrain are recommended to those accustomed to a higher level of physical activity.
Information regarding the physical demands of each project can be found in the workday descriptions on our calendar. If you have concerns about accessibility after reading the project's description please reach out to Calla at calla@rmfi.org
Stewardship volunteers are not required to have any prior experience. Our staff of professional field instructors will start each workday with an orientation, tool usage and safety talk, and provide oversight throughout the day. For this reason, it is required that stewardship volunteers show up on time! If you would like to view the RMFI Trail Terminology Guide to help you prepare for the day, this can be useful but is not required.
Our stewardship days typically run from approximately 8:30am to 2:30pm; although some projects require a longer or shorter day. Custom group stewardship days must run for a minimum of 4 hours.
For our community stewardship days listed on our calendar, stewardship volunteers may sign up through the calendar's online registration system.
First-time users must create a basic account to log-in to the calendar and access the online registration. Once your account is created you may log in at any time and quickly and easily register for the workdays of your choosing. Upon registering, you will receive an email containing additional details you will need for the workday including directions, map links, pack list, and more!
To sign up a group or 10 or more people for either a community stewardship day or a custom group stewardship day, please contact Calla at calla@rmfi.org.
Bring a water bottle and plenty of water, sack lunch, rain gear, eye protection (sunglasses or prescription glasses will do), sunscreen, any other personal items needed to spend the day outside, and a backpack to carry your things. Wear sturdy & weather-appropriate clothes (long pants are required), and work shoes or boots (NO open-toe shoes, Crocs are not permitted). We have work gloves to borrow but we encourage you to bring your own if you have them. For overnight programs, we will provide a packing list. If you have difficulty accessing any of these items, please reach out to Calla at calla@rmfi.org so we can assist you. We want everyone to have an equal opportunity to volunteer as a steward with RMFI!
We run our stewardship days through light rain and other mild weather conditions. Please check the forecast and come prepared.
However, if we have to cancel for hazardous weather, or any other reason, we will notify registered volunteers via email no later than 1.5 hours prior to the start of the workday (sooner if possible) and will also make phone calls to volunteers as needed. If you need to cancel your registration, please let us know as soon as possible. We plan our work tasks, equipment, and staffing based on the number of stewardship volunteers signed up.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow your fluffy friends to join us on our stewardship day. While we love our animals, pets are prohibited at any of our events due to safety concerns and other risks.
Crew Leaders certified through the Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training are welcome, please let the RMFI Crew Leader know you are certified once you arrive.
For more information about becoming a crew leader, visit our page detailing the Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training.
You bet! Groups are welcome on community stewardship days listed on our calendar. If your group consists of 10 or more people available for a minimum of 4 hours, we may also be able to schedule a custom group workday for you. Although RMFI does not require a fee for custom group workdays, donations from corporate groups and welcomed and highly encouraged to help cover our costs associated with running the event.
Yes!
RMFI has a variety of needs, from help maintaining our tools and gear, grant research, and proofing to other specialized office tasks. If you are interested, please contact Calla at calla@rmfi.org.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to Calla at calla@rmfi.org.
Unfortunately, RMFI does not offer transportation to and from our parks and open spaces. While there are some bus routes that pass by our project locations, these options are limited. We would recommend checking out the Moovit app or the Mountain Metro page to view bus routes in the Colorado Springs area. In addition, don't forget a great local bike-share option, Pike Ride!
A custom group stewardship day is when an organization, company, or school schedules a day of stewardship for their members, employees, or students.
A community stewardship day is when individuals can sign up for a stewardship day with no group affiliation needed.
Yes, When registering online, you will be prompted to sign RMFI's waiver, this is required for participation.