NMVFO plans 20+ volunteer work projects each year. Click here for a printable overview of the 2024 project season, and check back often for additional information posted as it becomes available. To receive updates and detailed information about upcoming projects and events, be sure to sign up for the NMVFO newsletter on the Home page. Public land agencies that are interested in proposing a project should contact our Projects Team (projects@nmvfo.org) for more information and our easy-to-complete project proposal form.
If you’re new to NMVFO, be sure to visit our FAQ page to learn more about what to expect on a project. Project leaders are always happy to answer your questions about specific projects. Have a non-project related question? Send us a message from our Contact page. Pets are not allowed on any NMVFO projects. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or other legal guardian
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Cole Spring (Sandia RD) – CANCELED
May 15, 2020 @ 6:00 PM - May 17, 2020 @ 2:30 PM
Description: Please sign up below. Join us for a day and a half of work near the intersection of the Faulty and Cañoncito trails in the Sandia Mountains. Volunteers will build a spur trail, redefine existing tread, create water protection measures, and build a buck & rail fence to direct traffic and mitigate erosion in the vicinity of Cañoncito Spring. We will camp nearby at the Cole Spring picnic area. Read on for details…
On Friday evening we will meet at the Sandia Ranger District (SRD) Visitor Center, at the north end of the parking lot. From there we’ll caravan to our campsite at Cole Spring. The road to Cole Spring is rough, and 4WD is best. The Forest Service would prefer that we use as few vehicles as possible, so carpooling is encouraged. There is a secure (fenced) area at the SRD to leave cars behind. We pass through a locked gate to get to Cole Spring and will not leave the area until the end of the project, except in case of emergency.
Camping at Cole Spring should be pleasant, with picnic tables and shade. Nights could be cold, so pack accordingly! Besides tent, sleeping bag/pad, headlamp, etc, a camp chair and cooler are nice to have. Please bring your own dinnerware and eating utensils. NMVFO will provide breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner on Saturday. Volunteers will be responsible for their own lunches and snacks, as well as dinner on Friday.
USFS regulations require that we wear sturdy boots, long pants and sleeves, work gloves, eye protection (sunglasses okay) and hard hats when we work. Hard hats and tools provided. Please also bring a day pack, water bottle, sunglasses, sunblock, and rain gear.
Note: Depending on the timeline for clarification and resolution of the court-ordered injunction on select activities on the Cibola (related to potential effects on the Mexican spotted owl), there is a chance this project will be moved to the Ellis Trail. If so, we would work on reroutes of badly eroded sections on that trail, car-camping nearby. If the location/scope is changed, we will contact anyone who has already signed up to make sure they still want to join the project.
Please register below. Sign-ups for this project close on Saturday, May 9th.
Difficulty: 2 Pulaskis
Group Size: TBD
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq, or email the project leader.
Contact Leader(s): Jenny Blackmore, j.blackmore@nmvfo.org with any questions.