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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Ghost Lake (Gila NF)
September 10, 2022 @ 8:00 AM - September 13, 2022 @ 3:00 PM
Contact Leader(s): Jenny Blackmore, j.blackmore@nmvfo.org with any questions.
RESULTS: Over the course of three days, seven volunteers from Continental Divide Trail Coalition and New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors built ~500 ft of new tread to begin a reroute of a section of the CDT. Despite extremely rocky soil and afternoon thunderstorms which shortened the work days, the crew had a fun time, and good progress was made.
Description: Our partners at Continental Divide Trail Coalition, CDTC, are supporting a multi-year project to complete a 9.1 mile reroute of the CDT through the northern Gila National Forest between Five Springs and Ghost Lake. In 2021 youth corps began to make headway on 3 miles of construction, with a clear need for growing partnership support to bring more capacity to this high priority project. NMVFO will partner with CDTC on one of the project weekends this year, Saturday Sep 10 thru Tuesday Sep 13. Volunteers will help clear, repair, and restore tread from a wildfire that passed through this area, and help build a new trail that will avoid excessively rocky areas and uphold the scenic beauty of the CDT.
This is a car-camping project. We will meet at the Apache Creek Campground on Friday evening, September 9 (if you plan to arrive Saturday morning, please inform the project leader). Breakfasts will be provided Sat-Tue, and dinners will be provided Sat-Mon. Volunteers are asked to bring their own snacks and lunches. Water will be made available, but please bring extra containers for camping. Required when working with the USFS: work gloves, eye protection (sunglasses okay), long pants, long sleeves, and boots or sturdy shoes. Tools and hard hats (also required) will be provided.
Note that CDTC requires all registered volunteers to provide proof of vaccination before attending projects, with some exceptions. We will adhere to this rule when we partner with them.
You can sign up below until Monday September 5. One person per signup.
Difficulty: 
Group Size: 12
Map:
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at Volunteer FAQ, or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.