Karin Teague
Development Coordinator

RFOV’s mission of involving local citizens in caring for those trails and landscapes, RFOV’s Board of Directors identified two primary objectives in its 2011 Operating Plan: (1) recruit, train, and oversee more Adopt-a-Trail groups, and (2) develop and implement a formal youth program, which will get hundreds of kids from the greater Roaring Fork Valley involved in outdoor service projects.

Survey after survey confirms that trails, the recreational opportunities they create, and our spectacular surroundings are principal reasons people choose to live in and to visit the Roaring Fork Valley. To help further

Our youth are the future stewards of our public lands—getting them involved early and often will pay huge dividends both for the current and future health of our landscapes and for the kids who will gain the immense satisfaction of seeing their hard work translate into those healthy landscapes and into great trails that they and their families can enjoy for years to come.

While RFOV has been able to involve older youth in its regular Saturday trail and conservation project days, and has worked with Adopt-a-Trail groups like the Waldorf School’s seventh- and eighth-grade classes on the Perham Creek Trail in Carbondale and with the Crystal River Elementary School in constructing the White Hill Nature Trail, RFOV’s ability to accommodate youth has been limited by staff size—David can’t be everywhere all the time!

This is where the Seasonal Field Coordinator comes in (see Exciting New Opportunities, page 1). Having a Field Coordinator on board will allow RFOV to oversee youth groups and more Adopt-a-Trail groups. And I’m delighted to announce here that a long-time volunteer and member has stepped up to help make that happen by making RFOV a challenge: If RFOV can raise $12,500 in the coming months, that member (who wishes to remain anonymous) will match that amount dollar for dollar, for a total sum raised of $25,000, to fund the Field Coordinator position in 2011.

If you agree that getting more valley citizens and youth involved in taking care of our public lands and trails is important, then help us meet the challenge by donating today: Every dollar you give will be doubled! Thank you for helping us take care of this magnificent place—we couldn’t do it without you.