Celebrating our 2025 Field Staff
As our 2025 field season comes to a close, let’s celebrate our seasonal staff: Cole, Oscar, Greg, and their leader, Cal, from the trail crew, along with our field instructors, Maddie and Noah! These rockstars gave six months of sweat and spirit to care for the trails and public spaces we love.
They balanced the season with grace, grit, and humor. From busy local trails close to home to remote backcountry routes in the Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness, they absolutely crushed it this season!
Together, our programs team logged an impressive 5,484 hours on projects this year. They hauled tools miles for miles, showing up each day ready to work hard and have fun for the betterment of our public lands. But their season wasn’t just about building and repairing — it was about connection. They built relationships with our team, our local land managers, and our volunteers, inspiring everyone who worked alongside them or encountered them in the backcountry to give back to the lands that give us so much.
We’re incredibly thankful for their effort and proud to support this essential work. As we celebrate their accomplishments, we invite you to join them — volunteer, donate, or simply step outside and experience the difference their work makes every day!
Youth in Nature Joins the Return to Hanging Lake
On National Public Lands Day, RFOV’s Youth in Nature high school internship cohort joined our community project for a powerful day of restoration at Hanging Lake. The group made the steep climb to this iconic site, working alongside 24 RFOV volunteers and a 7-person crew from Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.
This project marked the first community volunteer effort at Hanging Lake since 2019, celebrating the patience and resilience it takes to restore a trail so deeply impacted by fire and flood. Although the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire spared the lake, the devastating floods that followed swept away bridges and buried the trail in debris.
For many, this was a long-awaited return to a place they deeply cherish—and for our Youth in Nature interns, an inspiring introduction to what community-powered stewardship truly means: that recovery, like growth, takes time and dedication.
Shout Out to Our 2025 Standout Volunteers!
Thank you to those who attended our End-of-Season Appreciation Party!
We had a blast celebrating our incredible volunteers, seasonal staff, partners, supporters, and friends at our annual end-of-season appreciation party! Reflecting on our successes during this milestone 30th year while enjoying a delicious meal is truly the best way to close out the season.
We also enjoy spotlighting our standout volunteers with our own Stanley Cup-like awards. Here are our 2025 Golden Pulaski Award Winners:
Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Williams
Most Enthusiastic Volunteer: Kevin Koepke
Most Active Volunteer: Beth Selzer
Volunteer Family of the Year: Lauren, Franz, and Vedder Garcia
Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca White
On the Ground: Field Highlights
Last month, we were fortunate to work with 10 incredible groups to improve trails and open spaces across the Roaring Fork Valley. Our Adopt-A-Trail partners went above and beyond this season:
Osmia Organics celebrated their fifth year adopting Ruthie’s Run with rock work and invasive species removal.
Two Leaves & a Bud continued their stewardship on Arbaney Kittle, building water bars that proved effective as a storm rolled in.
Viewline Resorts returned to maintain drainage on the Viewline Trail in Snowmass.
Blazing Adventures worked on the Tom Blake Trail, focusing on drainage maintenance and water crossing improvements.
White Horse Yoga continued trail maintenance and drainage work on the Three Gulch trail at Red Hill.
REI Glenwood installed check steps, drainages, and cleared the corridor on the Cross Trail.
Our Group Project partners — Aspen Elks Club, Four Mountain Sports, Jaywalkers, and JVA Consulting Engineers — joined us for dedicated stewardship days, making positive impacts on some of our favorite local trails.
We sincerely thank all who gave their time, energy, and care. If you're interested in planning a group volunteer day or adopting a trail next year, contact Claire at cwoodward@rfov.org!
Sponsor Spotlight: Black Hills Energy
Black Hills Energy generously supported our fire mitigation program this season. Over the past 3 years, the Black Hills Corporation Foundation has awarded grants each quarter for community projects, such as daycares, housing for the developmentally disabled, food banks and libraries. The Foundation Board also funds specific projects. Last year, it supported the purchase of over 3,000 trees for customers to plant, and this year, it provided grants of up to $2,500 to local volunteer fire departments for equipment. Thank you so much for your community support!
More Ways to Support
THE ASPEN PLEDGE
Simply by signing the Aspen Pledge, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) will make a donation on your behalf to Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers.
COLORADO GIVES 2025
We hope you'll participate in our 2025 Colorado Gives Campaign! Donate to RFOV between November 1st and December 9th on our CO Gives Day Page. Share our campaign with friends and family or fundraise on behalf of RFOV by starting your own campaign.
Contact Tabatha Godoy for more information.
Go to citymarketrewards.com
Login or create an account
When asked to "Link your card", choose "Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteer" from the list of organizations