Upcoming Events
RFOV Annual Appreciation Party
Thursday, October 15th from 5-8pm at CMC Spring Valley Campus
PAST EVENTS
Building Better Relationships With Nature With Emma Marris
June 17, 2026
Humans have done a lot of damage to the environment, but we can also be a force for good. Some ecosystems need ongoing care and stewardship to thrive, especially in a warming world. This talk suggests how a perspective shift from saving nature from humans to improving human relationships with other species can enlarge our thinking, make new approaches possible, and create an energizing space for mutual human-nonhuman flourishing.
Emma Marris is an environmental writer and journalist whose work explores the complex relationships between humans and the natural world.
She is the author of two books: Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World, which challenges conventional ideas about wilderness and conservation, and Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World, which examines our ethical responsibilities toward wild animals on a human-shaped planet.
Mt. Sopris Runoff
Thank you to everyone who joined in the 2026 Mt. Sopris Runoff weekend! Whether you volunteered or ran the race, we appreciate your participation!
Your Brain On Nature with Florence Williams
September 19, 2025
Florence Williams, nationally acclaimed journalist and author, presented research on the science behind why nature is good for us—from cognition to mental health. Drawing from reporting around the world, from Japan to Scotland to Singapore to Utah, she shared powerful insights into how time outdoors shapes our brains, bodies, and sense of well-being.
Williams also spoke about the benefits of volunteering outdoors, emphasizing how acts of stewardship not only heal the land but also nurture our own mental and emotional health. Her message resonated deeply with RFOV’s mission to promote community-powered stewardship of our public lands, reminding us that caring for nature is also a way of caring for ourselves.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us for this inspiring event and helped make it a success. We look forward to hosting more thoughtful and engaging events like this in the future—bringing people together to explore, learn, and take action for the places we love.
A Toast to Trails
On June 4, 2025, we celebrated three decades of community-powered conservation at our sold-out Toast to Trails event at Spring Creeks Ranch in Carbondale!
The evening brought together RFOV founders, long-time volunteers, agency partners, and community supporters to honor where we’ve been—and where we’re headed. With inspiring speakers, good food, and even better company, we raised over $50,000 to support local trail work, habitat restoration, and youth programs.
Since 1995, RFOV volunteers have built and maintained 800+ miles of trail, restored 150 acres of habitat, and empowered 16,000+ youth to care for our public lands.
Thanks for celebrating with us—and here’s to the next 30 years of stewardship, trails, and community!
