Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers is a great nonprofit organization that helps to build and maintain trails from Rifle to Aspen. RFOV also works on wetland planting and other restoration projects, as well as invasive species removal like tamarisk and Russian olive. With the ever-shrinking budgets of the U.S. Forest Service and BLM, RFOV has become a valuable resource for these agencies as they struggle to maintain the many miles of trails throughout the valley.

Why should you volunteer with RFOV? I’ll give you several reasons:

• We need you. The more people we have out on projects, the more work we can accomplish, including brush clearing, removing sediment from water bars, building rocks walls, closing braided trails. These are important things to prevent trails from being overgrown or damaged by erosion.

• It’s fun. You meet people with similar interests and values. Some of my best friends are people I met through RFOV.

• It’s rewarding. You can see the dramatic before and after effects of your work from the start to the end of the project day. I personally like constructing new trail because you get to build something new that will be used and enjoyed by generations to come.

• We’re flexible. We have Saturday projects, evening projects, group work days, family-friendly projects, youth projects. There is something for everyone. We also have a variety of tasks ­— not everyone needs to haul heavy rocks or dig in the dirt.

• Great food. We provide a nice meal and beverages at the end of the project day. Sometimes there are other rewards too!

For more information, please go to http://www.rfov.org or call 970-927-8241. Thanks.

Eileen Wysocki

New Castle , RFOV Volunteer Development Committee