El Paso County Parks celebrates our 2011 Volunteers of the Year:

The El Paso County Park Advisory Board acknowledged the exemplary volunteer services of  Hank Hoover and Jim and Sally Austin with the 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mr. Hoover has served as the President of the Black Forest Trails Associaiton and has contributed countless hours leading local volunteer groups to complete El Paso County Adopt-A-Park & Trail Program projects.

Mr. and Mrs. Austin have served for thirty years as Nature Center docents with the Friends of El Paso County Nature Centers and provided over 10,000 volunteer hours!

Adopt-A-Park/Trail Program

You or your civic group, church, school, or business can make a direct contribution to our community by adopting a portion of a park or trail within the El Paso County Parks system. All it takes it some caring, time, and a little effort.

Groups and individuals can participate by visiting the adopted site at least twice a year to help pick up trash, look for signs of vandalism and report any problems. Special work projects may include flower or tree planting, building park benches, or repairing trails.

Take the time to enjoy the great outdoors and improve the beauty of your community at the same time!

• Adopt-A-Park/Trail Spreadsheet
• Clean Up Safety Guidelines
• Volunteer Project Leader Form
• Inspection Check List
• Volunteer Waiver Agreement 
• Volunteer Application Form
• Volunteer Manual

Nature Center Volunteer Programs

Volunteers are needed at Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers to serve as nature center receptionists, environmental education program leaders for area schools, and exhibit room hosts. Naturalist docent volunteers, as members of the Friends of El Paso County Park Nature Centers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, are also needed to provide a strong role in fundraising to support nature centers through program leadership and through sponsoring educational programs, interpretive projects, stewardship programs, and special events.

For more information about nature center volunteer programs, interpretive projects, quarterly training opportunities, and the Friends Organization and its membership benefits, please contact Paula Megorden, Volunteer Coordinator at 520-6387.

Other Park Volunteer Projects

Volunteers with special interest or talents are always welcome to help with short-term projects, such as plant inventories, wildlife surveys, historical research, artwork, re-vegetation, trail construction, weed management, and maintenance.

For more information about the Adopt-a-Park Program and Other Park Volunteer Projects please contact Dana Nordstrom, Community Outreach Cordinator at 520-6983.

Report on the Impact of Volunteer Stewardship in 2011. Access the report online here.