If you live in the San Juan Mountains, I don’t need to sell you on their beauty. An array of geological processes created breathtaking shapes and colors across these massive peaks. Summer wildflowers add a collage of hues to enjoy up close. In the fall, wildflower leaves turn red, grasses turn gold, and aspen trees light up so brightly, I’ll bet it can be seen from space. Winter’s white snow makes the sky seem bluer than a sapphire. It is a splendorous place to play, find peace and cultivate relationships with people, pets and nature.
I also don’t need to sell you on how desperately we must protect these mountains. Or do I? The fact is, not enough of us are giving back to the land when we are out there. Volunteerism doesn’t have to take away from your enjoyment. In fact, it can be an active part in your personal mission to play, find peace or cultivate relationships. That’s why San Juan Mountains Association offers a variety of volunteer opportunities; there’s a way for everyone to make a difference.
Love talking to people? We’ve got you covered. Don’t like people? How does monitoring solitude sound? Can’t hike far? No problem. Want to go backpacking? We can cover that, too. Do you go out with horses or other stock animals? We have something for you. Prefer to bike? That works.
Enjoy scenic drives? You can multitask within sight of your vehicle. Want to swing tools and repair trails? We need you. And, our volunteers say we’re pretty fun.
SJMA works with our federal lands partners to provide training for all programs. Where applicable, volunteers receive a uniform shirt, hat and name tag. Below is an overview of how you can help your favorite places. More details are available at sjma.org/volunteer.
- Forest Service Adopt-a-Road program: Keep a road beautiful by cleaning up litter, naturalizing superfluous fire pits and reporting damage. Adopt a road on the San Juan or Rio Grande National Forests.
- Trail ambassadors: Educate visitors about best practices and safety precautions that can prevent further human impacts. Volunteers can stay at the trailhead or hike the trails. Locations: Ice Lake, Blue Lakes, Chicago Basin and Pagosa area.
- Wilderness solitude monitoring: Help collect important data in the Weminuche Wilderness so land managers can ensure proper care of this wilderness gem.
- SJMA’s Durango Nature Center: Assist visitors as a docent or join in ongoing maintenance and improvement projects. Our annual Spring Cleanup day is April 25.
- Roadside cleanup events: We offer one-day events throughout the year to help improve high-use camping and recreation areas. Annual events include: Colorado Public Lands Day, the Hardrock 100 Collaborative Cleanup and National Public Lands Day.
- Multiday trail maintenance trips: SJMA adopts Colorado Trail segment 25.1, in addition to projects requested by our public lands partners. We’ll work on the Pine River Trail with assistance from llamas in August.
- Intermittent opportunities: Is there another way you’d like to help out? It could be scrapbooking, streamlining systems, data entry, vehicle maintenance or maybe you have an idea we haven’t even thought about.
Clearly, it takes all kinds of people to keep the San Juans beautiful. Come find your niche with SJMA. Hopefully, we can add even more joy to your play, quest for peace, or in cultivating relationships with people and/or nature.
MK Thompson is the Volunteer Coordinator for SJMA. When she’s not protecting special places, she writes about her backcountry mishaps in her series of books. www.artofmisadventure.com
