Heartfelt thanks to our leaders of volunteers

Nov 1

By: Julie Enderby, Education & Volunteer Supervisor

Carter Lake campground host appreciation dinner

Clean the Shoreline at Horsetooth Reservoir

Fence removal project at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Cabin cleaning at Hermit Park Open Space

As the year begins to wind down, I find it’s a good time to take a pause and say Thank You. Thank you to all the staff who supported our volunteers in 2023. Putting on that extra “hat” of volunteer supervisor/champion does not go unnoticed. While volunteers contribute a lot of time and talent to our work, it’s your continued commitment to work alongside these non-employee team members which makes the collaboration great.

Below are shout-outs to specific staff I’ve had the pleasure of seeing work with volunteers this year. My apologies if you don’t see your name on this list. I know there is so much that happens in the day to day! Please know your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you…

For supporting our Campground Hosts through a 6-month season of busy campgrounds: Trevor Knight, Aubrey Hilte, Lane Fahrenbruch, Michael Mills, Loni Graham-Ashby, Victoria Britton, Morgan Wetzel, Hannah Beam, Garrett Thompson, Cindy Claggett, Steve Gibson, Zack Cook and all the Visitor Services and Customer Services teams who help with the day to day!
For coordinating volunteers during fence removal projects: Amy Gilboy, Callea Scherer, Travis Rollins and Aaron Schmidt
For coordinating volunteers during many, many trail maintenance projects: Joel Schwab and the entire trail crew!
For leading a team of Raptor Nest Monitors each year: Amy Gilboy
For organizing a tree mulching project with Friends of Larimer County Parks and Open Lands: Lexie Sorenson and Jenn Almstead
For being a liaison to our Volunteer Ranger Assistants, answering their questions and organizing training: Lane Fahrenbruch and Zack Cook
For leading a cleaning crew to ready HPOS cabins for the season: Tammy Deterts and Wyatt Scheurman
For leading two volunteer plant stewards who keep our growing trees watered: Lexie Sorenson
For coordinating an annual day of service project at Carter Lake District: Brette Southworth and Jake Cautili
For driving a boat so volunteers can Clean the Shoreline at Horsetooth Reservoir: Clay Cushman and Taryn Bazhaw.

So far this year, volunteers have contributed 18,782 hours, which is the equivalent of nearly 11 full-time employees.

As a leader of volunteers, you demonstrate our values as a Department. This leads to a positive volunteer experience which goes a long way towards retention of those volunteers. Thank you for putting on your volunteer supervisor hat as an unofficial part of the Education & Volunteer team; your help allows for so much more to be accomplished. When we collaborate as a Department, amazing things happen.

Thank you for all that you do!