Willow planting at McIntire Spring with VOC
Harvest and plant native willows to restore stream habitat for fish at McIntire Ranch in Colorado's Conejos Valley. Two-day project. Meals and camping included.
Why we picked this
Two days of willow planting along a historic ranch creek, working with BLM and CPW biologists. Meals and camping provided — a full field experience, not just a workday.
Volunteers will harvest and plant native willows along the stream banks at McIntire Ranch, a historic property in the Conejos Valley of southern Colorado. The work supports native fish habitat and bank stabilization, building on ongoing riparian recovery efforts in the area. BLM and CPW biologists will be on-site to guide the project.
Saturday April 18 runs 8 AM to 4 PM; Sunday April 19 runs 8 AM to 2 PM. VOC provides free meals and campsites for participants. Ages 14 and up are welcome; volunteers under 18 need to be accompanied by a supervising adult (21+). No prior experience is required — tools and direction provided.
This project is about four hours south of Denver, in the San Luis Valley near the New Mexico border. The drive is worth it: riparian restoration in this valley directly supports native fish populations that depend on the willows to create habitat. VOC has organized crew projects in this area for years.