2022 | YEAR-END REPORT
FIELD NOTES FROM OUR CEO 2022 Land Management & Programmatic Partners
Dear Friends of VOC, VOC’s work is highly collaborative and we work with many government and
nonprofit partners to make our field work successful.
Community can mean different things to different
people. At VOC, community is at the heart of Bureau of Land Management Lake County
everything we do: no matter where a project - 3 Field Offices Larimer County Department of
takes place or what type of work it requires, we Natural Resources
always find a dedicated group of people willing City of Aurora Lincoln Hills Cares
to come together for a common cause. Our Mesa County Public Health
volunteers have fun, learn new skills, and make a City of Boulder Open Space and Mile High Youth Corps
tremendous positive impact on the outdoors. Mountain Parks Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab School
Outdoor Afro
There is a never-ending amount of conservation City of Colorado Springs Poudre Learning Center
work to be done in the state – from taking care Purgatoire Watershed Partnership
of trails to restoring habitats and planting trees City of Evans San Juan Nordic Club
– and we strive to make a positive impact each Rio Grande Headwaters
year. This year is no exception, as you will see City of Greeley Restoration Project
within this report. But I hope you also see the San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
incredible community behind the numbers, and City of Ouray Sand Creek Regional Greenway
the efforts that VOC is making to build, expand, Partnership
and strengthen communities on VOC projects and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Southern Plains Land Trust
beyond. The Nature Conservancy
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Town of Breckenridge
As the year wraps up, we are embarking on a - 9 State Parks Town of Castle Rock
new three-year strategic plan that focuses on - 1 State Recreation Area Trinidad Trails Alliance
improving our outdoor spaces while investing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
in the people that make our work possible: Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike U.S. Forest Service
building skills, increasing capacity, broadening Trail Association
our volunteer base, and diversifying our volunteer - 4 National Forests
and giving opportunities. As you read about Denver Parks and Recreation Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance
what we’ve accomplished, we hope you will join Weld County Public Works
us in achieving our vision of a Colorado where Drala Mountain Center
all people connect to nature and care for our
outdoor spaces. Environmental Learning for Kids
See you outdoors, Friends of Mt. Evans & Lost Creek
Chris Nesset Wilderness
Groundwork Colorado
Grow Local Colorado
Growing Gardens
Headwaters Trail Alliance
High Plains Environmental Center
Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
2022 SEASON Our work in Colorado
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
VOC volunteers travel to every corner of Colorado
to take care of public lands. From the tops of
Fourteeners to city parks, learn more about where
we went this year at bit.ly/2022vocprojects.
3,349 25,957 $817,905 Donated
Volunteers Volunteer Hours Labor Value
26.9 miles of trail maintained to create safer, more Outdoor Stewardship Institute
sustainable routes (OSI) Training stats
5.2 miles of trail built to expand recreation opportunities 39 Number of
734 pounds of produce harvested and donated Trainings
140 acres of invasive weeds mitigated
4,990 plants, trees, and shrubs planted 526 Number of
Trainees
9 Number of Partner
Organizations
2
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
VOC is known for traveling across the state to care for Colorado’s iconic
landscapes. But a growing part of our work is happening closer to home,
against the Denver skyline. We’ve been based in the capital’s Washington
Park for more than 20 years and our city-dwelling employees benefit from
nearby nature on a daily basis. Since many people do not have the time or
the resources to travel far for their outdoor adventures, we are expanding
our project portfolio to include more opportunities
for people to give back where they live. While
many of these projects have been focused
on community food gardens, we are
growing into additional areas that will STEWARDING
CORPORATE IMPACT
make the city better for our neighbors
Working with Colorado businesses is an
by reducing the effects of air pollution, Denver important part of our community work. Thank
increasing access to parks, improving you to these companies for engaging their
employees in making Colorado a better place
water quality, and more. Thank you to to live, work, and play!
Impact100 Metro Denver for making this
programmatic expansion possible.
2022 Corporate Adobe Delta Dental of Monarch Investment Prologis
Stewardship BOK Financial Colorado and Management Schneider Electric
with a Team Brownstein Hyatt Group Tonic
(SWAT) Partners Farber Schreck, LLP FactSet United Airlines
Chevron Newmont Mining Viasat Inc.
3 Clove and Twine Galloway Corporation Vivax Pros
CoralTree Hospitality Xcel Energy
CORE Consultants Kimmeridge Energy One Tree Planted
Management Company
Origami Risk
Lockheed Martin
Pivot Energy
Marathon
In addition to our Denver headquarters, we have staff based at two Partnership
Offices: one in Greeley to serve rapidly growing Weld County, and one in Monte
Vista to serve the rural San Luis Valley. This approach allows us to better
understand regional needs and meet residents where they are in partnership with
local land managers. Beyond the projects you see on our public calendar, these
Partnership Offices host local-specific programs to expand our impact and engage
schools, businesses, and individuals in their own communities.
For example, the Weld County office hosts an independent ‘Weed Warrior’ program
for residents to tackle invasive weeds on their own time, while the San Luis Valley
office took students from Del Norte High School on a snorkel tour of the Rio Grande
River to monitor macroinvertebrates and river health.
17 Weld County Projects with 277 Volunteers
26 San Luis Valley Projects with 226 Volunteers
7,000+ Combined Volunteer Hours
2022 Volunteer Demographics
EXPANDING OUR AGE RANGES
COMMUNITY
Unreported 23%
2022 was our first year operating under a new vision of “a Colorado where Millennials 39%
all people connect to nature and care for our outdoor spaces”, and we’ve Generation X 15%
made great progress toward intentionally welcoming all people – no matter Baby Boomers 14%
their age, race, gender, or ability – to VOC’s stewardship community. Generation Z 8%
In addition to continuing our annual Women Only and American Sign Silent Generation <1%
Language-supported volunteer projects, we hosted our first annual Pride
Project and expanded our partnerships with Lincoln Hills Cares and RACE + ETHNICITY
Outdoor Afro. There is still work to do to diversify our organization from our
Board to our volunteer base, so please join us in welcoming everyone who Unreported 40%
cares for Colorado. 53.5%
White 2.3%
“At Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, we believe that everyone has 1.9%
a place in the outdoors and in caring for them. No matter your Asian 0.7%
background, we share the land as our home, and it is up to us to 0.4%
Hispanic/Latino
maintain it for the bene t of all living things. No matter how you 0.14%
connect with the outdoors, we believe we can nd common ground Multiple Races
in nature, and can be united in our e orts to leave it better than 0.07%
we found it. We welcome everyone to be a part of our stewardship Black or African
American
community, and to nd your place with VOC.”
Native Hawaiian or
- The VOC Creed Pacific Islander
If you would like to update American Indian or
your demographic information Alaskan Native
for our records, please visit
bit.ly/vocportal. GENDER IDENTITY
5 Unreported 62%
20%
Identify as Man 18%
0.14%
Identify as Woman
0.07%
Identify as
Non-Binary
Identify as
Transgender
CONNECTING THE
COMMUNITY
Nestled between Franktown and Castle Rock, Gateway
Mesa Open Space is easy to access from the Front Range –
yet visitors could only access a small part of the area’s 275
acres. In 2019, VOC volunteers broke ground on a hikers-
only trail that would take users through conifer forest and
rock formations unlike anywhere else in the park. After
four volunteer seasons and nearly 5,000 hours of labor,
VOC volunteers officially finished the new Legacy Trail.
This name has a special meaning for us, reflecting the
lasting impact that volunteers can have in their community
and beyond.
“Being able to build a trail from start to nish is
such a rewarding experience. It was a lot of fun to
work with the same dedicated and enthusiastic team
from Castle Rock throughout the ve years, watching
the project progress and the number of people who
pitched in to make it happen.”
- Donna Driscoll, Volunteer Technical Advisor
13 Volunteer Work Days 534 Volunteers $151,185 Donated Labor Value
6
FINDING COMMUNITY
The VOC community is nearly 40 years in the making, and many of our volunteers
and donors have been with us for decades. Time and again, we’re told by volunteers
that while they may have initially signed up to care for the environment, they stay
for the positive, uplifting community that they find once they arrive on a project.
Our volunteers have found new career paths, cherished mentors, lifelong friends,
and even spouses. When they step back from swinging tools, they continue to
contribute to the community by donating, sharing knowledge, and attending VOC
events.
This year, we recognized our inaugural class of Legacy Donors, a group that has
consistently given $250+ each year for the past 10 years. We are incredibly grateful
for their outstanding commitment to VOC and we will honor a new class of Legacy
Donors each year at our Naturally United Spring fundraiser. You can see all our
2022 Legacy Donors in the back of this report as their names appear in the
teal font.
All work and no play? Not on Over 1,400 Unique From 121 different
our volunteer projects! Volunteers in 2022 cities across 15 states
In addition to the classic comforts
of campfires and cold drinks,
volunteers enjoy a wide range
of activities on VOC projects
from educational talks and tours
to games.
7
Celebrating Janet’s 80th Mules and horses helped carry
birthday after pulling supplies into the Weminuche Wilderness
weeds on Moon Pass. for our week-long crosscut project.
Volunteers kayaked the
South Platte River while on the
hunt for noxious weeds.
Volunteers played cornhole,
croquet, ladder golf and other
games to relax.
8
STRENGTHENING Thank you to the many
OUR COMMUNITY Volunteer Leaders who
Behind every VOC project is a team of dedicated volunteers who go served this year.
above and beyond to make them a success. From organizing our tool
cache to waking up at dawn to brew coffee for the crew, these Volunteer 65 Crew Leaders 7 Technical
Leaders are the foundation of our work and a critical lifeline for our staff. Advisors
They’ve stepped up to change flat tires, install new equipment, and offer
their insights and ideas for improvement. As we continue to grow as an 10 Tool Managers 2 Tool Manager
organization and as a community, we need more people to give their time Trainees
and talents both on and off the trail. In 2023, we’ll continue to expand our
in-office volunteer opportunities as well as our efforts to make traditional 11 Crew Chefs 16 Crew Chef
Volunteer Leadership roles more accessible – so that no matter how busy Helpers
your schedule may be, there’s a place for your passion at VOC.
5 OSI Training 9 Photographers
Learn more about the many ways to volunteer, including Instructors
Volunteer Leadership, at voc.org/volunteer.
9
IMPORTANT 2023 DATES A LOOK AHEAD TO 2023
Mid-February VOC is already planning the 2023 volunteer season! Potential projects include working
in eight different state parks, closing unsanctioned social trails in Garden of the Gods,
2023 Volunteer and returning to a full slate of Fourteener restoration projects. In addition, VOC will be
Projects Announced focused on:
Our 2023 volunteer project Implementing a new strategic plan
schedule will be posted online at VOC’s staff and Board spent this year developing a new three-year strategic plan to
voc.org/volunteer-calendar. guide the next phase of our work.
Revamping and expanding our programs
March 1 In addition to expanding our community-focused programs, we are working to redesign
our high school Cairn Program to better reflect the needs of today’s teens.
Volunteer Registration Opens Investing in technological improvements
Sign up online for one or Get ready for the new-and-improved VOC with a streamlined volunteer registration
multiple projects. VOC Members process. We’ll be working to upgrade our systems to provide a smoother experience for
can register early! our supporters.
March 9 Be part of the VOC community
New Leader Night Make a year-end donation today at voc.org/supportVOC
Join us to learn more about or use the enclosed envelope. You can also call us at
how to get involved with VOC as 303-715-1010 ext. 115. When you donate to VOC, you
a Volunteer Leader or Project become part of a growing community investing in the
Team volunteer. future of the outdoors. Scan the QR code to learn more
and make your contribution.
April
10
Volunteer Projects Start
May 11
Naturally United
Save the date for our annual
fundraiser!
2022 FINANCIALS 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Revenue 30% Expenses 78% Jim Bedwell, Board Chair
28% 11% Bedwell Consulting Resources
Corporations 20% Programs 11%
Government Agencies 13% Administration Allison Altaras, Vice Chair
Individuals 5% Fundraising Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti
Foundations 4%
Partner Organizations Gina Lux, Secretary/Treasurer
Earned Revenues Salesforce
11 Alex Alma
Independent Contractor
Amy Beatie
Colorado Attorney General’s Office
Angela Boag
Colorado Department of Natural
Resources
Carolyn Burr
Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.
Suzanne Connors
Conservation Lands Foundation
Jon Frankel
REI
Gerald Free
Chevron
Airina Rodrigues
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP
Andy Rylance
Denver7
Tarn Udall
Colorado Attorney General’s Office
David Welton
Viasat, Inc.
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Become part of a growing community invested in the future of
Colorado’s outdoors at voc.org/supportVOC.
VISIONARIES ($50,000+) National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance Andy Stratton Laura and Doug Johnston
Colorado Parks and Wildlife One Tree Planted Bill Gorham and Joanne McGee Lindsey Brown
Impact 100 Metro Denver Oxy Bob and Linda Zaparanick Lisa Steers
Mike O’Brien Living Trust PDC Energy Boogie Groove Entertainment Martha Records and Richard Rainaldi
National Forest Foundation REI Brad and Melissa McQueen Martin Herz
United States Forest Service Roundup Riders of the Rockies Heritage Bronson Family Foundation Mary Agster
& Trails Foundation Brookfield Residential Matthew Rutherford
STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY Salesforce Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Michelle and Jim Brunn
($25,000 - $49,999) Southern Plains Land Trust Bud Bridges & Marjorie Schwartz Monarch Investment and Management Group
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Suncor Burrell Family Foundation Mr and Mrs Wallach
Chevron The Laura Jane Musser Fund Carolyn Burr Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab School
City of Greeley Wayne and Cathy Zahm Carrie Christopher Origami Risk
Delta Dental of Colorado Community First Foundation Peter Kirsch and Pat Reynolds
Johnson Foundation of the Rockies LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($5,000 - $9,999) CoralTree Hospitality Pivot Energy
Rick and Susie Grossman Alpine Bank Dan and Jennifer Grooters Prologis
United Airlines Ann M. Duffer Family Foundation David and Cindy Smith Renee Steeve
Xcel Energy Church-Shott Charitable Fund David and Nancy Marlow Rose Beyer
City of Colorado Springs David Orner Sam Packer and Sue Collins
TRUSTEES’ CIRCLE ($10,000 - $24,999) Drala Mountain Center Denny O’Malley Scheels
9NEWS - Word of Thanks Freeport-McMoRan Foundation/Climax Denver7 Scott VanEyk
AloTerra Restoration Services Molybdenum El Pomar Foundation Stephen J Malyszko & Nancy A Lange
BOK Financial G. & T. Carruth FactSet Steve Austin
Bureau of Land Management Lake County Galloway Steve West & Ronda Rolain
City and County of Denver Parks & Recreation Marathon George C Schamel II Steven Dike
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Newmont Mining Corporation Gerald and Vivian Free Stuart Miner and Mary Hashem
Parks Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC Gina Lux Sue Anschutz-Rodgers
Colorado Department of Agriculture Schneider Electric HDR The Altaras Family
Colorado Lottery The Denver Foundation Heather Whipple The Humphreys Foundation
Colorado Native The Summit Foundation High Country Book Collective The Ihle Family
CORE Consultants Town of Breckenridge Jim Bedwell The Kroger Co. Foundation
Firman Fund John and Mary Bayard The Nature Conservancy
Fred & Jean Allegretti Foundation CONSERVATORS ($1,000 - $4,999) Karl Zipf The Schoelzel Family
Friedman Family Foundation Adobe Kimmeridge Energy Management Company The Welton Family
Harvey Alpert Airina Rodrigues KONG Tonic
Lockheed Martin Andrew Eiseman and Brian Braa
Legacy Donors listed in teal (Nov 1, 2021 – Oct 31, 2022) 12
Town of Castle Rock Parks & Recreation Jo Caissie Vivian Hou Jack Alanis
Department Kathryn Greenberg Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Jeremy Mollison
Val and Mike Scott Keith and Lindsay Campbell Wesley Go and Sook Hee Lee Jim Jacobson and Karen Schulz
Viasat Inc. Kim Allegretti William Cort Joel and Jean McCormack
Vivax Pros Lauren Steeb John Fielder
Western Union Foundation Levi Boscardin & Mindy Bridges SUPPORTERS ($250- $499) John McCabe
Wild Tribute Linda Lee Adam White Joseph O’Brien
Workday M A McKechnie ADP Joseph Rook and Karolyn Snow
Margaret Wong Allison Asbury Julie Martin
GUARDIANS ($500 - $999) Michelle Bergen & Lisa Hubchik AllTrails Kaiser Permanente
Aaron Estep Mike Wenk & Darrell Watson AmazonSmile Foundation Laws Whiskey House
Alex and Andrea Alma Mike Werner Angela Boag & Alexander Arensberg Lee and Jessica Johnson
American Family Insurance Mr. Adam H. Lisbon Ann and Mike Groshek Lynn Formanek
Amy Beatie & Declan Galvin Otak Ann Granbery Marja van de Weerdt
Andy Rylance Ovintiv-Canada Ann L. Williams and Bob Findlay Mary Hacking
Bane Family, i.e. Boyle Family, Chappell Family Pat McClearn Anna Zawisza Matthew Wallace
& Woods Family Peter & Marjorie Roosevelt Arnold and Amy Swartz Maureen and Michael Allen
Bretton Weyers Philip Levy Barbara and Robert Reilly Mike and Anita Winter
Brownell Bailey Reed Pritchard Bob Van Wetter and Betsy Brew Mike Bell
Carolyn W. & Charles T. Beaird Family Ric and Patti Romano Christopher Semrod Mike Syzek and Diana Dwyer
Foundation Ronald Bendall Colorado Home Realty Mr & Mrs David Easley
CenturyLink Russel Frishmuth Cottonwood Drifters Ms Lisa Lewis
Charlotte Aycrigg Ryan Walker Daniel Barry Olivia Puckrin
Chris Conboy Scott Goodman and Barbara Masoner David & Erin Bourcier Patty and Ed Wahtera
Cia Wenzel Sharon L. Menard David and Laura Fisher Rachel Lawson
Clark Cyr Sharon Wilson David and Patty Shelton Raylene Decatur
CoBank Spencer Denison and Kara Horner David Bell and Family Raytheon Company
Cyndy and Tom Cycyota Star Hitched Wagon David Osborn and Karen Lautenschlager Rich Munoz
Dan Yansura Starbucks Foundation Dean and Sheila Winstanley Robert Folzenlogen
Danny Veras Stepan Dyachkovskiy DeDe Williams Roy and Linda Funk Charitable Fund of the
Felipe Payet Stephen Fergason Denny Farrell Community Foundation
Fit House Stephen Marsters Don Heppermann and Nancy Felker Sally Isaacson
Graham and Cathy Hollis Steve and Shere Dayney Doris Burd Sarah and Tyler Svitak
Guy and Deborah Cornelius Steve Hindes Ed and Cynthia Kahn Shareen & Jerry Dalton
Gwen King Stu Roberts & Lulu Gould Ellen Dohen Photography Shelby Wosick
Helen and Jim Northup Suzanne Connors Erik Johnson Stacy Riffe
Herrington Family Charitable Foundation SWCA Environmental Consultants Garden Club of Denver Stephen & Tammy Linn
Improper City Tarn Udall George and Cornelia Gibson Stephen Ruyle
James and Mary Burger The Chappell Family Gerald Barck and Barbara Ward Steve and Jackie Norris
James and Suzanne Balog The Garofalo Family Greg and Rebecca Watson Taylor Driver
James Borgel and Cynthia Wolf The Records-Johnston Family Foundation Greg Verschelden Terry Gimbel
Jan Anderson Todd Landrum Halvorson-Freese 21st Century Fund The Halverson Foundation
Jay Kenney and Emily Sinclair United Launch Alliance Harold and Susan Stitt The Poland Family
Jennifer and Michael Freeman Ian and Meghan Thomas The Sidney B. & Caleb F. Gates Fund
Jim Webster
13
Thomas Gougeon and Donna Middlebrooks Dustin Ramsay Juniper Murdoch’s
Tim and Sue Damour Greg Verschelden Lincoln Financial Group New Belgium Brewing Company
Tom and Ellen Fairley Ian Laffey McKinsey & Company Odell Brewing Company
Tom and Pam Acre Jenny Farrar Medtronic Foundation OOFOS
Traci Case & Pete Gotseff Jim and Andrea Bedwell MFS Investment Management Oveja Negra
Wendy Hodges John Kauffman National Renewable Energy Laboratory Patagonia Denver Store
White Grove Family Jon W. Treibly Newmont Mining Corporation REI
Kate Barrett Ogilvy Rick and Susie Grossman
TRAILBLAZERS ($249 & under): Kathleen Hupfer Ovintiv-Canada Rock Paper Scissors
785 individuals gave a Trailblazer level gift in Kelly and Dan Clouse PDC Energy Sand Dunes Recreation
2022. Please accept our sincerest gratitude Laura Conchelos Premier Members Credit Union Scheels
for your support of outdoor stewardship! Linda Strand Progressive Insurance Foundation Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Meredith Ashlock Raytheon Company Snarf’s Sandwiches
MEMBERS ($40 or More) Mike Wilson S&P Global Smartwool
866 individuals invested in Colorado as a Mr. Whit Oyler Salesforce Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
VOC Member in 2022. We are incredibly Oliver, Sylvia, and Bo Schneider Electric Susan Graham
grateful for the support of this community! Rayna Rector Shell Oil Company Trek Bicycle
Ryon Rowan and Kellie Flowers Starbucks Foundation United Airlines
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF: Sacramento Creek Ranch efforts SWCA Environmental Consultants Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley PC
Barbara Carleton Sigrid Freese UnitedHealth Group Wolf Creek Ski Area
Bear Stratton The Alma Family United Launch Alliance Woods Boss Brewing
Brian McDonough The Starbuck Family Viasat Inc. Yellowbird Foods
Chelsea Tim Damour Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Dick Lamm Trystan Western Union Foundation $99 AND LESS
Douglas Carver Vici Yoder Workday Thank you to all who provided in-kind
Ed Hoyer Will Murray Zoom Video Communication donations for VOC’s 2022 season! Your
Florence E. Finch William Penberthy support is greatly appreciated by our
Jake Isaacson IN-KIND SUPPORTERS ($100+ Value) volunteers, partners, and employees.
Joseph Mirmak CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS Aaron Hall
Julie Tureson Adobe Alex and Andrea Alma PHOTOGRAPHY
Mike Williams ADP Anna Zawisza A special thank you to our volunteer
Mr. J. Richard Shanks AllTrails Arturo Garcia Fine Art photographers for the photos you see in
Roni Sherb Baird Foundation Avery Brewing Company this report:
Steve Hartwell Bank of the West Cerebral Brewing
Woody Shenk BNY Mellon Chevron Cindy Bond
CenturyLink Clear Fork Cider Sue Daniels Photography
GIFTS IN HONOR OF: Charles Schwab Foundation Colorado Native P. Demosthenes
Aimee Stitt Chevron Corvus Coffee Candice B. Hall
All VOC Volunteers DCP Midstream Matching Gifts Program Cotopaxi Heidi Hartman
Allison Altaras Delta Dental of Colorado Einstein Bros Bagels Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero
Ally McClure Denver7 Jim Bedwell Josh Hubbard
Ann Baker Easley Empower Kula Cloth David J. Kennedy
Ashley Stone Google Luna Bay Booch Greg Lobser
Chloe Daly Janus Henderson Foundation Melanzana Mountain Gear Jay Poules
Dan Nixon & Jess Polzin
David Whitmore 14
PO Box 100577
Denver, CO 80250
(303) 715-1010
[email protected]
voc.org