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Spring Mountains Sweep the Peak Event
Date: Saturday, September 12th
Time: 10:00AM to Noon -until 2:00 PM if participants bring lunch
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Agency: U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up
Come enjoy the cool temperatures of the Spring Mountains, meet new people and care for the environment all at the same time. Clean-ups at Mt. Charleston are a fun, educational way to beat the heat of the valley. For more information please contact Patty Conant at the U.S. Forest Service (702) 468-8929 or
Click here to register.
Seed Collection -- National Public Lands Day
Date: Saturday, September 12th
Time: 9:00 AM to Noon
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Lee Meadows
Agency: U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Volunteer Work Type: Seed Collection
The United States Forest Service will be celebrating National Public Lands Day today. Come out and show you care about your land by helping collect seeds that will be used to re-vegetate areas of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
Click here to register.
Cave Springs Restoration
Date: Friday, September 18th
Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: North Loop Trail, Mt Charleston Wilderness
Agency: U. S. Forest Service (USFS)
Volunteer Work Type: Have fun outdoors, campsite clean-up, and trail work.
We will hike to the project site up the beautiful Trail Canyon Trail along the way you will see stunning views of Mummy Mountain and enjoy the cool shade of aspens, ponderosa and other type of trees Our project site is wonderful Cave Spring, we will be removing some used PVC pipe and performing some restoration work in and around the spring area. Due to the strenuousness of the hike to the project site this project is strongly recommend for adults who are in "hiking shape". Please call for more information. Contact: Kurt Kuznicki Friends of Nevada Wilderness (775) 745-3119
Conservation Transfer Area (CTA) Clean-Up
Date: Saturday, September 19th
Time: 7:30 AM to Noon -until 2:00 PM if participants bring lunch
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Conservation Transfer Area (CTA) – North End of Decatur Rd. Las Vegas
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up
Litter clean-up events through Get Outdoors Nevada are a great way to get some heart-healthy exercise and make new friends, all-the-while promoting a healthy environment for residents of Southern Nevada. On Saturday, September 19th the Bureau of Land Management will continue their clean-up efforts at the Conservation Transfer Area (CTA) located on the north end of Decatur Rd. in Las Vegas. We'll be at the site cleaning up all day so feel free to bring a lunch and stay as long as you can.
Click here to register.
National Public Lands Day -- Planting
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 9:00 AM to Noon
Audience: Individuals, Groups, Seniors, & Families (must be at least 8 yrs. old)
Location: Ash Meadows
Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Volunteer Work Type: Native Seed Planting
In celebration of National Public Lands Day the US Fish and Wildlife Service will be conducting a planting at Ash Meadows. Come out and share in this celebration by assisting in planting native seedlings.
Click here to register.
National Public Lands Day - Gold Butte Restoration & Trail Maintenance
Date: Saturday, September 26th
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Gold Butte Area
Agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Volunteer Work Type: Restoration & trail Maintenance
The Gold Butte Area of Critical Environmental Concern has become a very popular area for recreation in recent years. One of the most heavily visited areas is the “Falling Man” site. Due to its increased popularity, levels of disturbance to the surrounding area have increased. On National Public Lands Day, Sept 26, 2009, the Las Vegas BLM and Friends of Gold Butte will hold a volunteer event promoting responsible recreation, while minimizing new disturbances and protecting the valuable natural resources that occur here. A hiking trail will be created, allowing visitors to walk to the “Falling Man” site. In the adjacent disturbed areas, native shrubs and cacti will be planted to help speed up the restoration and recovery process. At the head of the trail, a small parking area will be created to allow visitors a place to pull off the road and hike to the site. Volunteers will build a split rail fence defining the new parking area. Interpretive signs will be installed in the parking area to promote responsible recreation in the area. Gold Butte is a special place, rich with cultural and natural resources. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, the area can remain a pristine and enjoyable place to visit.
National Public Lands Day – Alan Bible
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 8:00 AM to Noon
Audience: Those over age 16 able to do heavy manual labor
Location: Alan Bible Visitor Center (ABVC), Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Agency: National Park Service (NPS)
Volunteer Work Type: Restoration
The National Park Service will be conducting a restoration project at the Alan Bible Visitor Center in recognition of National Public Lands Day. The Park Service is looking for 6-10 individuals willing and able to do some heavy manual labor to help in their restoration efforts. Volunteers will be replacing the liner to the pond, a fun but physically demanding project.
Click here to register.
National Public Lands Day - Red Rock- BLM Clean-up and Restoration
Date: Saturday, September 26th
Time: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Audience: Adults, Seniors, Families, off-road and ATV Groups
Location: Multiple Bureau of Land Management Sites
Agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Volunteer Work Type: Trail restoration and clean-up
Join in as the Bureau of Land Management celebrates National Public Lands Day by offering opportunities for volunteers of all ages to help care for our public lands. Water, snacks and lunch will be provided
This will be a fun and worthwhile volunteer work day in the northern portion of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The event will be located in cooler, higher elevations, and will focus on eradicating unauthorized roads and posting signage. There will also be family oriented projects such as trash pick up and seed planting.
Click here to register.
National Public Lands Day --BLM Clean-up
Date: Saturday, September 26th
Time: 7:30 am to Noon -2:00 pm if participants bring lunch
Audience: Adults, Seniors, Families, off-road and ATV Groups, Shooting Clubs
Location: Jean Dry Lake Area
Agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up
In recognition and celebration of National Public Lands Day the Bureau of Land Management will be working with Boy Scout Troop 949 and the Nevada Rangers Shooting Club to conduct a large scale clean-up at the Jean Dry Lake Area. This area is riddled with spent shotgun casings and shot up debris (i.e., Jacuzzi tub, wood, household items). Please join us in our efforts to keep this area clean.
Click here to register.
National Public Lands Day -- Boulder Harbor Clean up
Date: Saturday, September 26th
Time: 8:30 AM - Noon
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Agency: National Park Service (NPS)
Volunteer Work Type: Litter clean-up
Litter clean-up events through Get Outdoors Nevada are a great way to get some heart-healthy exercise and make new friends, all-the-while promoting a healthy environment for residents of Southern Nevada. On Saturday, September 26th, the National Park Service will be conducting a cleanup at Boulder Harbor, located in the beautiful Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Join in as we celebrate Naitonal Public Lands Day.
Click here to register.
Mummy Mountain & Coxcomb Ridge Restoration
Date: Wednesday, September 30
Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Audience: Fit Adults
Agency: National Forest Service (NFS)
Location: Trail Canyon, Mt Charleston Wilderness
Volunteer Work Type: Campsite clean-up, Site restoration, Trail work and enjoying the great outdoors.
We will hike to the project site up the beautiful Trail Canyon Trail, along the way you will see stunning views of Mummy Mountain and Coxcomb Ridge and the aspens should be sporting their fall colors along the trail. This project will require hiking to project site from the Trail Canyon trailhead. Due to the strenuousness of the hike to the worksite this project is strongly recommended for adults who are in "hiking shape". We will be restoring the campsite area at the North Loop South Loop Trail junction to a more natural setting. We then work our way down the Trail Canyon trail performing routine trail maintenance along the route home. Contact: Kurt Kuznicki Friends of Nevada Wilderness (775) 745-3119
Summerlin Desert Clean Up
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 8:00 AM – Noon
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Southern tip of Summerlin
Agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up
The Howard Hughes Corporation and Summerlin are teaming with the Southern Nevada Health District and the Bureau of Land Management for a colossal clean-up of more than 200 acres of public and private land on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 AM. The land, located south of Bishop Gorman High School along the southern tip of Summerlin, has unfortunately become a dumping ground for everything from furniture to landscaping waste and construction spoils. A team of local contractors is volunteering both heavy machinery and manpower to pick up large items, while an army of citizens will pick up small trash items. Save the date and visit getoutdoorsnevada.org/events for further details and information. We need your help to return our desert to its pristine state!
Click here to register.
Wilderness Monitor
Date: Various
Time: Various
Agency: U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Wilderness Areas of the Spring Mountains
Volunteer Work Type: Wilderness Monitor.
Collect information and take photos. Report any changes or anything that seems wrong or out of place. Best of all, go hike all of your favorite places and make a difference while you do it. Contact: Kurt Kuznicki Friends of Nevada Wilderness (775) 745-3119
Do you have a favorite area in the Spring Mountains? Would you like to adopt a wild place and become its guardian on the ground? All you have to do is visit your adopted wilderness a few times each year - on your own schedule. You'll get to know its hidden side and report to us if something seems wrong or out of place. Or celebrate its wildness with stories and photos to share with others on our website. It doesn't matter if you hike 2 miles or 20 miles we need you. Call, we’ll help get you started.
Backcountry Information Volunteer
Date: Various
Time: Various
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas
Agency: National Forest Service (NFS)
Volunteer Work Type:Monitor the trailhead kiosks and collect & restock information in the overnight wilderness permit boxes.
Time to fit your schedule. Your trailhead maybe the wildest place some folks will ever visit help make it a special experience. Contact: Kurt Kuznicki Friends of Nevada Wilderness (775) 745-3119. We are looking for a few volunteers who love being outdoors, love outdoor people, love wilderness and want to make a real difference where they live. Do you visit the Spring Mountain once or twice a month? We need your help to keep our Wilderness portals special places. This volunteer position is perfect for those persons who want to get involved and make a difference on their favorite trail or Wilderness area in the Spring Mountains.
Sweep the Peak
Date: Various
Time: Various
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
Agency: U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up
Did you know that there are 17,000 acres of Bristlecone Pines amid the 316,000-acres that make up the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area (SMNRA)? Learn more about this special area and the unique plants and animals that call SMNRA home while pitching in to Sweep the Peak.
Join U.S. Forest Service representatives in various locations of SMNRA during this summer-long clean up to help preserve the beauty of the Mt. Charleston area. Volunteers are an integral part of maintaining this pristine ecosystem for its over one million annual visitors as well as local residents. Individual or group volunteers can sign up to clean-up midweek and weekends through Labor Day, September 7, and weekends through September 30. Trash pick-up locations will be assigned according to group size and outdoor experience, and tools/supplies are provided. Sites include Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon and Deer Creek Highway. Education programs are available upon request and can be paired with lunch or a picnic. To join, contact Patty Conant at the U.S. Forest Service (702) 468-8929.
Adopt-A-Cove
Date: Various
Time: Various
Audience: Groups and individuals of all ages
Location: Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Agency: National Park Service (NPS)
Volunteer Work Type: Clean-up and stewardship
A commitment of at least 3 times per year. Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Adopt-A-Cove Program gives people in our local communities the opportunity to become a park steward while enjoying a day at the Lake. Being the eyes and ears for the park demonstrates to visitors and residents alike that you care about our National Park. With the changing water levels, the need for your help is greater than ever before. This program has helped improve the appearance of our shorelines and without volunteers this would not be possible.
Anyone can Adopt-A-Cove! Maintaining our shorelines improves human health and safety, wildlife habitat, and the beautiful scenery at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Adopting a cove is an easy, team-building project that takes only a few hours while contributing back to your community. You are asked to clean your adopted area just three times per year and report back to the park how much litter and debris you collected and other safety issues that you may discover. There are a number of potential coves that need to be adopted; some even accessible by land. Coves are adopted on a first come first serve basis.
Beginning is easy, simply call Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Volunteer Program Office at (702) 293-8711 or visit www.nps.gov/lame/supportyourpark for more information.
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From left, Jan Valentino, Nathan Coleman (BLM), Commissioner Larry Brown
Jan Valentino – Concerned citizen, community leader
Relocating from the Washington DC/Virginia area, Jan Valentino has been proud to call Las Vegas “home” for the past ten years. Jan’s passion for conservation shines bright like the desert sun. Concerned about the impact of illegal dumping in her neighborhood, Jan enlisted community members and organizations to help her implement the first ever “Citizens of the NW Neighborhood Cleanup, Restoration & Preservation Day."
Jan, like many other residents in Las Vegas, enjoys walking for exercise and spending time with her family. It was during her exercise walks that she became increasingly aware of the litter and illegal dumping problem in her northwest neighborhood. Jan noted that, “beautiful natural areas and vacant parcels were degraded with plastic bags, plastic & glass bottles, aluminum cans, etc.” Disgusted by the unsightly litter, Jan started addressing the issue by collecting and disposing of as much trash as possible during her walks. Overwhelmed by the mounting piles of debris, Jan looked to her family for help. She recruited her husband to remove some of the large items she had found, including a dishwasher, plywood, and other construction materials. Venturing further onto the vacant parcels during one of her walks Jan happened upon a burned out truck. Realizing this was a problem beyond the help of her family, Jan contacted Commissioner Larry Brown’s office for support.
It was during her conversations with Commissioner Brown’s liaison, Kim Bush, that she shared her vision of bringing the greater community together to implement a large-scale neighborhood restoration/preservation project. In this vision, individuals, families, groups, and organizations could all play a part in restoring the neighborhood to its natural beauty. Kim and Jan worked together closely and were able to create and foster a partnership with Clark County code enforcement, Bureau of Land Management, Get Outdoors Nevada, Republic Services, Public Lands Institute, and Citizens of the Northwest group. Jan’s hard work, devotion to stewardship, and her vision for a beautiful Nevada came to fruition on June 13th, 2009 with “sweeping success” of the first ever Citizens of the NW Neighborhood Cleanup, Restoration & Preservation Day.
Collectively, 76 cubic yards of debris and litter were removed from a 12 block radius in Jan’s neighborhood. Jan Valentino, Commissioner Brown, Kim Bush, and close to 30 other community members worked side by side that June day. The group not only removed debris and trash from the desert landscape, but perhaps more importantly they developed a community of concerned citizens and a circle of pride within their neighborhood. The group took ownership of the problem and the solution.
Jan’s vision of implementing a large scale neighborhood clean up was a success on many different levels. Not only were the volunteers able to remove 76 yards of debris, but the newly formed partnership is hard at work planning future events to sustain Jan’s efforts. Jan is a great example of what one person can do. One person’s concern and actions can lead to vast improvements in the quality of surrounding areas, inspire others to take similar action, and raise awareness for citizen stewardship among the general population. It is for these reasons that Jan is considered a great leader in her community.
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