People often think of volunteer tourism of voluntoursim as something that can only take place far away in a developing country, like Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village Program where volunteers help families build homes in Africa, Europe, Asia, Pacific, USA and the Middle East.
Those who are concerned about the planet and enjoy the outdoors should take a look at what volunteer tourism products Colorado has to offer.
Colorado Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies is a mountain range in Western North America. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are an immensely valuable natural eco resource. They serve as a principal watershed for the Western United States and provide critical habitats for a multitude of flora and fauna. This range also represents a significant percentage of the alpine eco systems in the continental United States.
Colorado Trail Foundation
The Colorado Trail Foundation focuses on the 500 miles from Denver to Durango. The Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) is the organization that keeps the Trail in good condition and organizes the volunteers who continue to improve and maintain the Colorado Trail, which was originally built by volunteers - ordinary people who enjoyed spending time in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
The Colorado Trail, Built by Volunteers
This 500-mile Trail travels through the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders explore its peaks with lakes, creeks and diverse eco systems all along the way. What makes this part of the country unique is that Trail users experience six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges topping out at 13,334 feet while on the Trail.
Colorado Fourteeners (14ers) Initiative
Skiers, climbers and outdoor enthusiast who enjoy walking in Rocky Mountains in Colorado will know about the Fourteeners, the 54 peaks in the Rockies in Colorado that are over 14 000 feet. The Fourteeners (14ers) as so popular that they are now visited annually by 500 000 people each season and this high recreation traffic has seriously impacted on many peaks and their alpine basins.
Fourteeners Volunteer Tourism
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) offers numerous ways for volunteers to become engaged and give back to the Fourteeners. 14ers Volunteers can choose between rolling up their sleeves and swinging a trail tool on some current field project; talking to other climbers about Leave No Trace ethics as a Peak Steward; signing up groups to Adopt-a-Peak, or using their experience and talents to become involved as a Volunteer Crew Leader, during the summer.
Volunteer Tourism in Colorado
So why not help save the planet while on vacation? Spend a little time in the 14ers or do some work along the Colorado Trail. There is no doubt that volunteer tourism in Colorado can be fun, healthy and not that expensive either.
Karen Lotter - Karen Lotter is a journalist and writer based in Durban, South Africa. She has written profiles, features, advertising copy, ...
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