Volunteering

                    Orient Land Trust
                                   Valley View Hot Springs
                                   Email: info@olt.org

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteers are extremely important to OLT. Whether you have a few hours during your next visit or a full day for a special event, please consider a donation of your time to help us work more efficiently toward the protection of the northern San Luis Valley’s unique resources and open space. Help us learn of your interests by filling out a Volunteer Candidate Application. Print the application, fill it out and mail it in or give us a call to have an application sent to you.

Student volunteers from Colorado College planted trees to help restore riparian areas
of the Everson Ranch. Volunteers are a valuable part of the Orient Land Trust family
- thanks to everyone who has contributed money, time, and sweat over the years!

Summer Volunteer Host Positions
The four Host opportunities listed below are all "full time", onsite positions that run for a month or more during our peak visitor season between May and September.

Astronomy Host
Do you have an interest in astronomy and experience with telescopes? Then consider spending a month here providing astronomy education and assisting guests in viewing the celestial wonders above us. And with our clear, dark skies here in the San Luis Valley, we have some of the best star viewing conditions in the country! Time and interest permitting, Astronomy Hosts will also lead daytime tours of Orient Land Trust’s hydroelectric facility. See here for the Astronomy Host position description. See here for the Volunteer Host Application.

Camp Host / Volunteer Coordinator
Camp Host / Volunteer Coordinator will manage Orient Land Trust volunteers and serve as a full-time OLT ambassador to visitors. Our Camp Host is often the first contact for visitors (particularly campers) when they have questions or concerns while staying at OLT. See here for the Camp Host position description. See here for the Volunteer Host Application.

Discovery Host
Discovery Hosts will staff the Welcome Center (in conjunction with front desk staff) and be the orientation point person, greeting and informing visitors on the many unique aspects of Orient Land Trust, including layout and amenities of Valley View Hot Springs. Time and interest permitting, Discovery Hosts may also lead tours of OLT’s hydroelectric facility or other features. See here for the Discovery Host position description. See here for the Volunteer Host Application.

Orient Mine Bat Tour Host
Orient Mine Bat Tour Hosts will lead evening walking tours to the Orient Mine to watch the bat outflight, managing the integrity of the bat habitat and educating visitors on the history of the Orient Mine as well as the natural history of Mexican free-tailed bats. Time and interest permitting, Orient Mine Bat Tour Hosts will also lead daytime tours of Orient Land Trust’s hydroelectric facility. See here for the Bat Tour Host position description. See here for the Volunteer Host Application.

Get Involved with a Committee!
Orient Land Trust has five active commitees. Are you interested in participating in the Resource Development, Board Development, Land Management Plan, Land Action, or Investment Commitees? Get Involved today! See here for Current Committee Descriptions and Members.

On-site, Short-term Projects

Check in the Welcome Center for a list of projects that can be completed in a few hours.

Help with Large Mailings

Each year we publish an annual newsletter to thousands of people and occasionally we send special mailings. We need volunteers to stuff and seal envelopes, attach stamps and sort mail. Would you like to help out?

Organize and Work Special Events

We can always use help organizing and soliciting businesses for items in support of OLT special events such as our annual Member Appreciation Weekend, silent auction, or raffle. We also need volunteers to help work at these events.

Staff an Informational Booth

Would you like to attend a community event on behalf of OLT? As part of our community outreach efforts we attend the Crestone Music Festival, 4^th of July in Crestone and Memorial Day Sunday and the Fall Festival in Saguache.

Distribute Brochures

Would you like to help forge a link between OLT and your local businesses and/or organizations? Help keep your favorite groups stocked with OLT literature. Initially, ask businesses and organizations to display brochures and then check back with them every couple months to restock.

Organize a New Fundraiser

Would you like to organize your own fundraiser that would benefit the Orient Land Trust? Let us know if you have a special idea which you would like to see through to completion.

Special Projects

Many times we have projects that require special skills or expertise. If you have special talents (legal, information technology, public relations, natural resource, graphic design, artistic, etc.) that you would like to offer, please let us know. We’ll call you as needed.

Outdoor Projects

We know many of you would like to assist with outdoor projects. Our trails need maintenance as well as occasional new construction. We also have an ongoing battle with non-native species and wildfire mitigation. Do you want to get physical?

Facility Maintenance and Construction

We can always use help with the maintenance of our numerous facilities. Also, we have a list of projects waiting to be built. Do you have carpentry, painting or mechanical repair skills?

Fundraising

We need help soliciting businesses for donated goods and/or services on an ongoing basis for OLT fundraisers. Are you a good recruiter? OLT is looking to expand its support base and needs outgoing volunteers to recruit new members.

Interested in Serving on the OLT Board of Directors?

Every July, three seats open on the Orient Land Trust Board of Directors. We solicit applicants with interest and time to fill these positions. The Board is legally and fiscally responsible for the organization. It sets policy, establishes goals and budgets, and hires and monitors the performance of the Executive Director. One-third of the directors are elected for terms of three years at the annual meeting each July. Board members are volunteers. Read the complete position description. If you're interested, please submit a letter of intent and resume to the Board Development Committee, Orient Land Trust, PO Box 65, Villa Grove, CO 81155 or via e-mail. Please highlight your experience with nonprofits (including volunteer boards), fundraising, finance, work on committees, volunteerism, familiarity with OLT, your interests and expertise, and why the board would want you as its newest member.

Botanists, Wildlife Biologists, Weed Scientists and Historians Needed

We have started conducting inventories of the flora and fauna of OLT properties and need help completing this project. Are you able to identify and key out plant or animal species? Do you have an interest in compiling historic and/or cultural documents or doing research into past activity on OLT lands?