Colorado Byways Celebrates Volunteers

April 24, 2014 - Statewide Transportation Plan - DENVER – Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in a number of ways.

This includes recognizing all of the volunteers who have made the program a success by donating their time and energy to the byways program.

Colorado’s 25 Scenic and Historic Byways all function independently.  Many are non-profits with boards that continually seek new members.  These groups frequently work with the citizens that live in byway communities and the visitor center and museum volunteers who help enhance the byway experience for travelers.

In addition to ongoing organizational and community efforts, many activities are planned along the byways by volunteer organizations, such as:

  • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is an outdoor stewardship organization that takes care of Colorado’s outdoors and natural resources. This is a perfect opportunity to connect people who want to have a hands-on experience. Some of the skills training that VOC offer includes trail design, post fire restoration, chainsaw and crosscut certification. http://www.voc.org/
  • HistoriCorps saves and sustains historic places.  This nonprofit organization works through partnerships to mobilize volunteers to save and sustain our nation’s special places while providing educational and outdoor experiences. By working with constituents, partners and volunteers, HistoriCorps is implementing meaningful solutions that save special places for many generations to come. http://historicorps.org/

Along with improving Colorado’s outdoor resources and saving its special places, many local organizations have specific missions, including:

  • Independence Pass Foundation promotes and protects the ecological, historical and aesthetic integrity of the Independence Pass corridor and encourages enjoyment, safety and appreciation of the Pass. http://www.independencepass.org/
  • Friends of the Poudre is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to preserving northern Colorado’s Cache la Poudre River, and enhancing its educational, environmental, recreational and historic values. Friends of the Poudre always is seeking projects to undertake, volunteers who can help out and individuals who would like to be board members. http://poudreriver.org/friends-of-the-poudre/

Eleven of Colorado’s 25 byways are designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as America’s Byways®, which gives Colorado more national designations than any other state. For more information about the Scenic and Historic Byways, visit www.ColoradoByways.org.