UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge
March 11, 2023 LOCATION: Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, South Valley, Albuquerque THE PROJECT: For our first volunteer ecological restoration service project of 2023, we will be partnering with Rio Grande Return, 350NM, Friends of the Valle de Oro, and others on this project at the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. Valle de Oro was once a working dairy farm, and it is now one of the nation’s first urban wildlife refuges. Lots of work is underway to improve habitat and visitor resources at the refuge.During this year’s project, volunteers will be planting coyote willow seedlings and salt grass plugs. Further details will be provided when you sign up. SCHEDULE: Saturday, March 11, 9:00 am-2:00 pm GEAR: Dress in layers to be prepared for New Mexico’s variable weather. Besides plenty of water, please bring work gloves, hat, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, sunglasses, and sunscreen FOOD: Please bring snacks, your own lunch, and plenty of water. TO SIGN UP: Contact Cameron at cameron@riograndereturn.com Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up. Support AWF's work!
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2023 AWF Project ScheduleMARCH 11 - Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge
APRIL 7-9 - Ft. Union Ranch MAY 19-21 - Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge JUNE 2-4 - Manuelitas Creek JUNE 16-18 - Rolling Hills Ranch, near Anton Chico, NM JULY 14-16 - Gallinas post-fire restoration JULY 28-30 - Valle Vidal AUGUST 18-20 - Midnight Meadows, near Questa, NM SEPTEMBER 1-4 - Limestone Canyon, near Magdalena, NM SEPTEMBER 15-17 - Cebolla Canyon in El Malpais OCTOBER 20-22 - Gutierrez Family Ranch NOVEMBER 4 - Local day project in the Abq Bosque awf projects
One of AWF's primary missions is to improve and preserve wildlife habitat for present and future uses. To further this goal, AWF hosts several volunteer restoration projects each year in locations around New Mexico. Project tasks include building rock structures in streambeds using the techniques developed by Bill Zeedyk, planting trees, installing fence exclosures to protect riparian areas, and removing old wire fencing that is hazardous to wildlife.
Some of the projects are one-day events at local venues in and around Albuquerque. Most are weekend camping trips in beautiful public lands in the state. Typically, participants arrive on Friday afternoon or evening, camp Friday and Saturday nights, and depart by Sunday noon. However, volunteers are welcome to join us just for the Saturday work day, or camp for just one of the two nights. The camping events feature Saturday morning breakfast burritos and coffee, and a Saturday evening potluck dinner with grilled bison burgers and veggie options provided by AWF. Participants bring a dish to share to create a bountiful meal. We welcome participants of all ages; individuals under 18 years of age require parental permission or supervision. Safety TalkKeeping our volunteers safe is AWF’s top priority on our restoration projects! One way we keep you safe is to make sure that you are aware of the potential risks involved in camping and working outside, as well as the actions that AWF takes to reduce those risks. We go over these hazards during our safety talk at the start of each project, but we also wanted to provide it here for you to review in advance of coming out on a project. Before starting work, we will ask you to sign a liability waiver indicating that you understand the potential risks of participating in a restoration project and that you accept responsibility for your safety on the project.
Click here to download AWF's Safety Talk as a pdf document. AWF also has specific safety protocols in effect for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to review them. AWF's Project Liability Waiver is available here. |