Mullein Removal! 

Come help Friends of Nevada Wilderness remove invasive mullein from Willow Spring in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area on August 10th

Invasive mullein plants, originally from Europe and Asia, pose a significant threat to the native ecosystems of southern Nevada. Their rapid spread and dense growth outcompete native plants, reducing biodiversity and altering habitats. Mullein's deep taproots destabilize soil, increasing erosion and disrupting nutrient cycles. Moreover, its highly flammable leaves contribute to more intense wildfires, particularly in areas where fire is natural.

Controlling mullein is crucial for preserving ecosystem health. Manual removal can help mitigate its impact. By managing mullein populations, we can protect native flora and fauna, maintain biodiversity, and reduce the risk of destructive wildfires. It's a necessary step toward ensuring the long-term resilience of our natural landscapes.

Removing mullein is a rewarding way to help maintain the health of spring ecosystems and work with other like-minded folks. 

RSVP today! 

Information

Difficulty: Moderate - See our project difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. 

Location: About 1 hour Northwest from downtown Las Vegas off of Highway 95 

Date: August 20th

Travel: Those who RSVP will be sent a meet up location. Getting to the worksite from the meet up location requires a high clearance vehicle. We will meet and carpool to the worksite. 

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Tools and gloves will be provided. 

More Details: In-depth information such as exact meet up location, weather, and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page or email tyler@nevadawilderness.org

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another volunteer can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

2024 National Public Lands Day at Soldier Meadows!

We're excited for 2024 National Public Lands Day! Come out and have a blast with a weekend full of projects, fun, and great food (including a Dutch Oven cook-off)! There will be multiple projects for all skill levels, camping in a beautiful location, and a great community of people. You don't want to miss this one, RSVP and save your spot today! Some of this year's projects will include: 

1 - Fence removal to improve wildlife habitat throughout Soldier Meadows! 

2 - Cabin/campground cleanup, trash removal, and beautification 

And more to come! We are still in the planning phase and will have projects for every level! Check back for updates closer to the event!

As always, this project is free! We will be providing breakfast with coffee Saturday and Sunday as well as a delicious dinner on Saturday night. For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsites (as long as it's not too wet), but, higher clearance and good tires are recommended. We have camping gear available for those who need it.  We will have limited space in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is an option as well. 

Check out photos from last year's National Public Lands Day here!

Information:

Difficulty: All Levels. There will be projects available for all skill levels and children. 

Location: Soldier Meadows

Dates: Friday, September 27th - Sunday, September 29th

Travel: For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsites (as long as it's not too wet), but, higher clearance and good tires are recommended. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, Dutch Oven Cook-off and potluck dinner on Saturday night

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: Details such as exact camping location, projects, daily schedule, and weather-related factors will be provided to those who have RSVP'd on a date much closer to the project. Plans are subject to change. We will always give as much notice as possible when this happens.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Join us in Restoring Mount Rose Wilderness! 

In Spring 2024, volunteers will work hard to remove invasive musk thistle from Mount Rose Wilderness! This fall, we will head into Mount Rose Wilderness to spread native seeds in these recovering riparian areas and help bring back native plants. We will hike bags of seeds from native grasses and pollinator-friendly plants, spread them across the meadows by hand, and then let nature take them from there. These are fun projects that usually only take half a day to complete, but can make a huge difference in the ongoing restoration efforts. 

Information:

Timing: Seeds are the most successful if spread right before snow or rain, so therefore, we are not setting specific dates at this time. Our timeframe is Late October through mid-December. Those who register on this page will be notified as soon as possible before we head out (about a week's notice). At that point, you can let us know if you are available to join us. Spots will be limited on those projects. 

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routing. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. The project involves hiking 2-6 miles, partially off-trail, creek crossings, steep hills up and down, carrying a shovel, using the shovel, bending up and down. We will carry no more than 10 lbs of seed each. These projects may not be appropriate for children under 12 years of age. 

Location: Hunter Creek Trailhead

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. 

RSVP/Registration: If you are interested in joining us, please register below. We will contact you as soon as possible before a re-seeding project (about a week's notice). Because this is weather-dependent, flexibility in scheduling is necessary, thanks for your understanding. 

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page or email [email protected]

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE: We are not setting specific dates at this time. Seeds are most successful if spread right before snow or rain, so therefore flexibility in scheduling is necessary.

Spend a weekend in the beautiful and pristine Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge while working on restoration projects that will help improve wildlife habitat and re-naturalize the area. Project specifics are still in the works but we will update the details once we know more! Whatever the work entails it will directly help improve the natural area, wildlife, and their habitat. 

Research shows that the West contains enough fencing to circle the equator 25 times which creates a huge problem for wildlife. Sage grouse, peregrine falcons, and other birds collide with fences, and ungulates (hooved wildlife such as deer and pronghorn antelope) must navigate an endless obstacle course. A 2021 paper found that pronghorn in Wyoming encountered fences an average of 249 times in a single year and changed their behavior around the barriers nearly 40% of the time. Fences often ensnare and kill large animals and is a leading factor in sage grouse mortality. Fences also separate mothers from calves, exclude herds from prime habitat, and exhaust and injure animals.

To help with this important issue, we will be removing the barbed wire and pulling out the metal or wooden posts holding it up. It is such a rewarding project to remove these fences and see a significant difference within a few hours.

The Sheldon is a vast and rugged land that provides year-round habitat as well as major wintering areas for the Oregon-Nevada interstate pronghorn herd. This is the largest protected land scape in Nevada managed exclusively for native wildlife species. The Sheldon Refuge contains some of the highest-quality sage-grouse habitat remaining in North America. Protecting this habitat and enhancing its health is an important part to minimizing the impact of a possible Endangered Species Act listing of the sage-grouse in 2015. The area's sparse vegetation is dominated by sagebrush, grasses and other shrubs with local areas of juniper or patches of mountain mahogany. Along the wetter drainages at lower elevations you can find willow, cottonwood and aspen. Away from the creeks, water sources are rare, and due to the underlying rock and soil, most upland areas are remarkably dry.

Photos from the 2021 Sheldon Volunteer Project

Check out our Stewards of Sheldon video and Sheldon Story Map.

Information:

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating here.  This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level.

Location: Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Dates: Friday, October 18th - Sunday, October 20th

Travel: Leave Reno on Friday Morning, returning Sunday afternoon. Road conditions are still unknown for this year. We will be reaching out with more information closer to the project. A limited number of spots are available in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is also an option. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, big group dinner (with dessert) on Saturday night.

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as camping location, weather, and project specifics will be sent out about a week before to those who have RSVP'd.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Please note: The funding for this project is tentative. We may need to cancel this trip if we do not receive funding to host the project. If that happens, anyone who RSVPs will be notified by June 1st. Thank you for understanding.