Discover, Learn, and Protect Nevada’s Great Outdoors!

Have you ever wanted to get involved but don't know where to start or what to expect? This beginner-friendly Gateway to the Outdoors field trip will help, thanks to support from Cox Communications!! In your time out with Friends you will learn what to bring, what to wear, how and where to set up a tent, what stewardship is, what wilderness is, and have the opportunity to meet and learn from Park Service staff. Don't have the camping gear? Don't worry! You can borrow some of ours, just let us know!

Join the Friends of Nevada Wilderness 'Gateway to the Outdoors' project for an unforgettable, beginner-focused, multi-day adventure that combines camping, restoration, and education—all set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

What to Expect:

• Hands-On Learning: Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your outdoor skills, our projects offer guided training in camping, hiking, and environmental stewardship. Learn how to pitch a tent, master hiking do’s and don’ts, and practice the Leave No Trace principles to protect our natural spaces.
• Volunteer Conservation: Take part in meaningful, beginner-friendly projects that leave a positive impact. 
• Expert Insights: Enjoy engaging presentations from guest speakers who cover a variety of topics—from conservation techniques to local ecology—equipping you with the knowledge to make a real difference in your community and the environment.
• All-Inclusive Experience: We provide delicious meals, and if you need camping gear, we’ve got you covered with equipment available for borrowing. Just bring your enthusiasm!
• Career Connections: If you’re considering a career in conservation, ecology, or a related field, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and gain valuable hands-on experience.

By the end of your adventure, you’ll have not only enhanced your outdoor skills but also discovered the joy of caring for our environment through meaningful volunteer work.

Ready to make a difference?
Join us and be a part of a community that celebrates nature, learns together, and works hand-in-hand to protect our beautiful public lands. Volunteer today and embark on a journey that’s as enriching as it is exciting!

Information

Difficulty Level: Easy - This project is suitable for a wide range of physical abilities. It’s great for adults new to volunteer conservation work.

When: April 10th-13th (Thurs - Sun)  

Where: Lake Mead National Recreation Area

What to bring: camping gear (unless you are borrowing some), work clothes/shoes, any medications you need, camp clothes/shoes, daypack, refillable water vessel, snacks. For a more detailed list check out our gear list here!

What about food??: We will provide dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and breakfast/lunch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you have any dietary restrictions, you must let staff know in order for us to plan meals accordingly. Bring any supplementary snacks you may want to have.

What to Expect: Before we head out, there will be a meeting for us to go over the packing list and for you to ask whatever questions you may have. As for the project: Thursday will consist mainly of travel, setting up camp, and getting to know one another. Friday we will participate in a conservation project, explore the park, and work with the Park Service to get some good work done. Friday evening, we will have some educational campfire talks. Saturday is another full day of conservation work and learning. Sunday, we will do some trash pickup in the morning, pack up camp, and then head home! 

What we need from you: all attendants must RSVP by April 4th and fill out a short questionnaire regarding camping gear and food. 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 this 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.

If you are interested and would like to bring a friend, please have them RSVP individually so that we can make sure to have contact information for everyone attending.

For more information, check out our FAQ page here!

Thank you to our partners at Lake Mead and the National Park Service as well as Cox Communications for funding this wonderful opportunity!

Join us for a morning of artful reflection at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway! We will be meeting in the morning at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway classroom to learn about how to nature journal and to reflect on the wild world of the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. If you have never done nature journaling before, don't worry! We will teach you how.

Difficulty level: Easy-See our difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for a wide range of physical abilities. It’s great for individuals new to volunteer conservation work. Appropriate for children over 12 years old with a parent or guardian. The walk will be less than a mile on an easy trail. 

When: Saturday, May 10th, 10AM-2PM

Where: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Kyle Canyon Visitor Gateway

What you need to bring: Please bring a lunch, snacks, a water bottle, and comfy shoes to go for a walk in. Please also bring sun protection in the form of a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, or whatever else you may need.

What to expect: We will provide small, beginner nature journals as well as colored pencils. We will meet in the morning in the classroom, discuss the Spring Mountains and how to nature journal, and then head outside for a short walk on the trails just outside of the Visitor Center. Upon returning, we will spend some time in reflection and make entries into our new nature journals!

What we need from you: If you're interested in joining us for this event, you must RSVP. Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing our events. When you RSVP you are committing to join us. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. If you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another person can join.

Want to bring a friend?  All participants must RSVP individually (even partners, spouses, children, etc). All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program. If you know someone who would like to join, please send them this link and tell them to sign up: https://www.nevadawilderness.org/smnra_naturejournaling.

Become a Mount Charleston Trail Ambassador!

Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the U.S. Forest Service in in welcoming and educating the public to the trails of Mount Charleston Wilderness! As a Trail Ambassador, you'll be on the front lines of visitor education, helping hikers navigate ongoing trail and facility closures, sharing best practices for responsible recreation, and spreading the word about the value of Wilderness. You’ll also collect important trail-use data and report issues to help land managers respond effectively.

This is your chance to make a real impact! Trail Ambassadors will:

• Educate trail users about Wilderness and the ongoing repair work following damage from Hurricane Hilary (2023).
• Gather and report on-the-ground data to help improve trail conditions.
• Conduct outreach at popular trailheads, providing hikers with the latest trail updates and recreation tips.

Training & How to Get Involved:

We’ll provide all the training and materials you need to succeed! Join us for the mandatory training on Saturday, May 31st, where we’ll cover best practices, distribute materials, and take a short hike to get familiar with the program. After training, volunteers can sign up for shifts using a shared calendar and choose their preferred trails and dates in Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon, and Cold Creek.

This is a great way to give back to the outdoors while enjoying time on the trails! Ready to make a difference? Sign up today!

Read more about the beautiful Mount Charleston Wilderness here!

Information

What we need from you: If you're interested in joining us for this project, you must RSVP and attend the training on Saturday, May 31st. Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing this training. When you RSVP you are committing to join us. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. If you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another volunteer can join. If you cannot make it to the Mandatory training but are still interested in joining please reach out to [email protected] before May 31st. 

You can even volunteer as a team! Bring your friends, family, or coworkers, and spend the day together supporting trails and getting outside with those closest to you. All participants must RSVP individually (even partners, spouses). Please send them this link and have them to sign up. 

Difficulty: Moderate - Please see 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. We expect to be hiking 2-6 miles. 

When/Where: The mandatory training will take place on Saturday, May 31, 8am - 3 pm. Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Once fully trained, Trail Ambassadors will get a link to a shared calendar to sign up and work individually, on their own schedule! This is a great way to give back while going at your own pace. 

What to wear/bring: Your best hiking attire! Sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sun protection, a pack with the ability to carry at least three liters of water, lunch, snacks and a personal first aid kit. It is especially helpful if volunteers bring their own GPS device or GPS app on their phone for collecting data.  

Further Details: More In-depth information such as  trailhead, parking, weather, and other specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the training. Friends staff members will provide training material for the day. We'll meet in the morning to discuss some project specifics and start our group hike. 

We can't wait to see you out there! 

For more information visit our volunteer information page or email [email protected]

Join us for a day of trail restoration up in the Spring Mountains! Social trails are user-created trails that veer off the designated official trail. The repeated use of these unofficial trails leads to dangerous situations for hikers, damage to vegetation, soil erosion, and wildlife disruption.

Hiking off-trail can be dangerous for hikers because these unofficial trails are not maintained. There could be downed trees, lots of uneven surfaces, and unstable rocks/boulders.

Up here in the Spring Mountains, we have at least twenty different endemic plants, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. Off-trail use makes these rare plants susceptible to being trampled, lowering their chances of survival. Increased soil erosion from off-trail disturbances also decreases the chances of survival for these plants. 

Want to get your hands dirty and restore these social trails back to their natural, beautiful state? Sign-up today! 

Read more about the beautiful Mount Charleston Wilderness here!

Details:

Difficulty level: Moderate - See our 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. We expect to be hiking 2-4 miles, lifting heavy objects, and using some tools. 

When: Saturday, July 19th, 8AM-4PM

Where: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Kyle Canyon

What to bring: sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sun protection, a pack with the ability to carry at least three liters of water, lunch, snacks

What to expect: In-depth information such as weather, trailhead, parking, and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project. Day of: Friends staff members will provide any tool training necessary for the project, we will meet in the morning for a safety/stretch circle and to talk about the project, and then we will hike to the project site and begin working, stopping for lunch and snack breaks as necessary. 

What we need from you: If you're interested in joining us for this project, you must RSVP. 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 this project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. If you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another volunteer can join the project.

Want to bring a friend? All participants must RSVP individually (even partners, spouses, children, etc). Please send them this link and tell them to sign up: Spring Mountains Restoration #2

We can't wait to see you on the trail!

For more information, check out our Volunteer Information page HERE! or email [email protected]. 

South Loop Trail Maintenance

Come lend a hand on the stunning South Loop Trail for a day of volunteer trail maintenance! After Tropical Storm Hilary swept through the Spring Mountains in 2023, trail closures led to a surge in foot traffic on open trails like South Loop. This increased use, along with off-trail travel and shortcutting switchbacks, has taken a toll on the trail—and we need your help to fix it!

Join us for a rewarding day of trail restoration to keep this popular route safe and sustainable. Get ready for hands-on work—hiking with packs, using tools, and repairing trails at higher elevations. It’ll be tough, but the difference you make (and the epic views you’ll earn) will be totally worth it!

Check out these photos from a previous trail maintenance project on the South Loop Trail!

Read more about the beautiful Mount Charleston Wilderness here!

Information

Difficulty level: Challenging - See our difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a regular exercise routine. This project may be physically challenging to some people, participants need to be in good physical condition and aware of their physical abilities and limits before joining this project. South Loop Trail is challenging in that it has a lot of elevation gain. We will be hiking with heavy packs, tools, hardhats, and anything else we may need for the day (food, water, layers) for between four and six miles total, with up to 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Be prepared!

When: Saturday, July 26th, 8AM-4PM

Where: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Kyle Canyon

What to bring: sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sun protection, a pack with the ability to carry at least three liters of water, lunch, and snacks.

What to expect: In-depth information such as weather, trailhead, parking, and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project. Day of: Friends staff members will provide any tool training necessary for the project, we will meet in the morning for a safety/stretch circle and to talk about the project, and then we will hike to the project site and begin working, stopping for lunch and snack breaks as necessary. 

What we need from you: If you're interested in joining us for this project, you must RSVP. 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 this project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. If you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another volunteer can join the project.

Want to bring a friend? All participants must RSVP individually (even partners, spouses, children, etc). Please send them this link and tell them to sign up: South Loop Trail Work - Friends of Nevada Wilderness

We can't wait to see you on the trail!

For more information on volunteering with Friends of Nevada Wilderness, check out our volunteer information page here!