*Due to COVID, spots are limited on this project. If the project is full, please email [email protected] to be put on the waitlist. RSVP required to participate*

Join us for the 2021 National Public Lands Day in Soldier Meadows! This is always one of our favorite events of the year. There will be multiple projects for all skill levels, camping in a beautiful location, and a great community of people. The projects and details are still being planned, but for now, save the date on your calendar, you don't want to miss this one! RSVP and save your spot today! 

Information:

Difficulty: Easy. There will be projects available for all skill levels and children. Feel free to reach out to us and discuss the difficulty of the project if you have any concerns. 

Food: Per BLM Directives, we are not allowed to serve any food for this project. Volunteers are responsible for all their own food.  

Driving: At this time, FNW is not offering rides in our vehicles due to COVID safety concerns. For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsites (as long as it's not too wet), but, high clearance may be necessary. This is subject to change

Specific Details: Details such as exact camping location, 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. 

COVID Safety: At this time we are following state and federal guidelines for our projects, so, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask. This is subject to change. 

Contact Info: Please email or call Chris Cutshaw with any questions or for further details. He can be reached at [email protected] and our office phone number: 775-324-7667. 

RSVP Required to Participate

For a recommended packing list, click here.

Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness 9/25 @ 9:00am for some backcountry trailwork along Lovell Canyon Loop in the Spring Mountains for National Public Lands Day 2021!  

Help us celebrate our National Public Lands on Saturday, September 25 with a day of trail maintenance in Lovell Canyon on the Pahrump side of Mount Charleston. Do you enjoy spending time on public lands?  Do you like to work with your hands?  Then have we got a day out for you!  Join Friends on a trailwork excursion on Lovell Canyon Trail.  

We'll meet at the trailhead at 9:00am on Saturday 5/25 - National Public Lands Days - to hike and repair a portion of 5.60 mile Lovell Canyon Loop.  We'll also take time to talk about the Spring Mountains cultural and ecological history, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the trail!

RSVP today! 

Final Trails Project of the Year! 

Join our final volunteer trails project of the year in the beautiful Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness. . Friends of Nevada Wilderness is offering the opportunity to be a part of our professional trails program as a volunteer! Friends of Nevada Wilderness will provide all of the training, safety equipment, and trail maintenance tools. No promises, but we might get some fall colors for this project and will be working and camping in beautiful aspen stands. 

Volunteer trail maintenance is hard work, but it is also very rewarding and lots of fun. You will leave these projects with a sense of accomplishment, some new skills, and hopefully some new friends! So please, read the info below and RSVP today! 

Information:

Difficulty: Difficult/Strenuous: may not be appropriate for everyone. Requires the ability to hike 5 miles a day with a heavy pack, work with tools, sometimes move heavy objects. Having said that, feel free to reach out to us and discuss the difficulty of the project if you have any concerns. There are many roles in trail maintenance and we can usually find ones appropriate to meet everyone's level. 

Date: Friday, October 1st to Sunday, October 3rd. We will be leaving Reno Friday afternoon and meeting at the campsite around 5 pm. Saturday we will perform trail work all day, have a group campout, and return Sunday morning. 

Food: FNW will provide breakfast Saturday and Sunday and a big delicious dinner Saturday night as a thank you to our volunteers! We will happily accommodate dietary restrictions. 

Driving: Spots are limited in our vehicles, let us know if you will need a ride. For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsite, but, we will let you know if that changes. 

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

Contact Info: Please email or call Kurt Kuznicki with any questions or for further details. He can be reached at [email protected] and our office phone number: 775-324-7667. 

RSVP is required to participate. 

For a recommended packing list, click here.

In addition to our normal safety procedures, we are asking volunteers to follow our Covid-19 safety guidelines that can be found here.

Eager as Beavers

Join Friends for our October Wild Speaker Series: "Eager as Beavers" in an online Zoom presentation. Beavers have an astonishing impact on ecosystems throughout the country - they certainly live up to their "busy" stereotype. We will be joined by environmental journalist and author Ben Goldfarb as he shares his knowledge and research about this big, bustling rodents and their charismatic impacts on our wild lands.

We'll wrap up with a Q&A session to answer all your questions about beavers.  This will be an informative chat for the whole family!

Please register on zoom in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscOyppjwvE9aqRpQ_hfA5bkbdH5wCETqi

Every first Thursday of the month at 7pm, Friends of Nevada Wilderness hosts a local environmental expert for folks who are interested in the outdoors to learn more about hikes, local habitat, and ways to get involved with conservation efforts.  Formerly in the REI Boca Park Community Room, the Wild Speaker Series is online during the COVID-19 Pandemic for the safety of our staff and supporters.  We will return to REI Boca Park in the near future and continue to make the Wild Speaker Series available virtually.

We are excited to announce our 9th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival - in person at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and live streaming. Saturday, October 9, 2021.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness invites you to join us for the 9th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival!  In-person at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park with festivities starting at 4:30pm and available via live-streaming at 6:30pm!  It will be an evening full of thought-provoking, funny, entertaining, and informative films centered around the environment, wildlife, and the human spirit.

At Spring Mountain Ranch, doors will open at 4:30pm for a community fair where you can interact with conservation groups from across Nevada. Enjoy food from Greek Delights and Dem Boyz BBQ, treats from Dessert Box, wine, beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, raffle, and silent auction all while taking in a Red Rock Canyon sunset. Films will start at 6:30pm and we expect to wrap up the evening at 9:00pm.

You can also enjoy the film lineup in HD from the comfort of your own home, with the virtual screening room will opening at 6:00pm and films starting promptly at 6:30pm.  A recording of the film fest will also be available for 5 days following the event for all registrants.

This event is our premier annual fundraiser and membership drive. All proceeds from this event will help Keep Nevada Wild through our stewardship, advocacy and outreach programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in helping us with this event? Learn how to volunteer!

What is the Wild & Scenic Film Festival?

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival works with environmentally conscious groups across the globe to inspire activism in our local communities through the power of film.  We hope to use the festival to encourage a better community understanding of the connection we share with the planet and emphasize our role as stewards to keep it healthy for the next generations.

Why Friends of Nevada Wilderness?

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is Friends of Nevada Wilderness' flagship fundraising event to further our mission of protecting and stewarding wilderness in Nevada.  It's a place to meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, learn about local and global environmental issues, and support our efforts to get boots on the ground in our backyard wild places.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, The Reserve at Red Rock Canyon!  The Reserve at Red Rock Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a place for creating family traditions, building memories, and establishing a legacy for generations to come.  It comprises 65 acres of dramatic, private land and is destined to become one of the most naturally beautiful, environmentally sensitive private communities anywhere, with spectacular panoramic views of Red Rock Canyon and the numerous mountain springs surrounding the property.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is also generously sponsored by Knit.  Knit seeks to build community through four key areas of work.  Each of these areas is a critical component to a resilient and successful community.  Come take a look and be part of the conversation about the places where you live, learn, work, and play.  It is our honor to support the Wild & Scenic Film Festival each year and the work Friends of Nevada Wilderness does to protect Nevada’s wild lands. 

We are looking for volunteers to help us at this year's Wild and Scenic Film Festival! This year the event will be held at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park - there will be food, drinks, and an exciting selection of inspiring short films about adventure, education, and advocacy in our environment. This event is our yearly flagship fundraiser for Southern Nevada and we can't pull it off without some help from our amazing volunteers! Everyone who volunteers will of course receive free admission in exchange for their time.

What you will be doing: We'll meet at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park at about 3:30. We will need help with set-up and take down before and after the event. We will also need assistance with will call and ticket sales, running the silent auction and raffle tables, and directing parking. If anyone is willing to do so, we might need some folks to embody Hayford the Bighorn and Smokey Bear (and they each will need some attendants to guide them). If you have a TAM card and are licensed to serve alcohol please let us know - we need one more volunteer to help us bartend. The event will wrap up at about 9PM.

What you need to bring: Wear closed toed shoes and clothes you feel comfortable moving around in. Bring some water for throughout the day (we will bring some jugs to refill) and some snacks of your choice to enjoy during the films. Don't forget to bring some sun protection in the form of a hat and sunscreen as we will be outside from the afternoon into the evening. Bring a picnic blanket or a low back lawn chair for seating during the films, and most importantly, bring your excitement for the film festival and an open heart for this year's selection!

What we will bring: We will bring water jugs for refills throughout the day and some snacks if you need to refuel. We will take care of all that we need to bring for set-up and take-down, so all you need to do is show up!

We will be in touch with those who RSVP more as we get closer to the event, but for now don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Improve Wildlife Habitat!

Barbed-wire fences fragment wildlife habitat, trap lowing flying birds like the Sage Grouse, and are impassable to the free-roaming Pronghorn Antelope. Join us in the Santa Rosa Range this year to remove unnecessary barbed-wire fence and directly improve wildlife habitat. This project is part of an ongoing fence removal effort in the Santa Rosa Paradise Peak Wilderness. Your work on this project will leave a lasting impact on one of northern Nevada's most beautiful mountain ranges. 

Volunteers on 2019 Fence Removal Project

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. We have camping gear available for those who need it. At this time we are not providing rides in our vehicles. The road to the project area may not require 4 wheel drive but will require a higher clearance vehicle. Email [email protected] with any questions and for more details. RSVP today!

Fence material removed by volunteers in 2019

RSVP required to participate

Information:

Difficulty: Difficult to Very Strenuous. It may not be appropriate for everyone. Requires the ability to hike 5-10 miles a day with a heavy pack, work with tools and barbed wire, lift and carry heavy objects, and work in warm, sunny weather. Having said that, feel free to reach out to us and discuss the difficulty of the project if you have any concerns. 

Food: For this project, yes! we will be offering some group meals. We are planning to do a big group dinner on Saturday night along with breakfasts and coffee. Volunteers are expected to provide their own lunches, snacks, and dinner Friday night. 

Driving: At this time, FNW is not offering rides in our vehicles due to COVID safety concerns. For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsite, but, high clearance may be necessary. 

Specific Details: Details such as exact camping location, 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. 

Contact Info: Please email or call Chris Cutshaw with any questions or for further details. He can be reached at [email protected] and our office phone number: 775-324-7667. 

For a recommended packing list, click here.

In addition to our normal safety procedures, we are asking volunteers to follow our Covid-19 safety guidelines that can be found here.

Interested in being a spring monitoring volunteer, but haven't been able to make it to a springs training yet? Fear not! Join the Springs Team for a training event on October 17th, from 9am to 1pm! We'll be checking out Mountain Springs, a cluster of 7 springs within a short walk of the road. This is a great opportunity to learn how to measure water quality and flow as well as getting some hands-on practice of spring surveying techniques. As a bonus, you'll meet a bunch of other cool spring monitoring volunteers!

Attendees of the event will be able to join the dozens of volunteers that are surveying springs whenever and wherever they want. These volunteers are collecting extremely valuable data about precious water resources and wildlife while getting to explore Southern Nevada on their own terms!

Join us in Restoring Mt Rose Wilderness! 

This past spring, volunteers worked hard to remove over 23,000 invasive Musk Thistle from Mt Rose Wilderness! This fall, we will be heading back into Mt Rose Wilderness to spread native seeds in these recovering riparian areas and start bringing 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 it 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. 

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 the end of November. 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'll be available to join us. 

Difficulty: We will hike 2 to 6 miles, partially off-trail, and up and down steep slopes. We will carry no more than 10 lbs of seed each. These projects may not be appropriate for children under 12 years of age. 

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 dependant, flexibility in scheduling is necessary, thanks for your understanding. 

Questions? Contact [email protected] or call our office at 775-324-7667. 

We look forward to seeing you out there! 

Join us for a fun adventure out to Gabbs Valley WSA and join the hunt for mining claim markers! Not so much a festival as a normal project...but still a ton of fun. PVC mining claim markers, that were put up in the 90's, are a hazard for cavity-dwelling birds and other critters who get stuck in them and, sadly, never make it out. Since the BLM outlawed them in the early 2000's, groups and individuals like ours have been on a statewide scavenger hunt to find the markers and lay them down so that they no longer pose a threat for desert creatures. We will be heading out on Friday afternoon around 2 pm and will return Saturday evening after working or Sunday morning. Spaces are limited to the first 10 sign-ups, so register now!