Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness for a Spring Monitoring Training to Grapevine Spring in Nye County, Friday September 30th!

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Expect a 3-4mi round trip hike over rock and sand terrain with warm day temperatures.

This will be a trip to Grapevine Spring in the Spring Mountains NRA within Nye County. As a volunteer this event will give you the opportunity to steward one of the many unique and valuable springs in Southern Nevada.

This trip will primarily focus on spring monitor training and education. The goal will be for you to learn the ins & outs of basic spring monitoring techniques and concepts. This includes accessing and identifying spring activity, learning how to write a site quality description, taking physical and chemical measurements such as water quality & flow, wildlife observations and identification, and much more. This training will be the first major step in providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake independent spring survey trips to a vast amount of springs in Southern Nevada under the guidance of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, and the Spring Stewardship Program to aid in collecting extremely valuable data about precious water resources and wildlife while getting to explore Southern Nevada.

This is an excellent opportunity for those wanting to provide care for while also enjoying and learning about the wild lands of Nevada. We hope that you can join us!

RSVP now to save your spot, capped at 4 spots - Space is Limited!

When and Where: 9:00am - 4:00pm Thursday September 15th. West side of the Spring Mountains NRA in Nye Co. Travel to the spring will be provided by Friends of Nevada Wilderness. Meeting location TBD

Join us at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on Saturday October 8, 2022 for the tenth annual Las Vegas Wild and Scenic Film Festival!

Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets!

Friends of Nevada Wilderness invites you to join us for the 10th annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, sponsored by NV Energy and Knit architecture studio! The event will be held at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on October 8. Festivities will begin at 4:30 and films will begin at 6:30. We are looking forward to gathering with our community once again to celebrate the human spirit and activism in the outdoors. 

Doors will open at 4:30pm with a community fair to allow folks to get to know local conservation organizations and have an opportunity to grab some food and reserve their spot on the lawn. We will have a raffle, silent auction, and will be able to enjoy our films while immersed in the natural beauty of Red Rock National Conservation Area. The films will begin at 6:30pm and we expect to wrap up at about 9pm. 

Submit your RSVP to stay updated on all things Wild and Scenic Film Festival and to receive notice when tickets go on sale!

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.

Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets!

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.

More Frequently Asked Questions

Huge Thank You to Our Event Sponsors!

The NV Energy Foundation is committed to making the community a better place to live, which in turn, makes it a better place to do business. NV Energy serves Nevada through philanthropic efforts that include civic leadership, financial contributions, and employee volunteerism with a priority of supporting community enhancement and the environment. The NV Energy Foundation is proud to support Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

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 an attendant 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. Once the sun goes down it may get pretty chilly on the lawn, so make sure to bring layers for warmth! 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!

Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness for a Spring Monitoring Training at Crystal Spring in Nye County, Friday October 14th!

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Expect a 3-4mi round trip hike over rock and sand terrain with warm day temperatures.

This will be a trip to Crystal Spring in the Spring Mountains NRA within Nye County. As a volunteer this event will give you the opportunity to steward one of the many unique and valuable springs in Southern Nevada.

This trip will primarily focus on spring monitor training and education. The goal will be for you to learn the ins & outs of basic spring monitoring techniques and concepts. This includes accessing and identifying spring activity, learning how to write a site quality description, taking physical and chemical measurements such as water quality & flow, wildlife observations and identification, and much more. This training will be the first major step in providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake independent spring survey trips to a vast amount of springs in Southern Nevada under the guidance of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, and the Spring Stewardship Program to aid in collecting extremely valuable data about precious water resources and wildlife while getting to explore Southern Nevada.

This is an excellent opportunity for those wanting to provide care for while also enjoying and learning about the wild lands of Nevada. We hope that you can join us!

RSVP now to save your spot, capped at 4 spots - Space is Limited!

When and Where: 9:00am - 4:00pm Friday October 14th, West side of the Spring Mountains NRA in Nye Co. Friends of Nevada Wilderness will provide transportation to/from the spring site. Meeting location TBD. 

Join NDOW for a Native Planting Restoration Project in the Mormon Mountains on Saturday, October 15

Mormon Mountains Restoration Site

Saturday October 15^th, 2022  

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be conducting restoration in the form of a Native Planting Event to establish native perennials following a wildfire.  Activities will center in an area burned by wildfire in the Mormon Mountains of Lincoln county.  Please arrive at the restoration site at 9:00 am for volunteer registration and a safety briefing, the event will end around 1:00 pm.

A high clearance vehicle is required to reach the restoration site which is located along Carp-Elgin Road approximately and hour and a half from Las Vegas.  All materials and tools will be provided, but volunteers are responsible for bringing personal gear (e.g., work gloves, sturdy boots, sunglasses, sunscreen, food, water, etc.).  Please check the weather conditions prior to the event and come prepared.  

For additional information or questions about camping, please contact Matt Flores 702-290-5262 [email protected].  Thank you for your dedication and assistance in helping improve habitat for wildlife in Nevada.

Driving directions and recommendations (From Las Vegas: see map) 1 hour 30 minutes

The Mormon Mountains restoration site is located 80 miles north of the town of Las Vegas Nevada. Directions to the restoration site. Signs will be placed for you to follow once you leave the pavement.

1. Head out of town on I-15 north
2. Take exit 100 towards Carp/Elgin road
3. Turn left onto Carp/Elgin Road, proceed under the freeway and turn right.
4. Follow this road for 3.8 miles until it turns left and the pavement ends.
5. Follow this dirt road for 16.6 miles. Stay on the main road. The road will go under the power lines, past a sign for Hackberry springs road, and over Rainbow pass.
6. Turn left onto a faint two-track road. Look for the volunteer event sign. the two-track road is in good shape, follow for 0.1 miles.

Camping/Lodging

Camping is available on dispersed areas along Carp/Elgin road.  No amenities are provided.

Join us in Restoring Mt Rose Wilderness! 

Spring 2022, volunteers worked hard to remove over 26,000 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 help 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. 

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: 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-dependent, flexibility in scheduling is necessary, thanks for your understanding. 

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

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

Join NDOW for a Native Planting Restoration Project in the Mormon Mountains on Saturday, October 22

Mormon Mountains Restoration Site

Saturday October 22, 2022  

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be conducting restoration in the form of a Native Planting Event to establish native perennials following a wildfire.  Activities will center in an area burned by wildfire in the Mormon Mountains of Lincoln county.  Please arrive at the restoration site at 9:00 am for volunteer registration and a safety briefing, the event will end around 1:00 pm.

A high clearance vehicle is required to reach the restoration site which is located along Carp-Elgin Road approximately and hour and a half from Las Vegas.  All materials and tools will be provided, but volunteers are responsible for bringing personal gear (e.g., work gloves, sturdy boots, sunglasses, sunscreen, food, water, ect.).  Please check the weather conditions prior to the event and come prepared.  

For additional information or questions about camping, please contact Matt Flores 702-290-5262 [email protected].  Thank you for your dedication and assistance in helping improve habitat for wildlife in Nevada.

Driving directions and recommendations (From Las Vegas: see map)  1 hour 30 minutes

The Mormon Mountains restoration site is located 80 miles north of the town of Las Vegas Nevada. Directions to the restoration site. Signs will be placed for you to follow once you leave the pavement.

1. Head out of town on I-15 north
2. Take exit 100 towards Carp/Elgin road
3. Turn left onto Carp/Elgin Road, proceed under the freeway and turn right.
4. Follow this road for 3.8 miles until it turns left and the pavement ends.
5. Follow this dirt road for 13.6 miles. Stay on the main road. The road will go under the power lines, past a sign for Hackberry springs road, and over Rainbow pass.
6. Turn right onto a faint two-track road. Look for the volunteer event sign. the two-track road is in good shape, follow for 0.1 miles.

Camping/Lodging

Camping is available on dispersed areas along Carp/Elgin road.  No amenities are provided.

Join NDOW for a Native Planting Restoration Project in the Mormon Mountains on Saturday, October 29

Mormon Mountains Restoration Site

Saturday October 29, 2022  

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be conducting restoration in the form of a Native Planting Event to establish native perennials following a wildfire.  Activities will center in an area burned by wildfire in the Mormon Mountains of Lincoln county.  Please arrive at the restoration site at 9:00 am for volunteer registration and a safety briefing, the event will end around 1:00 pm.

A high clearance vehicle is required to reach the restoration site which is located along Carp-Elgin Road approximately and hour and a half from Las Vegas.  All materials and tools will be provided, but volunteers are responsible for bringing personal gear (e.g., work gloves, sturdy boots, sunglasses, sunscreen, food, water, ect.).  Please check the weather conditions prior to the event and come prepared.  

For additional information or questions about camping, please contact Matt Flores 702-290-5262 [email protected].  Thank you for your dedication and assistance in helping improve habitat for wildlife in Nevada.

Driving directions and recommendations (From Las Vegas: see map)  1 hour 30 minutes

The Mormon Mountains restoration site is located 80 miles north of the town of Las Vegas Nevada. Directions to the restoration site. Signs will be placed for you to follow once you leave the pavement.

1. Head out of town on I-15 north
2. Take exit 100 towards Carp/Elgin road
3. Turn left onto Carp/Elgin Road, proceed under the freeway and turn right.
4. Follow this road for 3.8 miles until it turns left and the pavement ends.
5. Follow this dirt road for 12.7 miles. Stay on the main road. The road will go under the power lines, past a sign for Hackberry springs road, and over Rainbow pass.
6. Turn right onto a faint two-track road. Look for the volunteer event sign. the two-track road is in good shape, follow for 0.1 miles.

Camping/Lodging

Camping is available on dispersed areas along Carp/Elgin road.  No amenities are provided.

Join us at Sloan Canyon on Friday, November 4 to help rehabilitate an old road and continue building a route into the North McCullough Wilderness!

Difficulty: Moderate. This route is modestly inclined near the trailhead and runs relatively flat towards the Wilderness Boundary.  Expect an approximately 3-mile round-trip hike at about 3,000 feet elevation with moderate to heavy trail work needed at the TOP of the trail.

Elevation: averages approximately 3,000 feet. There is little shade and no water except what we pack in.  Please bring water bottles with capacity to hold at least 2 liters (64 ounces) of water and your lunch!

Project:  We'll be using tools like pick-mattocks, shovels, rakes, McLeods, and post-pounders to restore half of an old road track while we modify the other half into a well-defined trail.  We'll have about 4 hours at the site to work and get to know one another as well as our host - Nevada's Public Lands - so we'll be focused on the trailhead and first few hundred feet of trail, making it visually appealing, safe to walk on, and unappealing to vehicles.

We'll also have time to discuss the local cultural, ecological, and geological features of the McCullough Range and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.  Participants will be introduced to trail work and have a chance to speak with some of our BLM agency partners who manage federal public lands around the area.  

We will provide tools, hard hats, work gloves, light snacks and extra water.  Please bring water bottles with capacity to hold at least 2 liters (64 ounces) of water and your lunch!

Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Clothes you aren't afraid to get dirty or ripped, light layers, and sunscreen are all great!  I recommend a hat and I would definitely bring a light jacket, as the weather in the desert is rapidly cooling with the waning daylight of Autumn.  

Please contact Peter Sbraccia at Friends of Nevada Wilderness if you have questions about the type of work involved in this volunteer event - [email protected]

This Project is funded by the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership (SNAP).  Friends of Nevada Wilderness is proud to partner with the Federal public lands agencies that make up SNAP and manage more than 10 million acres of public lands and water in Southern Nevada to provide conservation and recreational opportunities.  SNAP's “Engaging Communities through Stewardship” project is delivering a continuum of activities, including environmental education programs, stewardship events, and responsible outdoor recreation trainings designed to engage our local community, from childhood into adulthood, in their public lands.  To learn more and get involved visit https://nvpubliclandspartners.org/.