Help us remove Graffiti at Little Falls in the Spring Mountains!

Friends of Nevada Wilderness está orgulloso de participar del mes de la herencia hispana (Hispanic Heritage Month) dónde vamos a remover graffiti en una área silvestre en los Spring Mountains en las afueras de Las Vegas.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latinx community. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is all about respecting and honoring Hispanic people and Hispanic Americans contributions to America and to the US. 

Trabajaremos para mantener y mejorar esta área! Estamos buscando ayuda para remover graffiti en la hermosa área de los Spring Mountains. También será un momento para disfrutar de los hermosos paisajes que tenemos tan cerca de Las Vegas y disfrutar de la compañía de otros latinos/hispanos al aire libre. Este proyecto será guiado por Meg Tait, nuestra Coordinadora de Administración Bilingüe (Inglés y Español). Más detalles abajo y se enviará un correo electrónico una semana antes del evento. Si eres hispano/latino o conoces a alguien que le puede interesar, difunden esta increíble oportunidad y hagamos que todos disfruten y conserven nuestra tierra!

During this project we will be improving this area within the Spring Mountains by removing Graffiti at Little Falls. It will also be a time to enjoy the beautiful landscapes we have so close to Las Vegas and enjoy the company of other Latinos/Hispanics in the outdoors. This project will be guided by Meg Tait, our Bilingual (English and Spanish) Stewardship Coordinator. More details below and an email will be sent out a week before the event. If you are Hispanic/Latino or know of anyone who might be interested, please spread the word and let’s get everyone disfrutado y conservando nuestra tierra (to enjoy and protect our earth)!

*This event is designed to hold space for the Latino/Hispanic Community in the Outdoors please refrain from participating if you do not identify as Latino/a.

Information:

Difficulty: Easy:  See our difficulty rating scale here. The 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. We will be hiking about 1 mile to the worksite with some elevation gain. 

Location: Cathedral Rock Trailhead

Date: Saturday, October 5th, 8 am - 2 pm

Gear/Clothing: Long pants, sturdy closed toed shoes, and long sleeve. Bring at least 2 liters of water, snacks, a hat, and sunscreen. 

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

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

RSVP is required to participate.

¡Se requiere RSVP!

We are excited to share that we will be participating in the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month by leading a Family Friendly Group Hike!

Friends of Nevada Wilderness organizará una caminata grupal en español e ingles que comenzará en Fletcher Canyon Trailhead. ¡Hablaremos sobre Leave No Trace, Wilderness y Oportunidades de conservación en Nevada durante la caminata! Esta hermosa área a las afueras de Las Vegas esta lleno de flores silvestres y mucha sombra de los pinos.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latinx community. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is all about respecting and honoring Hispanic people and Hispanic Americans contributions to America and to the US. 

During this hike there will be educational components about Wilderness, Leave No Trace, and the benefits to stewarding these lands. It will also be a time to enjoy the beautiful landscapes we have so close to Las Vegas and enjoy the company of other Latinos/Hispanics in the outdoors. This beautiful area just outside of Las Vegas is lush with blooming wildflowers and a lot of shade from the pines. This hike will be family friendly and guided by Meg Tait our Bilingual (English and Spanish) Stewardship Coordinator. More details below and an email will be sent out a week before the event. If you are Hispanic/Latino or know of anyone who might be interested, please spread the word and let’s get everyone disfrutado y conservando nuestra tierra (to enjoy and protect out earth)!

*This event is designed to hold space for the Latino/Hispanic Community in the Outdoors please refrain from participating if you do not identify as Latino/a.

All participants will receive a coupon for Shake Shack.

Thanks to Shake Shack for supporting this event!

Information:

Difficulty: Easy: The hike is family friendly. We will be hiking about 2 miles round trip. 

Location: Flectcher Canyon Trail

Parking and Meeting location: Acastus Trail:  NV-157, Mt Charleston, NV 89124

Dates: Sunday, October 6th, 9 am - 12 pm

Gear/Clothing: Comfortable clothes and closed toes shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water and sunscreen. 

More Details: In-depth information such as weather will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

RSVP is required to participate.

¡Se requiere RSVP!

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.

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

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 raffle table, and directing parking. If anyone is willing to do so, we might need someone to embody Hayford the Bighorn (and attendants to guide Hayford and Smokey Bear). 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. IT WILL BE COLD IN THE EVENING! So, make sure to bring something to keep you warm, like a jacket, once the sun goes down. 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 to Clarice ([email protected]) if you have any questions!

Join us at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on Saturday October 12, 2024 for the twelfth annual Las Vegas Wild and Scenic Film Festival!

Friends of Nevada Wilderness invites you to join us for the 12th annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The event will be held at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on October 12. 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 Canyon National Conservation Area. The films will begin at 6:30pm and we expect to wrap up at about 9pm. 

Proceeds from the film festival help Keep Nevada Wild through our stewardship, advocacy and outreach programs.

Tickets on sale now! Click here to purchase

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!

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.

WestStar Credit Union has served employee organizations across Nevada for nearly 50 years.  Their efforts continue to focus on understanding the unique needs of Nevada organizations in service, excellence, and convenience. They are continually expanding and revising their products and services to exceed your expectations and provide the most from your membership.

Sawmill Fence Removal Pt. 1

Ready to challenge yourself and help wildlife? Let's go pull some fence! Join us on October 19th in the Spring Mountains for the first of two days dedicated to removing a dilapidated fence surrounding a spring complex. This fence, originally built to keep livestock out of the springs, has become unnecessary and fallen into disrepair. Removing old, broken-down barbed wire fences like this one is crucial for wildlife because they can cause injuries or fatalities to animals that get entangled in the sharp wires. Additionally, old fences fragment habitats, hindering wildlife movement and access to food and water, which causes stress and negatively impacts the overall health of wildlife populations. 

The work will include removing old barbed wire fence and metal posts, rolling up the wire, and hiking it about 0.25 miles to load in a trailer. Fence removal is a fun and rewarding project in which you can literally see the impact you are making on the landscape. No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers are essential in this effort—come help make a difference!

Information

Difficulty: Challenging See our difficulty rating 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. We will be hiking to the fence site and walking through thick vegetation, in a large spring complex, with varied elevation levels. 

What to wear/bring: Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. A small day pack to carry food/snacks/water/anything else you may need (like hat, rain jacket, sunglasses etc.). Please bring snacks and lunch, and the ability to carry at least 3 liters of water. We will have water to refill your vessel. FNW will provide gloves, eye protection, hard hats, tools, and all necessary training. 

Date/Time: Saturday, October 19th at 9 am to mid-afternoon. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and get situated.

Location/Driving: Parking is limited at the work site, so we will meet at a nearby location and shuttle to the worksite for the day. Meet up location will be shared with those who volunteer about a week before the project. 

Further Details: Closer to the time of the project, we will be sending out information regarding project location, weather, itinerary, driving directions, etc. 

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

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: https://www.nevadawilderness.org/sawmill_fence_removal_pt_1 

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 online 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].

Sawmill Fence Removal Pt. 2

Ready to challenge yourself and help wildlife? Let's go pull some fence! Join us on October 20th in the Spring Mountains for the second of two days dedicated to removing a dilapidated fence surrounding a spring complex. This fence, originally built to keep livestock out of the springs, has become unnecessary and fallen into disrepair. Removing old, broken-down barbed wire fences like this one is crucial for wildlife because they can cause injuries or fatalities to animals that get entangled in the sharp wires. Additionally, old fences fragment habitats, hindering wildlife movement and access to food and water, which causes stress and negatively impacts the overall health of wildlife populations. 

The work will include removing old barbed wire fence and metal posts, rolling up the wire, and hiking it about 0.25 miles to load in a trailer. Fence removal is a fun and rewarding project in which you can literally see the impact you are making on the landscape. No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers are essential in this effort—come help make a difference!

Information

Difficulty: Challenging See our difficulty rating 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. We will be hiking to the fence site and walking through thick vegetation, in a large spring complex, with varied elevation levels. 

What to wear/bring: Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. A small day pack to carry food/snacks/water/anything else you may need (like hat, rain jacket, sunglasses etc.). Please bring snacks and lunch, and the ability to carry at least 3 liters of water. We will have water to refill your vessel. FNW will provide gloves, eye protection, hard hats, tools, and all necessary training. 

Date/Time: Sunday, October 20th at 9 am. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and get situated.

Location/Driving: Parking is limited at the work site, so we will meet at a nearby location and shuttle to the worksite for the day. Meet up location will be shared with those who volunteer about a week before the project. 

Further Details: Closer to the time of the project, we will be sending out information regarding project location, weather, itinerary, driving directions, etc. 

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

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: https://www.nevadawilderness.org/sawmill_fence_removal_pt_2

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 online 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].

Join us and the Bureau of Land Management to safeguard wildlife habitat at a beautiful spring in the heart of Gold Butte National Monument. This spring is home to the endangered Relict Leopard Frog, an endemic amphibian species of Southern Nevada. Due to water development along the Colorado River, increased agriculture, and the introduction of invasive species, like the American Bullfrog, it was thought that these frogs had been extinct since the 1950s. However, sparse populations of frogs were rediscovered in Southern Nevada, along the Overton Arm of Lake Mead National Recreation Area during the 1990s. Federal agencies and conservation groups alike have since worked to bring this population back from the brink of extinction. While small pockets of the frogs are growing, they still face many challenges to thrive.

To help support the continued resilience of this endangered species we are seeking volunteers to help us trim vegetation around the spring site and dig out any excess muck and fallen leaf litter that accumulates inside the spring pools. This will allow for greater mobility and encourage growth into other parts of the site. We may also dig another spring pool further away from existing ones to create another potential breeding area. This is a great way to help a species once thought lost. 

 Due to the sensitive nature of this project, Friends will only be taking a small handful of volunteers to minimize the impact on the site.

See photos from last year's Project at this spring!

Information

Difficulty: 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. The project will involve a variety of tasks including: a very steep hike down to the site on trail, carrying and using hand tools, shoveling, carrying heavy buckets, possibly getting wet, and bending up and down. 

Travel: We will be leaving Las Vegas at 1 pm, on Monday, October 28th, to arrive at the campsite before dark. The road to the campsite is a gravel road that may be rough at places. A 4WD high-clearance vehicle is required. Limited space is available in one of our Friends' trucks. Please reach out ASAP if you will need a ride.  

Dates: Monday October 28th, 2024 - Wednesday October 30th, 2024 (***Please note: this is a mid-week project***)

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, and a big group dinner (with dessert) is provided on Tuesday night! Volunteers are responsible for your dinner on Monday night, lunches, and snacks. We will have plenty of water available for refilling your bottles. 

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work boots or hiking shoes. *You may get wet working in the spring, a towel and water shoes are also recommended.* Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, utensils, plates, camping chair, etc. We have some camping gear available for loan. Please review our Suggested Packing List  

More Details: In-depth information such as campsite, worksite 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 [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 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].