Vision Statement

We envision a world in which all people are empowered stewards of the land.

Mission

Building diverse communities that care for the land

Core Values

Community

We believe in bringing people together to work toward a common goal and in celebrating our successes.

Action

We believe in taking action to restore the land.

Healing

We believe that in coming together to heal the land, we heal ourselves.

Inclusion

We believe in cultivating a welcoming environment for people of all identities to engage in restoring and connecting to the land.

Core Competencies

Leadership Development

We train volunteers to take leadership roles in WRV, to better carry out our mission and cultivate leaders of the future.

Collaboration

We develop and nurture strong relationships with land management agencies, community organizations, landowners, and others to accomplish our goals.

Technical Knowledge

We continually expand our knowledge of the best available science to develop a wide variety of restoration techniques.

Logistics Management

We expertly handle the logistics of even very complex projects.

Milestones

March 20, 1999

Ed Self began WRV when he organized about 20 volunteers to plant willows at Pella Crossing Open Space near Hygiene. It all began with wetlands restoration.

2002

WRV officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with several hundred volunteers.

2003

WRV began the first leadership training program for crew leaders. Over time we added training programs for volunteer cooks, project leaders, technical advisers, and tool managers; as well as trainings in wilderness first aid, trail skills, advanced restoration skills, and other topics.

2010

WRV opened a sister office in Fort Collins and initiated the Youth Program, which has engaged over 4,000 youth thus far.

2017

WRV reached three huge milestones: We completed our 1,000th project, reached 40,000 volunteers engaged, and those volunteers contributed over 490,000 hours valued at over $10 million. WRV volunteers now contribute over 40,000 volunteer hours annually, making us one of the largest volunteer outdoor stewardship organizations in Colorado, and perhaps the United States.

2018

Katherine Postelli is selected as Executive Director, succeeding Founder Ed Self after 19 years.

2019

WRV celebrates 20 years of Healing the Land and Building Community!