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The Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund’s mission is to improve wildlife habitat, inspire the next generation of nature stewards, and ignite a lifelong love of the outdoors for all — ensuring the Backcountry Wilderness Area remains a thriving wildlife habitat and a hub for environmental education for our community now and in the future.
 
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we create lasting impact through conservation, education, and community engagement that spark curiosity and connection. Our work helps people build meaningful relationships with the natural world.
 
We believe nature has the power to inspire stewardship, strengthen communities, and shape future generations. Through every trail explored, program attended, and habitat restored, we’re creating a future where both people and wildlife can thrive.
 
Together, we can protect this wild place and inspire lifelong connections to nature.

7,440

Acres of wildlife habitat to protect

250,000

Annual visits to local nature

$1M+

Raised for local conservation and environmental education since 2017

5,000+

Annual volunteer hours

Choose Your Impact

“The idea of wilderness needs no defense, 
it only needs defenders,”

– Edward Abbey

Donate to our mission and join the community behind our wild place.

Give

Give your time. See your impact.

Volunteer

Align your business with conservation, education, and meaningful local impact.

Partner with Purpose

Current Campaigns

Worth Your Wild

Turn your love for the Backcountry Wilderness Area into year-round impact. By becoming a monthly donor, you’ll help keep the wildlife and community thriving while unlocking chances to win quarterly prizes and exclusive experiences. Because protecting the places you love should come with a few adventures, too.

Become a Monthly Donor

S’more Nature Summer Auction

Gather ‘round for a new summer tradition filled with exciting packages, local favorites, outdoor adventures, and plenty of ways to support the Backcountry Wilderness Area — all for a great cause. Open June 6-July 25!

Place Your Bid

Summer Hunt Raffle

World-class hunting opportunities are waiting for you without ever leaving Highlands Ranch. The Backcountry Wilderness Area Hunt Program offers an experience few hunters ever get: exceptional elk hunts on the land you pass every day.

Coming Soon

Conservation at Work

The Backcountry Wilderness Area is a rare balance of protected habitat and public access—made possible through intentional stewardship.

Pine Beetle Mitigation

Learn More

Wildfire Mitigation

Coming Soon

Wildlife Resources

Coming Soon

Inspired by Nature

Our 501c3-funded programs provide immersive outdoor experiences that foster environmental awareness, inspire future conservationists, and deepen connections to the Backcountry.

Looking for the full slate of Backcountry Wilderness Area programs? Click here!

Future Conservationists Initiative

Bringing Conservation to Classrooms

Sunshine & Storytime

Connect Little Ones to Nature

Base Camp Exploration & Family Fun Day

Discover the Backcountry

Nature Walks & Birding Hikes

Try a Guided Hike

Discovery Days

Join the Adventure

Nature Night Out

Spend an Evening in Nature
Volunteer in the Backcountry Wilderness Area

Time as Treasure

Volunteers are an essential part of the Backcountry community. Whether supporting programs, caring for animals, assisting with events, or helping steward the land, every hour given helps protect and sustain this special place for future generations. There are many ways to get involved — and every contribution makes a meaningful impact.

Consistently Scheduled Volunteers

Age Requirement:

  • 14 and 15 (with a parent)
  • 16 and 17 (with parental consent)
  • 18 and up

Minimum Commitment:

  • Regular day/schedule is preferred
  • At least one-half day of training, maybe more for some positions
  • Opportunities available year-round, most need May - August
  • Below is links to our volunteer applications. An application is necessary.
  • Once applied, staff will be in touch.
  • Background check is mandatory for all positions.

Please visit our volunteer job listings to explore all volunteer positions and apply.

Animal Care

  • If you love animals and don’t mind a little dirt and adventure, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! Spend time with our friendly horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, and ducks while helping them stay happy and healthy.
  • As an Animal Care Volunteer, you'll play an important role in keeping our animals' living spaces clean and safe, supporting their enrichment, and helping with the daily rhythm of farm life. Whether you’re mucking, cleaning, or grooming the animals, your efforts make a real difference! No experience? No problem! All you need is a love for animals, a willingness to learn, and a good pair of boots.

Base Camp Attendant

  • Become the welcoming face of adventure at Base Camp! As a Base Camp Attendant, you’ll guide visitors through exciting self-guided exploration, helping them connect with nature, interact with farm animals, and discover the beauty of the Backcountry Wilderness Area. The Base Camp Attendant helps oversee Base Camp Exploration, a self-guided program at the Backcountry Wilderness Area. This volunteer will assist with check-in, handing out chicken food, directing participants to various activities, ensuring safety and rule compliance, and assist with basic camp duties when needed. These activities may be combined with the Camp Backcountry Attendant activities to obtain more volunteer hours.

Birding Specialist

  • Turn your passion for birds into an adventure! As a Birding Specialist, you'll lead or assist guided hikes, teach bird identification by sight and sound, and inspire others to appreciate the diverse birdlife of the Backcountry Wilderness Area. This volunteer role involves educating participants on bird identification, habitat, and behavior while ensuring a safe and engaging outdoor experience. The Birding Specialist also records species data for each program and promotes responsible birding practices.

Camp Backcountry Attendant

  • Keep the adventure going at Camp Backcountry! As a Camp Backcountry Attendant, you'll support daily operations by delivering water and supplies, prepping activities, directing parking, and assisting staff—helping create a seamless and fun outdoor experience for campers. These activities may be combined with the Base Camp Attendant activities to obtain more volunteer hours.

Gear Shack Attendant

  • Gear up to help make a difference! As a Gear Shack Attendant, you’ll assist visitors with their outdoor essentials, keep the shop organized, and support conservation efforts with every sale. The Gear Shack Attendant is responsible for setting up and organizing merchandise in the Backcountry Wilderness Area’s gear shack. Volunteer tasks include assisting program participants with purchases, maintaining an inviting retail space, and using an iPad for sales transactions. Proceeds from gear sales support the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund, which helps fund conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and outdoor education programs.

Naturalist/Program Assistant

  • Put your skills to work in the Backcountry Wilderness Area as a Naturalist/Program Assistant. Depending on your level and area of knowledge, we may ask you to lead or assist us with environmental education programs such as Birding Hikes, Geology Treks, Sunset Hikes, and more!

One-time Opportunity Volunteers

  • 14 and 15 (with a parent)
  • 16 and 17 (with parental consent)
  • 18 and up

  1. Please complete the Volunteer Request Form.
  2. After we receive your Request Form, staff will be in contact with you regarding opportunity availability.

Property Care/Maintenance Volunteer Positions

Laborer
  • Various maintenance duties around Base Camp and the Archery Range and occasionally some duties within the restricted area of the Backcountry
  • Examples include: watering trees, moving mulch, mowing, trimming, general upkeep of various amenities, painting, cleaning.
  • Other duties may be assigned according to skills and abilities
Trail Maintenance
  • A regular schedule is not mandatory for this position.
  • Volunteer would perform routine trail maintenance using hand tools. Includes improving rolling grade dips, general surface maintenance, and drainage. Also includes trimming brush to improve sight lines.
  • Volunteers must either be supervised by staff, or trained by staff and then work independently.
  • Groups are welcome, along with group volunteer days.
  • We provide the tools.
Archery Range Maintenance

Various maintenance duties around the archery range including target maintenance and replacement, trimming, general clean up and other tasks as assigned.

Events

Parking Attendant
  • Assist event coordinators with parking vehicles at Base Camp and nearby parking lot.
  • Assist event attendees with guidance toward the event.

Future Conservationists Initiative

The Future Conservationists Initiative (FCI) brings high-quality environmental education to local second grade classrooms at no cost to the schools. All programs through the Future Conservationists Initiative are funded by donations to the Backcountry Conservation & Education Fund 501c3 nonprofit.

FCI Program Request Form

Let’s be honest, we (adults) may love the outdoors and find a passion in conserving wild places like the Backcountry Wilderness Area, but we won’t be around forever. The education team of the Backcountry Wilderness Area brings top-notch, hands-on environmental education program directly into local second grade classrooms to give each child a chance to learn about conservation in our community and beyond. The goal of our program is to start the conversation on conservation and instill the power in each child that they can start protecting wildlife habitat by learning about it.

When we come to a school for an FCI program, we will visit up to three second-grade classrooms for an identical one-hour program. Our FCI program focuses on habitats, ecosystems, what all living things need – food, water, shelter, space, and differentiating between living and non-living things.

Yes! FCI programs happen in classrooms at no cost to local schools. We don’t want budgets to get in the way of children learning about the nature world and conservation. Our FCI programs are funded completely through donations to the Backcountry Conservation & Education Fund 501c3 nonprofit.

The number of schools we are able to come teach at each school years is dependent the success of the Backcountry Conservation & Education Fund. We aim to visit 20 schools each year. All FCI programs are scheduled in a first-come, first-served basis.

Not at this time. We are focused on providing a specific program for second grade classrooms that meets our goals as a conservation organization, the goals of teachers, and the standards set by the state. 

Easy! Fill out the request form. We’ll be in touch soon.

FCI Program Request Form

2026 Spring Hunt Raffle Winners (drawn 3/3/26)

  • 2nd Rifle Buddy Bull Elk: Craig Stegeman (ticket W647)
  • Buddy Cow Hunt: Eric Bueltel (ticket W514)
  • Archery Buddy Hunt: Jason Van Kooten (ticket W305)

Wilderness Win-Win 50/50 Raffle: Susanna Jones

EIN # : 88-1029474

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