Mission & Core Values

WRV’s mission and core values guide everything we do — from volunteer stewardship projects to building inclusive communities.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to build diverse communities that care for the land. We envision a world in which all people are empowered stewards of the land.

Core Values
 

Community

We believe in bringing people together to work toward a shared purpose and celebrating the accomplishments we achieve collectively. Strong relationships form the foundation of our work, creating a supportive community that cares for both the land and one another.

Action

We believe in taking meaningful, hands-on action to restore the land. Through dedicated effort, skill-building, and collaboration, we create lasting improvements to Colorado’s ecosystems while empowering people to make a tangible difference.

Healing

We believe that in coming together to heal the land, we also heal ourselves. Restoration fosters connection, resilience, and a renewed sense of belonging—strengthening both the natural world and the people who care for it.

Inclusion

We believe in cultivating a welcoming environment for people of all identities to engage in restoring and connecting to the land. Everyone’s perspective strengthens our community, and we strive to ensure all feel valued, respected, and supported in this work.

How We Do It
 

Leadership Development

We train volunteers to take leadership roles in WRV — cultivating the next generation of land stewards.

Collaboration

WRV develops and nurtures strong relationships with land-management agencies, community organizations, landowners, and others to accomplish our goals.

Technical Knowledge

We continually expand our understanding of science-based ecological restoration techniques, ensuring effective and sustainable work.

Logistics Management

We handle all aspects of project planning — tools, permits, volunteer coordination, safety — ensuring even complex projects run smoothly.

Land Acknowledgement
 

PEOPLE AND THE LAND NEED EACH OTHER 

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) acknowledges that we live and work on the unceded lands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute people, and that 48 contemporary tribal nations lived, camped, hunted, and traded here for centuries, and many are still present today1. People were forcibly removed from these lands and subjected to deep injustices both historically and presently. 

Our mission to build diverse communities that care for the land means that our work must go beyond acknowledgment. Indigenous people and their native lands have an irreducible and ongoing relationship with one another. Here are a couple of ways we are engaging in this as a community: 

August 2025: Cross-state partnership delivers sacred food to Wind River Reservation 

Right Relationship Boulder – Building Relationships with Native Peoples– we have actively participated with their Land Group since 2023. 

Ch’il Indigenous Foods– one of our newer partners; they lead an annual workshop on cooking with Indigenous Foods. 

For ideas on where you can start, please check out: 

Indigenous / Native American Resources – Right Relationship Boulder  

Beyond Land Acknowledgment: A Guide – Native Governance Center (Minnesota) 

1Harvest of All First Nations, https://hafnco.org/  

Our History & Achievements

1999 — First project: On March 20, 1999, about 20 volunteers planted willows at Pella Crossing Open Space in Boulder County — WRV’s first restoration project.

2002 — WRV becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, based in Boulder.

2003 — First leadership training program for Crew Leaders, later expanded to training for Cooks, Project Leaders, Technical Advisors, Tool Managers, wilderness first aid, trail skills, advanced restoration, etc.

2010 — WRV opened a second office (Fort Collins) and initiated the Youth Program

2017 — Reached its 1,000th project; engaged over 40,000 volunteers, contributing nearly 500,000 volunteer hours valued over $10 million.

2018 — New Executive Director selected after over 19 years of founding leadership.

2019 — WRV celebrates 20 years of “Healing the Land and Building Community.”

2021 — WRV opens its new headquarters in Longmont.

2024 — WRV celebrates 25th Anniversary; new Executive Director appointed.

Join Us in Caring for the Land

See Volunteer Opportunities