VOLUNTOURISM
PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLUNTEERS FOR OUTDOOR COLORADO
VOLUNTEERING ALONG THE FRONT RANGE
Whether you live here or you’re visiting on vacation, Colorado nonprofits have a volunteer job for you.
By Jeff Blumenfeld
M
ike Evanoff, a retired electrical engineer and data scientist from northern Virginia, moved to Boulder in 2020 after visiting the city on business. Volunteering has long been in the DNA of this former Navy commander: He volunteers for the Veteran Community Project in nearby Longmont and you’ll often find him hammering nails, sweeping floors and caulking at Habitat for Humanity affordable housing projects. Some weekends, he’ll volunteer at events, such as the Venus de Miles, Colorado’s original and largest all women’s bike ride, and this summer he will be a driver for a
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cross-country paragliding event. “Volunteering introduces me to people I wouldn’t normally meet, helps me learn new skills and educates me about Boulder, which is an athletic city that perfectly matches my interests,” Evanoff says. Giving back is a great way to meet new people and learn more about your community, whether you just moved here or you’re a long-time resident. And if you’re visiting Colorado on vacation, volunteering side-by-side with locals — a practice known as “voluntourism” — can provide insight into the best places to hike, bike, eat or simply enjoy the scenery from a new vantage point.
