$6,000 total awarded to seven Boulder County volunteer programs

Boulder County, Colo. - In celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 20-26, 2025, two individuals and five volunteer teams were recognized as part of Boulder County’s Volunteer Program Enrichment Awards. Volunteer managers countywide were invited to nominate volunteers who made noteworthy contributions to their programs in 2024. A selection committee chose the following volunteers to be recognized and awarded funding for their programs.

1. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Volunteers – Boulder Office of the County Commissioners / Office of Disaster Management

Trained by EOC staff, these volunteers are activated during emergency events such as fires, floods, freezing temperatures, and power outages to provide situational awareness and logistical support for command center staff and field personnel. They are cross-trained and work in shifts, often for days in a row, coordinating things like food, water, supplies, and equipment. They had four activations in 2024!

2. Ellen Minick: Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) Program – Community Services / Area Agency on Aging

As a volunteer Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Ellen advocates for resident rights and quality of life at two assisted living residences in Lafayette. She is a consistent presence, providing input and guidance on care and programming, and empowering and educating residents about their rights. Ellen has worked in complex and intense situations in which residents may have no other support, and she models this work for other volunteers across the state.

3. Jail Education and Transition (JET) & Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP) Volunteers – Community Services / Justice System Volunteer Program

Housed in the jail, JET and COAP volunteers engage jail clients through various evidence-based practices to better prepare them to rejoin the community. Volunteers spend months building relationships with these clients, providing education and training, therapy, job readiness, parenting, and other pro-social skills aimed at changing behaviors and lowering recidivism.

4. Laurie Bedford: Cultural History Programs – Parks and Open Space (POS)

Laurie brings enthusiasm and experience to the volunteer roles she fills for POS. She helps care for livestock and lead tours at the Agricultural Heritage Center, sews costumes for volunteers, and does demonstrations at Walker Ranch Homestead. She is friendly, caring, and dedicated, and her contributions enrich the experiences of visitors, staff, and fellow volunteers.

5. Weed Warriors Program Volunteers – Parks and Open Space (POS)

This 5-year pilot study started in 2024 in response to public concern about herbicides being used in the Integrated Weed Management Program. It aims to determine the feasibility of controlling invasive species at Walker Ranch without using herbicides. Weed Warrior volunteers mechanically remove and monitor weeds in one-mile sections along the Walker Ranch Loop trail and receive training from POS staff throughout the season. If successful, the program will expand to other locations.

6. 4-H Shooting Sports Council Volunteers – Parks and Open Space (POS) / CSU Extension

Approximately 40 certified volunteer leaders teach essential elements of shooting to nearly 100 youth, ages 8-18, annually. They facilitate hands-on instruction, safety training, skill development, and practice sessions. They coordinate county shoot-offs throughout the year and foster connections with community partners like the Longmont Police Department and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Collectively, Shooting Sports leaders contribute 450 volunteer hours annually. They exemplify the core values of leadership, safety, and youth development.

7. Healthy Louisville Kids Coalition Volunteers – Public Health / Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Program

Coalition volunteers include healthcare professionals, business owners, nonprofit leaders, students, and community members who have come together to improve the health of Louisville kids and community members by lowering the consumption of sugary drinks, a key driver of chronic disease. They partnered with local restaurant owners, and chambers of commerce to pass Ordinance No. 1883, ‘Healthy Drinks in Kids’ Meals’ in Louisville in September of 2024.

Learn more about Boulder County government's range of one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Boulder County’s Volunteer Initiatives and the annual Program Enrichment Awards is managed by the Boulder County Community Services Department.