Camaraderie & conservation: New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors work to help maintain and improve the state's public lands

Catlin Herrera may be an accountant by day, but it’s moonlighting as a certified sawyer that truly gets her blood pumping.

“I will drop everything I can if someone tells me there’s some sawing going on,” Herrera admits.

Herrera came across New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) some three years ago while searching for a way to work in the Black Range of the Gila National Forest. While her original plans didn’t come to fruition, Herrera found a home with NMVFO, where she currently serves as the chair for the nonprofit organization.

“I never actually got down there (to Black Range), but after my first couple projects with them, I was just hooked,” she said. “I kept signing up for more and more and just kept coming back. I knew nothing about trail work when I found them.”

Camaraderie & conservation: New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors work to help maintain and improve the state's public lands

NMVFO was initially launched in 1982 as part of a larger initiative of the Boston-based Appalachian Mountain Club, one of the oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organizations in the United States. NMVFO was granted nonprofit status in 1984 and continues to adhere to its mission of promoting “involvement and education of the public in the maintenance, improvement and stewardship of New Mexico’s public lands.”

One doesn’t need prior experience working on trails to get started.

“I enjoy the camaraderie with everybody. I have never worked with such a unique and friendly group of people,” Herrera said. “Every project I meet someone new, and I also love learning new skills. We work with a great set of agency partners and people that have been doing trail work for a long time that are always willing to teach you something. So every time I learn something new. I just get to meet interesting people that I wouldn’t necessarily interact with otherwise.”

While cross-cut saw work might not seem fitting for someone who crunches numbers in her regular 9-to-5, that’s part of the appeal of the organization.

“NMVFO uses a two-person saw to remove fallen logs from trails, and they work with Forest Service to get us certified as sawyers to be able to do this work,” Herrera said. “A lot of us are certified sawyers. I think I did this on my second project with NMVFO, and ever since then I’ve been hooked. It’s very exhilarating. And every project with removing a tree has so much that goes into it. It’s not just sitting down and cutting the log.”

In 2023, NMVFO had 152 members that paid some sort of dues to support the organization. Additionally, there were 146 volunteers who came out to various projects throughout the year. According to Herrera, NMVFO attracts between 60 and 70 new volunteers on an annual basis.

Those who wish to participate can visit nmvfo.org for information on the type of projects that are on the horizon. As an added incentive, NMVFO hosts regular happy hours at local breweries, where interested parties can learn more about the organization over a drink instead of on the trail. Moreover, NMVFO offers a variety of options for potential volunteers.

“We do a lot of erosion control, repairing trails. We’re trying to branch out every year into nontrail work projects,” Herrera said. “Wetland restoration, trash cleanups, removing graffiti or barbed wire. I like those too. Because again, I’m not doing that in my day-to-day life. I get to learn something.”

For newcomers, Herrera recommends the annual Trail Workshop, which is held in conjunction with the city of Albuquerque Open Space Division and takes place on the weekends of March 16 and March 23. The first weekend is half-classroom, half-trail work, and the second weekend continues the trail work in the Tijeras Bio-Zone Open Space.

No matter what the area of interest might be, Herrera believes NMVFO can be for anyone.

“I would say just do it — everyone, regardless of your skill level. People are excited to have you. They’re excited to share what they know,” Herrera said. “You don’t have to be this really fit person that wants to backpack out into the Gila Wilderness. If you do, we have those projects. But we have one-day projects … And you don’t have to have any knowledge. Everyone is excited to have you there.”