---

April 21 - 27 was National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we want to honor the volunteers who are so essential to our daily operations including connecting our visitors to Colorado’s natural resources.

Last year CPW was fortunate to have 6,511 volunteers who donated an astonishing 337,235 hours of their time.  Hats off to all of our Amazing volunteers! Below are a few highlights.

---

The Lory State Park staff would like to think all of the amazing volunteers who have come out after the Galena fire to help restore the park. See following link for a special thank you:

To all our loyal Lory supporters, thank you .

Enjoy the photos below of our tireless volunteers hard at work with the restoration.

---

Arthur "Art" Bennett volunteers for numerous wildlife volunteer projects in the NW region. 

Art is the lead volunteer for Grand Valley Wildlife Transport Team, an active Hunter Outreach volunteer, Pathways to Fishing volunteer, participates in State Wildlife Area clean-up days, maintains and cleans Hunter Education rifles, assists at Outdoor Heritage Day, helps staff load items for major events, installs shelves, and assists staff with anything we ask him to do! He willingly jumps in and assists whenever he has time.  

"Other than for something to do....I enjoy being outdoors and being with the wildlife, and enjoy being with you all."  said Art about his favorite part of volunteering. "I like the hunting and teaching the kids what it is all about, being out with them and the wild game."

Here's to Art! Thank you for all your hard work.

---

Once in a while there is a person who has the amazing ability to anticipate the needs of others and offer their help when most needed. Chris Kuenning is one of these people. Through her many years of Volunteering at Chatfield, Chris has helped hold the Volunteer Program together in times of transition and short-staffing. 

Last winter when I arrived as the new Volunteer & Interpretive coordinator, Chris used her knowledge and experience to hand me a Volunteer training program on a silver platter which helped get the program started off on the right foot!

I’ve personally watched over this past year as she has continued to help everyone in the staff with whatever we may need, and she does it with a positive, “get the job done” attitude. She is such an integral part of the team that it’s easy to forget she’s here helping in a Volunteer capacity, not paid, simply because she cares about the park and its people.

Thank you Chris, for everything you do for Chatfield!