City of Fort Collins Engage
Welcome to Engage! Engage helps you manage your involvement, either as a participant or volunteer, sponsored by the FC Volunteer Program. Browse the calendar, edit your profile, and get involved!
Natural Areas
Special habitats like prairies, foothills, waterways, and forests are conserved for wildlife and people by the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department. Everyone is welcome to treasure and steward these beloved outdoor places. Thanks to community-driven sales tax ballot measures, there are 52 conserved natural areas and 114 miles of trail with more being added each year. See the Natural Areas Map (pdf).
Natural Areas Explorer is your guide to free natural area activities, June-October. Register here, by creating or signing in to you account.
Upcoming Activities Calendar
Waitlist
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Black Footed Ferret Exploration
Thursday, 01 October 2026 | 05:00 PM | Soapstone Prairie Natural Area | Registration Required*Registration for this program is required* Where: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Soapstone Prairie - . Meet at the museum. When: 5:00p.m. - 10:00p.m., meet at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery for van transportation. (activity tim... more |
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Forest Therapy
Wednesday, 07 October 2026 | 01:00 PM | Gateway Natural Area | Registration Required*Registration for this program is required* Where: Gateway Natural Area. Meet at the pavilion by the bridge/trail entrance. Find the Volunteer Naturalist Assistant for your free day parking pass. Program Description: Experience the Japanese... more |
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Waitlist
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Black Footed Ferret Exploration
Friday, 09 October 2026 | 05:00 PM | Soapstone Prairie Natural Area | Registration Required*Registration for this program is required* Where: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Soapstone Prairie - . Meet at the museum. When: 5:00p.m. - 10:00p.m., meet at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery for van transportation. (activity tim... more |
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The Smithsonian at Lindenmeier
Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 10:00 AM | Soapstone Prairie Natural Area | Registration RequiredWhere: Soapstone Prairie - Approximately a one-hour drive from Fort Collins. More complete directions can be found at https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder/soapstone. When: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. This activity meets at the North Parking Lot. ... more |
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Seed Cleaning and Packaging
Thursday, 15 October 2026 | 09:00 AM | Nix Office, 1745 Hoffman Mill Road | Registration RequiredCome learn the meditative practice of cleaning native plant seeds with Nature in the City Staff. We will be cleaning a wide variety of seeds for the annual Native Seed Swap. No prior experience needed and all materials will be provided. You will b... more |
Waitlist
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Lions, Coyotes, and Bears, Oh, My!
Saturday, 17 October 2026 | 01:30 PM | Gateway Natural Area | Registration RequiredWhere: Gateway Natural Area, parking will be free for those who attend the program. Meet near Picnic Shelter A to get your parking pass. Program Description: Discover the hidden lives of Gateway's top predators. Explore their different methods ... more |
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Timber Trail Reroute Work Day
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 03:00 PM | Pineridge Natural Area | Registration RequiredTimber Trail Reroute Work Day - Meet at the Dixon Reservoir Parking Lot of Pineridge Natural Area, off of Hwy 42C. Come work with the Trails and Visitor Amenities team to help us accomplish our Timber Trail Reroute. This work will give you ... more |
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Bird Watching
Saturday, 24 October 2026 | 09:00 AM | Riverbend Ponds Natural AreaProgram Description: This program will involve a leisurely walk around Riverbend Ponds, and maybe also Cattail Chorus and/or Cottonwood Hollow Ponds, depending on bird activity. Various species of birds , mostly waterfowl and other aquatic birds, ... more |
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What a Hoot! The (Screech) Owls Among Us
Saturday, 24 October 2026 | 04:00 PM | McMurry Natural AreaWhere: McMrurry Natural Area. Meet at the kiosk near the parking lot, 445 Hemlock St., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Activity Description: Curious about owls and their relationship to humans and the environment? Join Volunteer Naturalists for a shor... more |
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Skygazing
Friday, 30 October 2026 | 06:00 PM | Bobcat Ridge Natural Area | Registration RequiredWhere: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Address: 10184 Co Rd 32C, Loveland, CO 80538. Approximately 35 minutes from Fort Collins. When: October 30th, 6-8 p.m. What to Bring: Dress for temperatures 20 degrees cooler than the actual temperature and... more |
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Get Involved
Accepting Applications for the following Volunteer Types:
- Adopt-A-Natural Area
- BARK Ranger
- Community Science
- Diamond Peak Mountain Bike Patrol
- Nix and Sugar Beet Garden Volunteer
- Photographer
- Stewardship Volunteer
- Volunteer Crew Leader/Trail Steward
- Volunteer Naturalist
- Volunteer Naturalist Assistant
- Volunteer Ranger Assistant
Get Involved!
View Opportunities...Requests
Request a Program for your group: