Last month, more than 200 Scouts headed out across the city of Boulder for our largest (and coldest) Volunteer Day yet. Stepping away from the office and into the community, our employees gave their time and effort to some wonderful local organizations while forging meaningful connections with each other.
Volunteers spread out to four different locations across the city: the East Boulder Community Center, Boulder Civic Area, EcoCycle Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) facility and Growing Gardens, with some Scouts hanging behind in the office to create cards for Boulder’s Meals on Wheels chapter.
At EcoCycle, one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit recyclers, Scouts learned about sustainable waste management and recycling practices and got to tour their unique and first-of-its-kind CHaRM facility. Then, Scouts unpackaged books no longer needed by our local school district so they could be broken down into small fibe4rs and transformed into recycled pulp to be used in various other paper products. Volunteers also sorted plastics from different kinds of recycled water bottles from around the Boulder area. By the end of the shift, the team unpacked twice the amount of product that EcoCycle expected.
“It’s a fun way to practice teamwork in a different way while getting to know each other.” AP Specialist Julia Greenwald noted. “It really makes you learn to trust your colleagues you don’t see often and learn their strengths.”
Meanwhile at Growing Gardens, a team of 60 Scouts got down in the dirt to weed garden beds and wash freshly-harvested vegetables, everything from crisp lettuce to bright orange carrots, in preparation for the fall harvest season. Scouts jumped in with enthusiasm, and by the end of the day, the head gardener shared that the group had weeded three times more than he anticipated.
“I got to meet and connect with Scouts I had never met before or hadn’t had the chance to get to know,” Marketing Intern Morgan Byerley shared. “Now at the office, I see more familiar faces than before.” The experience left everyone feeling accomplished, refreshed, and a little more bonded after spending the day outdoors together.
Not far away, at the East Boulder Community Center, another group of Scouts rolled up their sleeves to help with grounds maintenance around the property, pulling weeds and tidying garden areas to help the city maintain its lawns and landscaping. The friendly competition kicked in quickly, with teams vying for the best review from the volunteer supervisors when they’d come by to check on progress.
While the tasks were simple, the impact was meaningful. “It’s great to be able to volunteer our time to help the City of Boulder,” reflected Will Patterson, Director of Marketing and Communications. “Even doing something as straightforward as weeding around the community center hopefully allows the city to put its own resources towards other, impactful uses.”
Down by the creek at the Boulder Civic Area, another team of Scouts worked alongside the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department to help maintain one of the city’s most visited public spaces. The group picked up garbage, trimmed back vegetation around benches, and pulled invasive weeds — all while learning about how Boulder’s Parks and Rec system operates with limited staff and without relying on methods like herbicide or controlled burns to manage growth.
“The Parks and Rec team relies on hard work and community involvement to maintain our shared spaces,” Shannon Foley reflected. “It’s a great reminder of the accountability and generosity it takes to be part of a community. It’s important to pitch in when you can — and to ask for help when you need it.”
The Civic Area group shared plenty of laughs and learned together as they worked.
“Everyone was excited to pitch in and just as excited to learn,” said East region developer Kasy Walker-Daniels. “We helped each other identify native versus non-native plants, asked lots of philosophical questions, and learned more about each other’s roles at work. The best moment was seeing teammates learn how to identify non-native species and then teach others how to spot them too.”
By the end of the day, volunteers felt a deeper sense of connection — not only to each other but to the city they helped care for. “I felt proud of the work I had done and more accountable to my community,” Walker-Daniels said.
Back at the office, a group of Scouts partnered with our local Meals on Wheels to create cheerful, personalized cards for meal recipients across the city. Their creativity was on full display, and they made dozens of heartfelt cards designed to bring smiles to people throughout our community.
Whether our in the gardens, along the Civic Area trails, or in the office surrounded by markers and glitter, every team brought the same energy. Just as we do in our work building renewable energy infrastructure, we’re always ready to roll up our sleeves, work side by side, and make a difference as a team.