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The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) is seeking volunteers to support the 8th Annual Native Plants Project Sagebrush Planting Event, hosted by the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Division. This hands-on conservation and education event will take place over four days at the reclaimed Day Loma Abandoned Mine in the scenic Gas Hills outside Riverton, WY.
This year, WDEQ will welcome 300 students from Lander Middle School across three days and 30 students from Ft. Washakie Middle School on Friday. Volunteers will work alongside students to plant sagebrush seedlings, share conservation stories, and help inspire the next generation of land stewards.
What to Expect
Dates:
- Monday, October 12th
- Tuesday, October 13th
- Thursday, October 15th
- Friday, October 16th
Location: WDEQ-AML Day Loma Reclamation Project, Gas Hills near Riverton, WY
Time:
- 7:45 AM – 3:30 PM (including travel from Lander)
- On-site engagement: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Provided: All tools and planting supplies
Volunteers Should Bring: Layered clothing, sack lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, hiking footwear, and comfortable work gloves.
About the Program
The sagebrush seedlings planted during this event are grown at the Wyoming Honor Farm, through a partnership between the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, WDEQ-AML, Wyoming Department of Corrections, and the Institute for Applied Ecology.
This multi-agency collaboration supports ecological restoration across Wyoming’s former mine lands while providing students with meaningful, field-based ecological education.
“Every year, these students bring incredible amounts of enthusiasm and energy to the field. Much like the sagebrush itself, experiential ecological education helps grow deep, resilient roots in Wyoming’s landscapes, anchoring the next generation of land stewards.” said Josh Oakleaf, AML Project Manager & Vegetation Coordinator.
To learn more about the AML Native Plants Project, including its mission, partners, and impact on the sagebrush ecosystem, please visit the ArcGIS Story Map available here on the WDEQ website.
How to Sign Up
Volunteers are asked to RSVP by October 5th by contacting Josh Oakleaf, AML Project Manager & Vegetation Coordinator at (307) 330-3107 or josh.oakleaf@wyo.gov.