If you haven't been there, check it out: ELC

If you live in Fort Collins, you have most likely visited CSU's 212 acre Environmental Learning Center, and if not, you should. It is a great place to rack up some volunteer hours, go for a walk, learn some pretty cool stuff and just relax in the beauty of nature.

Visitors can walk a self-guided nature trail, relax at the picnic pavilion, observe the different birds at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program cages or participate in programs put on by the ELC.

Although many of the programs are geared toward environmental education for children, the ELC puts on special events or programs throughout the year, check their list of events or calendar for more information.

If you are interested in volunteering, here's how:

• Service Saturdays: The last Saturday of every month is a service day, where volunteers help with different projects, from trail work to gardening.
• Individuals: If you are just interested in volunteering, tell the ELC what you want to get out of your experience and they will set you up.
• Groups: If your group needs volunteer hours, the ELC will put you in the books and get you to work.

To volunteer, all you have to do is contact the ELC for group service projects or fill out an application form for individuals.

If you need to log some volunteer hours, the ELC is a perfect place to go: they are easy to work with, you get to work outside and you can make a difference in the community.