2012-Mountain Park Environmental Center Trail Restoration and Young Stewards Program

Start Date-End Date: 05/12/2012-05/13/2012 Land Manager Office: Mountain Park Environmental Center Land Manager Contact: Dave Van Manen Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: This project has been cancelled. Description: VOC and Mountain Park Environmental Center have decided that we must cancel the Mountain Park Environmental Center Trail Restoration and Young Stewards Program project, planned for this coming weekend, May 12-13. Unfortunately, not enough people signed up for this project to meet our minimum volunteer requirements. We simply would not be able to accomplish the work planned for this weekend with the amount of volunteers committed. Thank you very much for your enthusiasm for this project. VOC projects are rarely cancelled, and we hope this does not deter you from volunteering with us again. STEWARDSHIP SITE The 611-acre Pueblo Mountain Park is located in the gorgeous Wet Mountains of Colorado's southern foothills and borders the San Isabel National Forest. Situated in what is known as the foothills, or transition life zone, the park's flora and fauna are abundant and diverse. Bears, mountain lions, deer, numerous bird species, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir all call this rugged area home. The park is also home to the Mountain Park Environmental Center, whose mission is to provide experiential environmental education and interpretive programming to help people better understand the natural world around them. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY The park's extensive trail system, an important resource for the center, was built in the 1930s and suffers from significant erosion. Help restore the Tower Trail by building erosion control structures and rerouting un-repairable sections of trail. The terrain is a mix of ponderosa forest and shrublands, meaning the trail moves through dry, gravely terrain with decomposing granite soil. The terrain is relatively gentle, and access is pretty short and direct. YOUNG STEWARDS PROGRAM While adults 13 and older work on the Tower Trail, children ages 6-12 are invited to participate in our Young Stewards Program. Staff from the Mountain Park Environmental Center will provide environmental education, outdoor games, and age-appropriate stewardship activities. PARTNER Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC), SmartWool OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch Camping: available Friday and Saturday night Other accommodations: Dorm room accommodations are available for$20 per night for adults and $10 per night for kids (12 and under). Private rooms will be 50% off regular prices. To make reservations, please contact MPEC directly at 719-485-4444 or guestrelations@hikeandlearn.org. Learn more about room options: www.hikeandlearn.org Activities:Enjoy live music around the fire circle on Saturday evening. Tour the historic Horseshoe Lodge. Latitude/Longitude: 38.08369827270508, -104.97250366210937 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 36 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: Total Youth Volunteers Attended: Total Volunteer Days: Total Unique Volunteers: Total Volunteer Hours: 0 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: Due to a large group cancellation last minute (i.e. Manny Martinez Middle School...the same group that had "issues" at the Governor's Mansion Planting Project a few weeks later); the project had to be cancelled due to low volunteer numbers. Dave at MPEC was enthusiastic to reschedule and Cairn will be going for their October Overnight Project to complete the scheduled trail restoration/reroute project.