2012-Ruby Mountain Amphitheater Construction

Start Date-End Date: 05/19/2012-05/20/2012 Land Manager Office: CPW - Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Land Manager Contact: Glenn Cottone Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Construct a new amphiteater at the Ruby Mountain Campground with stunning views of the Collegiate Peaks. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The Ruby Mountain Campground, located in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area along the Arkansas River, has spectacular views of the Collegiate Peaks. Just a few hundred yards from the campground is the trailhead for the Browns Canyon wilderness study area, which leads to a nice hike to the river and fishing. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Ruby Mountain Campground is consistently full from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The campground's amphitheater, a popular spot for visitors to take in educational programming, is in desperate need of help. Challenges include uncomfortable and limited seating, lack of accessibility for people with disabilities, and sun obstruction during popular evening programs. Be part of this exciting effort to build a new amphitheater from the ground up. Volunteer work will involve moving large rocks, setting footings for stone benches, installing a flagstone stage and ADA platform, and creating a short access trail. Volunteers will not need to walk long distances to project site. There will be a mix of moderate and difficult work. Activities like trail building and prepping the platforms for the stage and ADA pad will be moderate. Work on the rock seating and footing of the amphitheater require exertion and lifting. PARTNERS Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPAW) OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch Camping: available Friday and Saturday nights Activities: On Saturday night, local volunteer geologist Bob Hickey will talk about the local geology. Latitude/Longitude: 38.8380012512207, -106.14710235595703 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 25 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 41 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 38 Total Unique Volunteers: 22 Total Volunteer Hours: 514.5 Staff Hours: 131 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Guest speaker from parks who spoke about geology. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Last minute change in bench material led to a need for a demolition saw with diamond carbide blades. This kept our TA very busy on its operation and did not allow him to be with the crew instructing on a very technical project. A lot of volunteers were not highly engaged in the project because of the time required to cut the stones. Technical work with high levels of precision that might not have been great for volunteer work. Additional information in post project evaluation in project folder. Note: Went back to visit the project site in September 2012. The design for the benches were completely changed. Benches constructed by volunteers were dismantled and a new style of benches was installed. The new style is definitely another one that would have worked. I was told by the campground host that the benches were installed by a contracted mason and it took that person a very long time to construct. Lots of leftover stone on the road next to the theater. The theater access is not yet opened for use. Campground host did not see a lot of amphitheater use this year due to construction. Description of Accidents/Incidents: None Description of Work Completed: Volunteers built a campground amphitheater at Ruby Mtn Campground. They constructed a flagstone stage. Volunteers also cut stone and built 10 benches for the amphitheater. Eventually, the amphitheater will have 24 benches and will be able to seat 48 people along with having wheelchair access. This will allow park visitors to enjoy naturalist presentations and learn about our beautiful Colorado. Food donations for the project came from: Kaladi Coffee, Nest Fresh Eggs, Einstein Bros Bagels, Royal Crest Dairy, Raquelitas Tortillas, and New Belgium Brewing Company. Volunteers got to enjoy a naturalist presentation from Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area - State Park volunteer Bob Hickey. Bob shared with us geological history on how the mountains and other features of Colorado were formed to give us this unique landscape to enjoy. Also on this project, a new class of Crew Chef volunteers and Mentor were about to train with volunteer Crew Chef Mentor Elly Baldwin. These volunteers serve up healthy and delicious meals to hungry and hardworking volunteers.