2014-Post-fire Restoration Skills Training

Start Date-End Date: 05/10/2014-05/10/2014 Land Manager Office: Flying W Ranch Land Manager Contact: Funding Partner: Rocky Mountain Field Institute Programmatic Partner: Coalition for the Upper South Platte Summary: The Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI) along with our partners at Coalition for the Upper South Platte and Rocky Mountain Field Institute will present an exciting collaborative post-fire restoration skills training. Description: Due to recent large scale wildfires the demand for skilled post-fire restoration volunteers has increased dramatically. Join the Outdoor Stewardship Institute, Coalition for the Upper South Platte and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute for the premier of our first post-fire restoration skills training. These exceptional stewardship organizations will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to what promises to be a terrific experience. Instructors will demonstrate and engage participants in effective raking and seeding, wattle and log erosion barriers, ground cover instillation and other related topics. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the training. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Due to the high demand for this training and the limited space, prior volunteer history with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is required. Latitude/Longitude: Additional Information: Due to the high demand for this training and the limited space, prior volunteer history with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is required. Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: High Altitude Project: Desired Number of Volunteers: 12 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 11 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 15 Total Unique Volunteers: 11 Total Volunteer Hours: 99 Staff Hours: 53 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: VOC's Outdoor Stewardship Institute collaborated with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte and Rocky Mountain Field Institute to develop a high quality training to teach volunteers how to address erosion issues caused by fire. On May 10th, 35 participants showed up to learn more about effective post fire restoration skills at the Flying W Ranch just outside of Colorado Springs. Instructors went over skills such as how to install log erosion barriers, straw wattles and properly seed and mulch post burn landscapes. Participants who attended the training have committed to utilize these skills on at least 2 post fire restoration projects hosted by one of the 4 partnering organizations. In addition to developing the training the partnering groups also created a Post Fire Restoration Manual.