2015-Advocates for Children Youth SWAT: Weeding at Bear Creek Lake Park

Start Date-End Date: 06/13/2015-06/13/2015 Land Manager Office: City of Lakewood Land Manager Contact: Erik Nilsen Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Families will come out to either Bear Creek Lake Park, or Green Mountain to help with invasive species removal. Description: Families will come out to either Bear Creek Lake Park, or Green Mountain to help with invasive species removal. Latitude/Longitude: 39.651951, -105.143439 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 50 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 14 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 6 Total Volunteer Days: 20 Total Unique Volunteers: 20 Total Volunteer Hours: 80 Staff Hours: 9 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: On Saturday, June 13th, a group of 20 volunteers from Advocates for Children, a group that supports children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, came out to Bear Creek Lake Park to do some weed mitigation. The group worked diligently all morning to removed 5 acres of Dalmatian Toadflax, Scotch Thistle, Goat's Beard, and Knapweed. A picnic lunch was enjoyed by all, as well as trivia with VOC prizes! Successes and Challenges: The group was hoping for 30 people to come out, but due to the nature of the kids they work with, only 20 came. Getting them out on a public project might be a better option, although some of their kids don't work well in a large setting. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Provided by Erik and Skye from City of Lakewood, and VOC staff. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: