2015-Cairn October 2015: Trail Building at Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab

Start Date-End Date: 10/10/2015-10/11/2015 Land Manager Office: Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab School Land Manager Contact: David Epp Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Cairn students will spend the weekend at Outdoor Lab building trail, and doing team building activities. Description: Cairn students will spend the weekend at Outdoor Lab building trail, and doing team building activities. Latitude/Longitude: 39.641400, -105.460314 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 40 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 9 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 43 Total Volunteer Days: 52 Total Unique Volunteers: 27 Total Volunteer Hours: 423 Staff Hours: 31 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: For the overnight project this year, 22 students and 4 mentors went to the Mount Evans Outdoor Lab. The weather was PERFECT, and the project was a big success. Terry Gimbel was on site to help with rock work, and teach students about sustainable trails, and how to construct trail. The students were able to complete 350 ft of new trail, install 5 rock steps, and build 7 ft of rock wall. After working hard all day, we all ate dinner together, and went to the historic Dodge Lodge to hear scary stories. Then it was campfire time -- skits were performed and s'mores were had. We all slept in the canvas-covered decks that Outdoor Lab has-- which were very comfortable. The next morning we had breakfast, and Principal David Epp led us on a hike up to a gorgeous vantage point, where we could overlook Mt. Evans and the surrounding peaks. Successes and Challenges: -The kids that were working on the rock wall didn't finish, which was kind of frustrating for them. I think sticking to some simplier rock work is best, so they can feel like they accomplished something. -It was mentioned that the mentors would like to have a "mentor retreat" of sorts, before the Cairn season begins. This would entail a Working with Youth/Crew Leader training in late August, where mentors could get a better handle on some skills and also get to know one another before the Cairn season begins. -The bunks that we stayed in were awesome, but they were up a very steep hill. We ran shuttles to get everyone back, but that just took away from the kids getting to spend time together. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Provided by VOC staff, Terry Gimbel (VOC volunteer), and Principal at Outdoor Lab Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: