2015-Denver Waldorf HS Youth SWAT @ Cheyenne Mtn SP: Trail Maintenance

Start Date-End Date: 08/24/2015-08/24/2015 Land Manager Office: CPW - Cheyenne Mountain State Park Land Manager Contact: Mitch Martin Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Students will come out to Cheyenne Mountain SP to perform basic trail maintenance. Students will camp out Monday night, and do a geocache activity Tuesday morning. Description: Students will come out to Cheyenne Mountain SP to perform basic trail maintenance. Students will camp out Monday night, and do a geocache activity Tuesday morning. Latitude/Longitude: 38.733672, -104.819725 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 65 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 10 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 64 Total Volunteer Days: 74 Total Unique Volunteers: 74 Total Volunteer Hours: 592 Staff Hours: 40 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: On Monday, August 24th, 63 high school students from the Denver Waldorf School came out to Cheyenne Mountain State Park to participate in a trail maintenance project and camping overnight for their beginning of school retreat with VOC and Colorado Young Leaders. The students cut in new back slope that had been washed away in heavy spring rains on the North Talon trail. Students were able to complete 2000 feet of trail. After the work day, students enjoyed dinner and s'mores, while having some free time to explore the park. On Tuesday morning, a park employee explained the premise of geocaching and gave students GPS trackers to go out an find a few caches. Successes and Challenges: This was the first day of school, so everyone was just a little unorganized. The students did not come on a bus, but with parent volunteers, so the arrival was a little crazy. Because it was their first day back, students were more interested in socializing with each other, than with listening or doing volunteer work. That being said, the teachers and parents were thrilled with the project, and said that the students reported later that they had a great time. Lessons Learned: For this school, try to have a work site that is close to the camp site, to avoid extra travel logistics. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Provided by VOC staff and park staff. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: