2015-Family Planting at High Plains Environmental Center

Start Date-End Date: 04/04/2015-04/04/2015 Land Manager Office: High Plains Environmental Center Land Manager Contact: Jim Tolstrup Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Spend a morning planting and giving back with the family Description: ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP SITE The High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) is a unique, urban environmental park located within Loveland's Centerra community. Open to the public, the nonprofit center offers stunning views of Longs Peak and is comprised of 76 acres of land and 3 miles of trails that surround two lakes covering an additional 200 acres. HPEC offers numerous public education programs, and engages volunteers in habitat restoration so that wildlife and native plants can thrive. ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER WORK During this one-day project, volunteers will plant native shrubs, forbes (a herbaceous flowering plant other than a grass), and grasses for a demonstration garden at the High Plains Environmental Center. The demonstration area will promote the use of native xeric plants (plants that require little moisture) in gardens and landscaping by educating the public on the benefits to urban wildlife and water conservation. Over the course of the day, volunteers will plant 100 five-gallon plants, 1,500 one-gallon or smaller plants, and mulch the area to help ensure the plants' survival. There may be other projects going on as well that day, such as weeding. PARTNERS High Plains Environmental Center Latitude/Longitude: 40.411013, -105.016547 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 50 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 32 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 13 Total Volunteer Days: 45 Total Unique Volunteers: 45 Total Volunteer Hours: 180 Staff Hours: 17 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: On Saturday, April 4th, 45 volunteers came out the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, CO. The group consisted of a 9-person AmeriCorps NCCC team, 13 youth volunteers, and 23 adults. Volunteers worked hard all morning to plant 500 riparian plants near a retention pond, and another 500 plants in their demonstration garden. The volunteers moved a whopping 32 cubic yards of gulf mix soil from 2 large piles into 6 smaller mounds that would be ideal for plants that prefer dry soil. The volunteers enjoyed breakfast, and homemade snacks at the end of the day. Successes and Challenges: The volunteers worked really hard, and were able to accomplish everything (and more!) that HPEC had lined out for us. There were 13 youth volunteers on the project, and they all were very proud of the work they had done. There were no real challenges for this project. This was our sixth year returning to HPEC, and they really understand what VOC can do. Lessons Learned: Kids love to see a visual of how much they did! We stacked up all the empty plant plug containers to see how much they had done, and their eyes lit up! Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Eric from HPEC talked to everyone about which plants prefer drier soil, and which like their roots to be wetter. This is why we were making mounds of dirt--the water would sink through the soil, leaving the top drier for those plants. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Two new crew chefs, Lindsey Pettit and Kimberly Nihon were on the project, and they loved it! They did a great job. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: