2016-Anadarko SWAT: Trail Maintenance and Restoration at the Poudre Learning Center

Start Date-End Date: 08/30/2016-08/30/2016 Land Manager Office: Poudre Learning Center Land Manager Contact: Ray Tschillard Funding Partner: Oxy (formerly Anadarko and Occidental) Programmatic Partner: Summary: Anadarko employees will come out to the Poudre Learning Center to help with trail maintenance and some ecological restoration. Description: The land that the Poudre Learning Center sits on was a successful farm for many years, until it was purchased by the Hall-Irwin Corporation for gravel mining. Halls-Irwin later donated 65 acres of land to create the Poudre Learning Center, so that children and families could have hands-on environmental education in their own community. With the Poudre River Trail running through their property, and a variety of native plant and animal species around, the PLC is an ideal place for an urban escape! PLC experiences intense flooding each year from the mountains which destroys sections of trail, so Anadarko employees will help with some much needed trail restoration. They will also help with some ecological restoration needs around the property such as weeding and seeding. Latitude/Longitude: 40.441679, -104.812596 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 50 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 42 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 42 Total Unique Volunteers: 42 Total Volunteer Hours: 168 Staff Hours: 10 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: On August 30th, 43 volunteers from Anadarko Petroleum Company came out to the Poudre Learning Center to help with some ecological restoration and grounds maintenance. The group was very punctual, and they worked really hard for the whole morning. They were able to remove 6 acres of weeds, 20 feet of barbed wire fence/wooden fence posts, and transplant 60 cottonwood trees. They had a catered lunch of BBQ, and left the facility feeling like they had made a real difference. The PLC staff was incredibly grateful, and shared their thanks with the group. Successes and Challenges: The group was supposed to work on a trail project, but things changed last minute. The group didn't miss a beat or complain, and still had a lot of fun! Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Provided by PLC staff and VOC staff about the site, wildlife, and purpose of the project. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: