2016-Mike O'Brien Memorial Project: Hermit Park Trail Construction & Family Camping

Start Date-End Date: 10/15/2016-10/16/2016 Land Manager Office: Larimer County Natural Resources Land Manager Contact: Meegan Flenniken Funding Partner: Mike O'Brien Memorial Trail Fund, REI - Recreational Equipment Inc. - Denver, CO Programmatic Partner: Larimer County Natural Resources Summary: Build a new trail in this 'hidden gem' location near Estes Park, while kids enjoy supervised environmental activities. Description: About the Stewardship Site The 1,362-acre Hermit Park Open Space offers residents of Larimer County a far less crowded option to recreate than the nearby Estes Valley. The area is nestled into the hills at 7,880-8,964 feet elevation amid beautiful ponderosa pine forests, wetland meadows, and abundant wildlife. It is a popular spot for camping, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. About the Volunteer Experience VOC is excited to have REI join us on this exciting project and camping experience with their gear, games, and educational mini clinics to showcase how fun and safe camping can be for all ages! FOR VOLUNTEERS AGES 12+: Volunteers will construct one- to- two miles of a sustainable, multiuse trail that will connect the existing trail system at Hermit Park Open Space. Most of the tasks involved will be moderate in difficulty. Volunteers will have the opportunity to camp onsite, and wholesome meals will be provided and cooked by VOC volunteer chefs. FOR YOUTH AGES 6-11: While adults and older youth are out building the new trail, youth will participate in free environmental education activities and games to learn about wildlife. Activities will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, and will include local landscape exploration and history, discovery geology hikes, and more, with a naturalist from Larimer County. Come dinnertime, adults and kids will reunite around the ultimate campfire scene - set by REI - to share stories, play games, learn important skills like fire building, win awesome giveaways, and eat gourmet s'mores! Following a restful night of sleeping under the stars, awaken to the wonderful aroma of a homemade breakfast and made-to-order coffee. Be sure to download VOC's YourCO mobile app prior to the project and take the pledge to care for Colorado! By doing so, kids will be awarded a cool VOC OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER patch that they can proudly affix to their backpack, jacket, or other outdoor gear. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM REI! Latitude/Longitude: 40.352496, -105.464244 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 75 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 162 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 28 Total Volunteer Days: 189 Total Unique Volunteers: 107 Total Volunteer Hours: 1523 Staff Hours: 47 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: The theme for the weekend at Hermit Park Open Space was going above and beyond and collaboration: -The Crew Chef Crew exceeded expectations for quality and quantity of food prepared. -REI went crazy with give away items, and raffle items, interacting with the volunteers and to top it all off crushed rock on the trail for two days! -Volunteers came out in full force, had a great time, and built over 1 mile of brand new trail. While doing that they found time to play games, dress up and celebrate Halloween, and encourage the kids to run around and be wild in the mountains! Groups that came out to make this happen: VOC, REI, Larimer County Open Space, CATS, OMBC, Estes Park Cycling Coalition, Larimer County Horsemen's Association, and CSU Natural Resources Department. Almost 100 volunteers came out to Hermit Park Open Space to enjoy the fall weather, halloween fun, and serious trail building. Friday nights blustery conditions carried over into Saturday morning blowing tents over, flipping plates of food, and creating a sense of urgency among everyone to get the day started and moving. Once we began hiking to the location we were fortunate enough to gain some respite from the wind and the day began to gradually get better. Volunteers happily stretched out along the mile long section of new trail that we were building and set to work creating new tread, clearing corridor, and constructing rock features. The sun was out and the day began to shine upon us as everyone eagerly anticipated the evenings events. As volunteers arrived back at camp around 4PM they were greeted with a bevy of games and giveaways facilitated by REI. There were several camping games, comfortable hammocks and chairs, and three tables of give away items including backpacking food and a make-your-own sunglasses station. Needless to say people were happy kids and adults. The anticipation for dinner roled around and everyone enjoyed an incredible meal provided by the VOC Crew Chefs who finished with a buffet of desserts including a halloween themed cake! Volunteers needed to be restrained as they eagerly eyed the sweet concoctions being placed just out of arms length. Several halloween costumes were on display as volunteers hovered around the raffle item table that REI put together. Clint Heiple and Jeff Trujillo were generous enoughto say a few kind words about the efforts made by VOC, REI, The Mike O' Brien Memorial, and Larimer County to make this event happen. The anticipation for the raffle grew as 8 backpacks, 1 fleece blanket, and a jar of homemade honey were raffled off to lucky volunteers. A massive game of rock, paper, scissors decided the winner of a two person REI tent that was donated. Everyone settled in to a quiet evening after that with less wind and comfortable conditions for a much needed night of rest. Sunday morning brought a bit of wind, but nothing that we were not accustomed to already. A few new arrivals showed up and we set out to continue where we left off Saturday. The work continued in the nice weather and at the end of the day a weary group of dedicated volunteers headed down the trail, tools in hand, smiles on their faces, and the satisfaction that over the course of the weekend roughly 100 volunteers completed over 1 mile of trail! Youth Programming: On Saturday, two Larimer County Education Dept. employees were present to help out with the kiddos. We had planned to hike up all the way up to Lion's Rock, however, we did not make it all the way up. We took our time going up the trail, and stopped often to play games of camoflauge, and to talk about different plants and animals. We made it to a pretty overlook, and let the kids explore on the rocks. When we made it back to camp, we made sunglasses with REI, and played in the hammocks and with giant Jenga. On Sunday, Cairn Mentor Brian Hanson and I had 7 kids for the day. We played a few games in the morning, and then headed back to one of the campsite areas. We made a campfire, and made apple tarts (apples with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in tin foil) over the fire. Then we spent the rest of the day exploring the rocky area and making forts. The kids really got into the fort making (as did the adults), and a lot of fun was had by all! Successes and Challenges: Successes: The entire project from start to finish. The food was great, the people were enthusiastic, and the location was perfect. Challenges: The wind. Lessons Learned: We should be prepared to bring walls or tarps to create shelter if needed. Allowing another organization to handle their own registrations creates its own challenges. This should be discouraged as it creates another level of organization and confusion for the volunteers registering. Special Notes: Cannot wait to be back next year. Meegan, Joel, and Larimer County do a great job. Stewardship Education: The kids were able to do a great hike, play some games and have a good time. Volunteers were fortunate enough to hear from Clint Heiple regarding the Mike O'Brien Memorial Foundation. For so many people to see the level of dedication that people have for caring for the outdoors reinforced the choice many people made to come out and work on this project. Jeff Trujillo gave a really nice speech regarding ho important it is to have these working relationships with REI, VOC, and places like Larimer County. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: The wind was a slight concern on Friday night going into Saturday morning. Description of Accidents/Incidents: There were not accidents/incidents. Description of Work Completed: