Description
Start Date-End Date: 10/05/2017-10/05/2017
Land Manager Office: USFWS - Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
Land Manager Contact: Kelly Uhing
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner: Lake International School, Colorado Mountain Club
Summary: Students will help out with weed control, seeding, and native seed collection.
Description: Students will help out with weed control, seeding, and native seed collection.
Latitude/Longitude: 39.798446, -104.789672
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Easy
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 100
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 10
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 85
Total Volunteer Days: 95
Total Unique Volunteers: 95
Total Volunteer Hours: 332.5
Staff Hours: 12
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: Nearly 90 Seventh graders from Lake International came out to First Creek Open Space for their second of five,Play, Learn and Servedays. The "play" portion of the day was put on by Colorado Mountain Club, who brought their bouldering bus, so that students could get a taste of rock climbing. It was nearly all of the student's first time participating in rock climbing. The "learn" component of the day was hosted by Denver Parks and Rec. They taught the students about some of the different mammals and avian species that can be found roaming the open space and the adjacent Rocky Mnt. Arsenal. They had skins and skulls of the animals to help facilitate understanding, and did a really wonderful job. The students really enjoyed the dissection of owl pellets that had been found in the area.
This was this groups first true intro into active stewardship, so in partnership with DPRwe focused on invasivespecies removal, seeding with native grasses and milkweed pod collection. Each small group has the chance to do both each of the small stewardship projects, and to learn about the why behind them. In a post-trip meeting with the head teacher, she said that the students were really inspired and connectedto knowing the why of the project and most of the students said the stewardship portion was their favorite piece. This was a little surprising as they seemed a little disconnected during the day- but hey, maybe that is just 7thgraders for you. DPR was really great about understanding that this day was a little more centered around the learning and intro to stewardship, as opposed to being super set on large amounts of work getting done.
9:30 -9:45 Students Arrive
? 9:45-9:50 Big group introduction: By VOC and Denver Parks and Rec
? 9:50-10:50 - Session 1 Split into 3 groups for rotations (If Lake International could have already assigned groups, this will go much faster!)
o Group A: Volunteer Project- Invasive Species Removal
o Group B: Volunteer Project- Ecological Restoration- Native Grass Seeding
o Group C: Colorado Mountain Club Bouldering Bus and Skins and Skulls/Nature Activities
? of group C does 30 min at the CMC Bouldering Bus
? The other half does 30 min Nature Programming put on by Denver Parks
? Flip-Flop
? 10:55-11:50 - Session 2
o Group A: Colorado Mountain Club Bouldering Bus and Skins and Skulls/Nature Activities
o Group B: Volunteer Project- Ecological Restoration- Invasive Species Removal
o Group C: Volunteer Project- Ecological Restoration- Native Grass Seeding
? 11:50-12:20 Lunch
o All Groups
? 12:20-1:20
o Group A: Volunteer Project- Ecological Restoration- Native Grass Seeding
o Group B: Colorado Mountain Club Bouldering Bus and Skins and Skulls/Nature Activities
o Group C: Volunteer Project- Invasive Species Removal
? 1:20-1:30 Big Group Farewell/ compliment circle
? 1:30- Students Load up onto bus
Successes and Challenges: Successes
The youth enjoyed the variety of activites that were planned for them.
Feedback from the teachers were really positive
They loved the owl pellet disection and skins and skulls with Denver Parks and Rec. Staff
Denver Parks and Rec staff were not only wonderful to work with, they were patient with the youth, and also incredibly understanding to the fact that not a whole lot of work got done.
I had sent out a powerpoint for the teachers to share with the kids before hand, and so they were already aware of a lot of the
The lunch and waterbottles went over well-
However, I heard from the teacher that the majority of the students eat lunch at school, so they enjoy field trips where they get to bring their own.
Challenges
Bus arrived over 30 minutes late which meant getting started almost a whole hour late once all what said and done.
This group of youth needs more supervision. The teachers didn't have a whole lot of management even in their smaller groups.
The road we were near was supposed to be closed to traffic, but the city had scheduled dumptrucks to pick up items along the road the same day as the project.
Trying to get this group motivated about the "working" aspect of stewardship will be an ongoing challenge.
A few behavioral issues.
Group needs to be taught the importance of LNT.
Lessons Learned: See successes and challenges.
Site, while close in not ideal.
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education: Presented via PPT. in the classroom prior to project ( made by VOC) and the day of by VOC and Denver Parks and Rec. Staff
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents:
Description of Work Completed:
