2018-Sangre de Cristo Family Camping & Trail Construction: Mike O'Brien Memorial Project (Baca National Wildlife Refuge)

Start Date-End Date: 05/19/2018-05/20/2018 Land Manager Office: BLM - San Luis Valley Land Manager Contact: Sean Noonan Funding Partner: Mike O'Brien Memorial Trail Fund, Crestone Brewing Co, Crestone, Town of Programmatic Partner: NPS - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Alpine Achievers Initiative Summary: WAITLISTED: Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day at the base of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains! Description: NOTE:This project is full. Please register to be added to the waitlist; we are often able to accommodate more volunteers closer to the project date. About the Stewardship Site: Volunteers will spend the weekend about three miles from the small town of Crestone at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, known for their red hue at sunset and sunrise. The rural area, known as the San Luis Valley, is a stunning destination just an hour North of Great Sand Dunes National Park with hot springs and access to wilderness areas throughout. Volunteers will camp in the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, home to hidden wetlands and an enormous elk herd! About the Volunteer Experience: Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day on this signature Family Camping project, which offers something for everyone, including individuals and volunteers of all abilities. While children ages 6-11 enjoy fun, educational activities led by VOC's Programs Manager and a local partner organization, children ages 12+ will work alongside parents and family members as they break ground on the new Eastern San Luis Valley Trail system. Tasks range from light shoveling and raking to moving large rocks and building structures for those interested in a more challenging experience. All volunteers will be treated to an amazing campsite at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, meals from our volunteer Crew Chefs on Saturday and Sunday, and an educational campfire talk with staff from Great Sand Dunes National Park. We recommend rounding out the weekend by exploring the nearby town of Crestone in the evening and taking time to visit the sand dunes on Sunday once the work day is over. Great Sand Dunes National Park has generously offered to loan camping equipment to families who may not be able to participate otherwise. Availability is limited; please contact Taylor Driver for more information. Save the dates for our Family Camping projects in Breckenridge (July 28-29) and Steamboat Springs (Sept. 8-9), too! About the Overall Impact: The Eastern San Luis Valley Trail System that volunteers help create will ultimately result in a series of trails that connect the Town of Crestone, Crestone Charter School, and the Baca Grande Sub Division with nearby public lands and recreational opportunities, including the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. While the majority of existing trails climb quickly into steep slopes and hold snow in the warmer months, the new trail system will travel through more mellow lands at lower elevations, significantly improving opportunities for residents and visitors of all skill levels to explore the area's remarkable natural areas. Need-to-Know Details: Minors:All youth under 16mustbe accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects. Youth under 18mustbe accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on overnight projects. Parking, Food & Facilities:VOC will provide all tools and equipment, including work gloves and hard hats when needed. The campground offers full restroom facilities and is a 5-10 minute drive to the trail; the work site is an easy, few-minute hike from there. While campsites are provided, you must bring your own tent, sleeping bag, camp chair, and other supplies. Our volunteer Crew Chefs will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Cancellation:Our land manager partners rely on VOC volunteers to accomplish critical stewardship needs, and our projects often have wait lists. If you need to cancel, pleasecontact Jamie Burkeat 303-715-1010 ext. 116 as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. Latitude/Longitude: 37.990390, -105.685542 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 60 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 92 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 31 Total Volunteer Days: 113 Total Unique Volunteers: 71 Total Volunteer Hours: 1103.5 Staff Hours: 83 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: 1. How many volunteers were on the project and how many hours were contributed? 71 unique volunteers 31 youth 92 adult 116 volunteer days 995.50 hours 2. Brief description of need for the project: The Eastern San Luis Valley Trail System that volunteers help create will ultimately result in a series of trails that connect the Town of Crestone, Crestone Charter School, and the Baca Grande Sub Division with nearby public lands and recreational opportunities, including the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. While the majority of existing trails climb quickly into steep slopes and hold snow in the warmer months, the new trail system will travel through more mellow lands at lower elevations, significantly improving opportunities for residents and visitors of all skill levels to explore the area's remarkable natural areas. 3. Goals accomplished (example: feet of trail built, acres of invasive weeds removed, etc.): New trail - 1742 feet (1/3 mile) Trail restored/maintained - 2640 feet (1/2 mile) Trail closed (social trails) - 500 feet Rock walls - 4 built, one rebuilt Climbing turns - 4 built Rock steps - 2 built 4. Importance of work and volunteer effort: Helped achieve the goals in #2 above. Created a more extensive community trail system good for bikes, horses and hikers that is accessible and reasonable for a much larger demographic pf people in and around the Crestone community. 5. Highlights (example: band, volunteer appreciation raffle, educational presentation): Volunteer appreciation raffle featuring donated items from SLV local business Kristi Mountain Sports; kegs of beer and soda enjoyed by all from Crestone Brewing Company - 3 of their staff came and worked all day on Saturday on the trail, too!; An evening visit by Ron Garcia, manager of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge and Kathy Faz from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - Kathy offered a youth activity and an evening talk on research done at the Sand Dunes to help with research on Mars and then did some start gazing with us with a telescope; daytime environmental education offered by partnering Alpine Achievers Initiative out of Saguache, CO. Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Parents of kids that have special supervisory needs should not act as crew leaders when they ought to be able to give full attention to supervising and supporting their kids. They are welcome to volunteer but should not take on that additional role of CL. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Alpine Achievers Initiative offered environmental ed to kids 6-11 years old. 2 AAI staff supported by Taylor Driver. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: 2 children (one 15, one 10) were playing in the evening after the work was done for the day and the larger child picked up the smaller one and flipped him over, causing him to hit his head, which resulted in an injury. Incident reports were completed and follow up steps taken with the parents and kids involved. Description of Work Completed: