2019-Trail Construction @ Signature Bluffs Natural Area

Start Date-End Date: 04/27/2019-04/27/2019 Land Manager Office: City of Greeley - Parks and Recreation Land Manager Contact: Karen Scopel Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Create a natural-surface trail in Greeley on this project for volunteers ages 12+. Description: Project photo by the City of Greeley. Where You'll Be: Situated along the Cache La Poudre River in Greeley, the Signature Bluffs Natural Area is a mecca for Weld County residents, offering top-notch fishing, hiking, and biking opportunities. In addition, the area is home to large swath of natural river habitat and, of course, the "signature bluffs". This significant geological system was carved by the river over millions of years and is a distinctive feature along the river's edge. What You'll Do: Spend a Spring day along the Cache la Poudre River as you work to build a new, natural-surface trail in Greeley's Signature Bluffs Natural Area. After coffee and a light breakfast provided by our volunteer Crew Chefs, you'll work along a fairly flat section with dozens of volunteers aged 12+ to clear the trail corridor of shrubs and branches, establish the trail tread itself, install drainage structures to prevent erosion and preserve the long-term integrity of the trail, and possibly reroute some sections of another nearby trail. This project is a great way to get outside with the family and discover a new recreational area along the Front Range; lunch will also be provided. Why It Matters: Residents and visitors can enjoy numerous paved trails around Greeley, but there are few natural-surface options available. These trails are in high demand: a user-created "social trail" has already developed in the area. By formalizing that route, you'll help create a more sustainable trail and open up recreational opportunities for hikers, walkers, and joggers. Need-to-Know Details: Minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects. VOC will provide all equipment including tools and work gloves. Cancellation:Our partners rely on VOC volunteers to accomplish critical stewardship needs, and our projects often have wait lists. If you need to cancel, pleasecontact Emily Schaeferat 303-715-1010 ext. 116 as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. About Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is the state's oldest, largest, and leading outdoor stewardship nonprofit organization. Founded in 1984 to motivate and enable people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources, VOC has engaged nearly 120,000 people in more than 1,000 volunteer projects for a donated labor value of $24 million. Through award-winning youth and volunteer programs, leadership training, capacity-building programs, and collaborative efforts with nonprofits and land management agencies, VOC is an invaluable resource in Colorado, especially as our outdoor stewardship needs are approaching near-crisis levels. For more information, visit www.voc.org or call 303-715-1010. Latitude/Longitude: 40.44, -104.8 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 60 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 60 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 9 Total Volunteer Days: 69 Total Unique Volunteers: 69 Total Volunteer Hours: 568 Staff Hours: 21 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Early season enthusiasm meant a large group turned out for this project--70 volunteers! There were almost no cancellations. The main project goal was to construct a new natural surface trail just off of the paved Poudre River Trail tucked next to the river and looping around an old reclaimed oil pad. The terrain was mainly flat and work moved quickly. By 11:30 AM volunteers had already completed the planned loop--about 1902' of new trail. One crew transitioned to weed removal and swept the area for mullein and other invasives. In total they cleared 2.5 acres. We broke for an early lunch to celebrate and gave everyone the option of going home if they needed. A few volunteers left, but those who stayed completed an overflow project with crusher fine the Greeley staff had prepared. We completed another 30 feet of new trail and 70 feet of maintenance. Successes and Challenges: Successes: $350 in membership donations were made! We also completed more work than planned, even with overflow projects. Challenges: Don't underestimate the enthusiasm and efficiency of volunteers--by mid-morning, we were already scrambling to make the work last until lunch. We could have capped this project at half the number we ended up with, or planned something more ambitious for this many people. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: