2020-CANCELLED: Backcountry Trail & Campsite Construction @ Mueller State Park: Mike O'Brien Memorial Project

Start Date-End Date: 09/26/2020-09/27/2020 Land Manager Office: CPW - Mueller State Park Land Manager Contact: Brian Kerrigan Funding Partner: Mike O'Brien Memorial Trail Fund Programmatic Partner: Summary: Registration is currently on hold. Enjoy luxe camping while building backcountry campsites and trails at beautiful Mueller State Park. Description: Photo courtesy of Jenny Zichterman (2018). Due to COVID-19, we expect significant changes to our 2020 volunteer projects including possible changes to dates, type of work, and project sizes. We are diligently working with our land management partners to address the logistical challenges posted by COVID-19 and provide safe volunteer opportunities. Please stay tuned and visitwww.voc.org/covid19for the most up-to-date information on VOC's response. Where You'll Be: Tucked in the mountains west of Colorado Springs near Divide, Mueller State Park boasts beautiful views, forested ridges, historical cabins and Ute medicine trees, and abundantwildlife including moose, bear, elk, and mule deer. Plus, with over 55 miles of trails, visitors have numerous opportunities forbackcountry hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and biking in the summer, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Visitors can extend their trip by stopping at some of the park's notable neighbors including Pikes Peak, Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, and the Florissant fossil beds. What You'll Do: Volunteers ages 14+ are invited to spend a fall weekend celebrating National Public Lands Day at Mueller State Park, camping with VOC at the park's beautiful and well-kept campsites - showers and flush toilets galore! While enjoying these amenities, you'll be working to expand more rugged, backcountry opportunities for the park's many visitors. Work will include building a trail to three new backcountry tent sites, and improving those sites by installing tent pads with pre-cut timber, rebar, and gravel fill. The work will be physically demanding, but rewarding with beautiful views, fall colors, meals from our volunteer Crew Chefs and, of course, the chance to take a hot shower at the end of the day. Why It Matters: Mueller State Park does not currently have any backcountry campsites, but there is demand for several. With your help, this project will provide a new way for users and visitors to experience all the park has to offer without having a detrimental impact on the environment. Need-to-Know Details: Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or olderon overnight projects. Volunteers are responsible for providing their own camping equipment.VOC will provide meals, 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,please email Kendall Cox or call 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 125,000 people in more than 1,000 volunteer projects for a donated labor value of $25 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, visitwww.voc.orgor call 303-715-1010. Latitude/Longitude: 38.88521, -105.19979 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 35 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: Total Youth Volunteers Attended: Total Volunteer Days: Total Unique Volunteers: Total Volunteer Hours: 0 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: