2020-CANCELLED: Midland Trail Construction @ Buena Vista: Mike O'Brien Memorial Project - 7/25/2020

Start Date-End Date: 07/25/2020-07/26/2020 Land Manager Office: USFS - Salida Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Craig Piefer Funding Partner: Mike O'Brien Memorial Trail Fund, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation, National Forest Foundation Programmatic Partner: Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition, Colorado Mountain Club Summary: Enjoy magnificent views as you build a new multi-use trail near Buena Vista! Description: Photo by Scott Anderson (2019) Read Before You Register! Need-to-Know Details: We greatly appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to care for Colorado's outdoor places during COVID-19. To help provide a fun and safe experience for all, there are a few temporary changes to be prepared for: You may sign up for one or all days of this project, though we encourage multi-day registration to limit the number of interactions and potential exposure. You may only register yourself. Every volunteer must sign our digital COVID-specific forms ahead of time to be able to attend. You must provide your own food and, if desired, overnight accommodations. VOC will not be providing campsites or meals at this time. You must bring a face mask and work gloves. Please click here for our full packing list of required and recommended items. Please come prepared to use the bathroom outdoors. VOC is not providing portalets at this time and public restrooms may be unavailable. Please click here for more information on how to "go" outside. Cancellation & Waitlists: Due to this year's limited number of projects and volunteer spots, we expect projects to fill quickly with waitlists. If you need to cancel, please email outreach@voc.org as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. If you are waitlisted for multiple projects, please call us at 303-715-1010 ext. 130 and we can help you find an open project, if available. Where You'll Be: A roughly two-hour drive from Denver or Colorado Springs, the rural town of Buena Vista lives up to its name. Translated to "good view" in Spanish, Buena Vista is known for its sweeping mountain views and growing outdoor recreation opportunities. The out-and-back Midland Trail, often used by mountain bikers, follows an old railroad grade and ends at Shields Gulch in the Bureau of Land Management's Fourmile Travel Management Area. What You'll Do: Sign up for one or both days, this project offers a variety of tasks for all skill levels and interests. We will work to extend the Midland Trail from Shields Gulch to McGee Gulch. This project will have something for everyone with both basic trail construction tasks for beginners as well as more technical work for those who enjoy a challenge. Why It Matters: The local trail system is an integral part of Buena Vista's economy, and has made the town a destination for mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners from all over the state. The trails are also home to numerous mountain bike races and trail runs. By extending the Midland Trail, volunteers will help disperse users throughout the trail system, which will in turn lessen user conflict, reduce environmental damage, and provide a better experience for visitors. 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, visit www.voc.org or call 303-715-1010. Latitude/Longitude: 38.837558, -106.027622 Additional Information: We greatly appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to care for Colorado's outdoor places during COVID-19. To help provide a fun and safe experience for all, there are a few temporary changes to be prepared for: You must provide your own food and, if desired, overnight accommodations. VOC will not be providing campsites or meals at this time. You must bring a face mask and work gloves. Please click here for our full packing list of required and recommended items. Please come prepared to use the bathroom outdoors. VOC is not providing portalets at this time and public restrooms may be unavailable. Please click here for more information on how to "go" outside. Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 11 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: