2020-CANCELLED: Weekday: Kayak Trip & Habitat Restoration @ South Platte River

Start Date-End Date: 08/17/2020-08/17/2020 Land Manager Office: Weld County Public Works Land Manager Contact: Tina Booton Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Registration is currently on hold. Kayak and remove invasive weeds on this Monday project. Description: 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: The South Platte River flows 380 miles through Colorado from its headwaters near South Park to the Nebraska border, and eventually drains into the Gulf of Mexico via a series of tributaries. From various Native American tribes and European settlers to modern-day wildlife, recreationists, and urban dwellers, the South Platte River has long been a critical resource for agriculture, drinking water, industry, and numerous other activities. On this project, you'll get up close and personal with this important river as you kayak up a stretch from Brighton to Evans. What You'll Do: Spend a Monday exploring nature in the urban Front Range! On this small project, you'll spend the day kayaking up the South Platte River from Brighton to Evans covering about 14 miles, and stopping along the way to remove the harmful plant purple loosestrife. This project is a great opportunity to experience the river in a new way while making a significant contribution to the health of the river and surrounding plants and animals who rely on it. Breakfast, lunch, and shuttles back to cars at the end of the day will be provided. Additionally,If you have your own kayak you'd like to use, please let us know. Why It Matters: While beautiful, purple loosestrife is an aggressive plant that canrapidly degrade wetlands, diminishing their value for wildlife habitat. When purple loosestrife gets a foothold in an area, the habitat where fish and wildlife feed, seek shelter, reproduce and rear young, quickly deteriorates and can no longer support the number or diversity of living things. Your efforts will be a significant help to the Weld County Weed Department in mitigating this weed and helping wildlife thrive! Need-to-Know Details: Minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or olderon single-day projects. VOC will provide all equipmentincludingtools 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: 39.986771, -104.812599 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 10 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: