2022-Lincoln Hills Cares Group #1 @ Chatfield State Park

Start Date-End Date: 07/13/2022-07/14/2022 Land Manager Office: CPW - Chatfield State Park Land Manager Contact: Jason Anderson Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Build round rail fencing at Chatfield State Park! Description: Where You'll Be: Chatfield State Park's newest marina hosts aquatic recreation opportunities, user amenities like grill and food services, and boat storage and rentals. The parking lot(s) surrounding the marina have not yet been fenced in to indicate the boundaries for where vehicles may travel and park. What You'll Do: Install round rail fencing near the park's marina parking lots. What's the Impact: In order to avoid the erosion and degradation of the park's natural landscape, it is critical to install round rail fencing around the marina parking lot area, so that drivers understand the official roads and parking areas they are allowed to access. Latitude/Longitude: 39.54404224495034, -105.06194929783278 Additional Information: When you arrive at the worksite, please look for the bright blue tablecloth to check in with Elise. Restrooms will be available within a 10-15-minute walk from the worksite. Please be mindful of cars and other park users near the worksite and on the surrounding roads-the park will be busy in the summertime! Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 20 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 6 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 22 Total Volunteer Days: 14 Total Unique Volunteers: 14 Total Volunteer Hours: 132 Staff Hours: 28 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: VOC partnered with LHC to put on two stewardship projects for two groups of middle to high school-aged youth. The two projects were fully funded through the My Outdoors Colorado (MOC) Coalition. Both projects took at Chatfield State Parks and involved installing round-rail fencing (see project description below): Chatfield State Park's newest marina hosts aquatic recreation opportunities, user amenities like grill and food services, and boat storage and rentals. The parking lot(s) surrounding the marina have not yet been fenced in to indicate the boundaries for where vehicles may travel and park. In order to avoid the erosion and degradation of the park's natural landscape, it is critical to install round rail fencing around the marina parking lot area, so that drivers understand the official roads and parking areas they are allowed to access. Successes and Challenges: Successes: - Chatfield staff guided most of the day-of project direction by providing worksites, materials, tools, staff, and water. This took a lot off of my shoulders as VOC's day-of Project Manager, since they knew exactly how and what they wanted done. -Chatfield staff provided free campsites for the LHC youth to stay at the park overnight, which reduced transportation time and allowed for additional outdoor experience to be had at the park. Challenges: - The weather was extremely hot (100+) degrees for both days. We came prepared with shade structures, plenty of ice water, and even a mister spray bottle, but heat made the work difficult for all parties. - The contractors that built the parking lot we were working on had incorrectly disposed of extra concrete and rock around the perimeter of the parking lot, which is exactly where the group was trying to install the fenceposts. It made manual digging nearly impossible in many spaces and Chatfield staff had to utilize a jackhammer and a Bobcat skid steer with an auger to complete many of the fencepost holes. When this heavy equipment was utilized, thisleft the participants with little to do besides stand and watch, which didn't feel like the most valuable or educational use of their time. Lessons Learned: - Our projects with LHC should be organized either earlier in the season when it isn't as hot or in an higher elevation/more shaded area. - Future LHC projects should be selected keeping in mind the specific types of skills that LHC participants want to learn. It was difficult to tell if the heat zapped a lot of energy from the students (which was very reasonable) or if the work itself could have been more in alignment with their goals and desires (or perhaps it was a combination of both factors). Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: