2023-Cairn: Site Visit and Crew Leader Training @ Garden of the Gods

Start Date-End Date: 03/11/2023-03/11/2023 Land Manager Office: City of Colorado Springs Land Manager Contact: Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Site visit in preparation for the Cairn Final project at Garden of the Gods Description: Students will have the opportunity to participate in the site visit in preparation for their final project. A site visit is the perfect opportunity to audit the project site and meet land managers. Students are responsible for asking land managers any questions that will help them make strategic decisions about the project flow, schedule, and work plan for their final project. Crew Leader Training will be led by VOC's Outdoor Stewardship Institute (OSI). During this training, students will learn how to be a successful Crew Leader that is able to assess the individuals that make up the crew, understand the motivation types and effectively communicate with their team. Students will also learn about tools and tool safety including tool identification, carrying, use, and storage. Latitude/Longitude: 38.8693793, -104.9013282 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 20 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 11 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 11 Total Unique Volunteers: 11 Total Volunteer Hours: 44.5 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Students chose Garden of the Gods for the final project during the December event. Staff schedule a site visit with land manager and asked if students could join to learn all the logistical information needed to plan the final project. VOC staff modified all checklists and templates from public projects and made them relevant for the Cairn Final project. The goal is that students fill out the information and prepare for their leadership role by participating in the site visit, pre project planning meeting and, final project. VOC staff also offered a 2-hour long crew leader training focusing in soft skills. This training was led by Ben (Leadership and Training Manager). Since the weather was nice during the visit, students used printed copies of the power point to follow the training. We used the picnic area for the training, including the tool presentation (use and safety carrying and storaging them). Colorado Mountain Club joined us for this event. 5 participants of their intership shadow Cairn students during the site visit and training. These students are also invited to the final project. Successes and Challenges: Successes: Land manager was very good at talking to youth and explaning the importance of the work. We were able to have the Crew Leader Training outside. Posibility of partnership with Colorado Mountain Club (for a video and potentially transportation) Challenges: Only 9 Cairn students showed up for this event. Students were quiet at first and timid asking questions to the land manager. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: