July 5, 2007

Field Forestry Days at the Ben Delatour Scout Camp. A volunteer had some time-off, and wanted to volunteer. We spent the day removing beetle-killed trees at the Boy Scout camp. It was a great day to get saw-time while helping to manage a forest.

July 28, 2007

Trail Rehab at the State Forest State Park. In partnership with CO State Parks. Multiple-use is one important issue at the State Forest. A trail was impacted during a forest management project, which removed beetle-killed trees. The CSFS Volunteers helped repair the trail following State Parks standards. Thanks to Brook Lee (CSFS) for teaching the CSFS Volunteers about multiple-use issues, and the history of the State Forest.

September 8, 2007

In partnership with Sand Creek Regional Greenway, Greenprint Denver, REI, and Rose Medical Center. Rose Medical Center contacted the CSFS Volunteer program and several months later we were re-vegetating the riparian area below the old Stapleton airport runways. Over 100 people volunteered. Thanks Rose Medical Center.

September 21 & 22, 2007

Trail Building with the Burland Ranch HOA. We are making great progress on the Mt.Bailey Trail! This is the fourth two-day event with the folks at Burland Ranch, and it is always a pleasure to work with them. A 14-acre fuel break was completed a few years ago, and we continue to build a demonstration-trail through the project-area, which will lead up to the top of the mountain overlooking the town of Bailey, CO. Stay tuned for more trail building projects this summer!

September 27 & 29, 2007

National Institute for Invasive Species Science Citizen Scientist training; How to map exotic weeds. In partnership with the Natural Resources Research Laboratory at CSU. CSFS Volunteers learned how to map tamarisk, cheatgrass, common mullen, and Russian-olive using palm pilots, GPS units, and forest inventory analysis data collection methods. Thanks to the CSU Environmental Learning Center for allowing us to use their outdoor classrooms.

September 30, 2007

Field Forestry Days at the Ben Delatour Scout Camp. Student groups need money! Students can work hard. The Scout Camp needs a lot of forest management. Put these factors together and we get a lot of great things done in the forest!  CSU Logging Sports Club team, Alpha Society of American Foresters, Student Firefighters Association, and the Wood Products Society volunteer to manage the forest, and in turn they get to keep the ‘firewood’ and sell it to make money for their student organization. It is always great to see how much work gets done. The students also learn the realities of forest management…the high costs associated with transporting the firewood from the forest to town.

October 27, 2007

Windbreak Maintenance at the CSFS Nursery. Volunteers got lots of great saw-time while helping to maintain windbreaks. Volunteers pruned-up branches, and removed unwanted species. Tractors can now turn around without hitting trees!

November 6 & 7, 2007

CSFS Volunteer training opportunity; INSECTS THAT BUG TREES IN COLORADO-A FOREST ENTOMOLOGY WORKSHOP.Topics covered included:  an introduction to insects; insect structure and function; classification; damage and sign categories; defoliating, sapsucking, shoot, twig and root insects; seed and cone, phloem and wood boring insects; integrated pest management; labratory exercises. Thanks to our instructor Ingrid Aguayo!

November 8, 2007

Prescribed Fire at Staunton State Park. In partnership with multiple agencies. Prescribed fires are a great opportunity for volunteers to gain wildland fire experience. This prescribed fire was west of Denver at a State Park that is not yet open to the public.

December 1 & 2, 2007

CSFS Golden District Holiday tree Sales. CSFS Volunteers traveled to Denver Mountain Parks to assist the CSFS Golden District Staff administer the annual Holiday Tree Sale. It was a great weekend for volunteers to interact with the public, gain a broader perspective about the role of the Colorado State Forest Service, and spend time frolicking in the forest! In addition to public outreach and learning, the volunteer’s thinned stands of future Christmas trees.

December 15, 2007

Burning Slash Piles. It’s never too cold to burn slash piles. This CSFS Volunteer event was featured in the CSU newspaper too. This is another great opportunity for volunteers, including CSU students, to get experience with wildfire and forest management. I review CO’s smoke management permit process on these projects and it is a real eye-opener with the volunteers. It is always a great project to end the year.