Crew Members Arrive...and depart - Rocky Mountain Conservancy

It’s been a busy week of training, orientation, and educational activities here in Estes and now the crews are venturing off to there bunkhouses, work centers and campsites. Now we can recap the activities that prepped the crews for their field work.

The week started off with crew members arriving to Moraine Park and settling in for the week. The morning started out with ice-breakers and a game of ninja to get the crews up and moving. After logistics, paperwork and gear distribution the crews met individually to establish group expectations and goals.

Crew members start the morning with icebreakers

Crew Leaders Amy and Tom square off in a game of ninja (Amy emerged victories)

Afterwards the crew leaders led training on Leave No Trace, back country essentials, tool safety and environmental hazards. Training was followed with a relay designed to test crew members on what they had learned, they had to pack a backpack, set up a bear hang, light a whisperlite, answer Ten Essential and LNT trivia and finish as a group in lightning position.

Kawuneechee crew leader Dominic teaches his crew how to use a whisperlite

Boulder Crew leader Tom teaches the crews about tool safety.

Crew members finishing the first task of the relay

On to the second task of setting up a bear hang

Crews finishing the relay in lighting position

Leader training was followed by a trip to the Warming House for boot fittings.

Members of the Estes Crew Hunter and Ben getting fitted for boots at the Warming House

Wednesday started off with an educational program on the History of Rocky Mountain National Park led by local historian Jim Pickering. For this, the crews got out into the field to explore the makings of RMNP. After a quick lunch break the crews had Trails 101 training led by the Park Service to help understand trail design, tools, and safety.

Volunteer Trails Lead, Jesse, provide some background on trail maintenance, construction, and safety to the crews.

Thursday consisted of First Aid and CPR Training for crew members, while those who were already trained, headed to the Park to work on a trails project and prepare for National Trails Day on Saturday.

Amy, Tom, and John situate a rock for a check step.

Education Director, Rachel Balduzzi, leads a First Aid and CPR training for crew members.

On Friday the crews participated in Defensive Driver Training led by the Forest Service. Members of the Boulder Crew departed to their campsite to set up and prepare for the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance training on Saturday.

The Boulder Crew’s new home in Kelly Dahl Campground

National Trails day marked the culmination of training week for the crews as they headed out into the Park to work with Conservancy Members on trails in Moraine Park Campground. By the end of the day, the volunteers had installed 30 steps, resurfaced 300 feet of trail, and decommissioned over 50 feet of braided social trails to restore native habitat. The trails day ended with a great picnic and some s’mores by the campfire.