By Stephanie Weber
During a week in late July, it dawned on me that even if I could carve out a full week to venture away from my desk to see the SJMA staff in action, I could not actually get to all of them, given their vast coverage. While SJMA Visitor Information Specialists were stationed on the front lines at public land offices across the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests, we also had education programs occurring simultaneously at the Nature Center and at Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, our Forest Ambassadors staffed trailheads from Lone Cone to the Pine River, Junction Creek to the Cimarrons. In fact, our 10 Forest Ambassadors rotated through 21 different trails during that particular week.
Now, had I hustled and logged a significant number of miles, I probably could have gotten to those team members, but then, there were our field crews in the Rio Grande National Forest. Our four-person Wilderness Crew was working alongside the RGNF’s two-person Wilderness Crew, and they were eight miles deep into the Rio’s side of the Weminuche that week, making an overnight trip a necessity if I were to visit them. We also had four seasonal staff working directly with the RGNF recreation staff, and they were working all over the RGNF.
At our peak this summer, we had 45 hardworking, passionate people on our payroll and across the entire San Juan mountain region.
Aside from a ridiculous rash of flat tires on the SJMA vans and personal vehicles, the summer was free of incidents, which is remarkable when you consider that there were scores of staff traveling many miles, working in rugged terrain with tools, or managing hundreds of summer campers and other education events with people of all abilities.
While SJMA’s risk management has always been strong, our management team has deepened our commitment to greater professional development for our staff. Not only does deeper professional development enhance the employees’ experiences and make for a more successful organization, but it also is a part of our strategic plan.
Since SJMA is a state-licensed child care provider, our education program already includes an array of annual training requirements, but it’s been further enhanced through our partnership with the Montezuma Inspire Coalition, and new this fall, our home-school program through the Alpine International Preparatory Academy. Our education team routinely takes part in courses to enhance the care of children, to deepen our understanding the cultural significance of the region, and to further improve the quality and impact of our lessons.
Our seasonal stewardship crews now have a jam-packed two-week training program, and by the end of training our crews have certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, sawyer, and Leave No Trace as well as instruction on trail maintenance. They are well prepared to step foot on the trail wearing one of our uniforms.
We are thankful for the funds that we receive through our SJMA members and donors which provide us the means to deepen the professional development opportunities for our team ensuring that we provide the highest-quality education and stewardship programs. Learn more about what we do at sjma.org.
