Looking Forward to Summer: Interpretive Events
By Cassidy Storey
There is no shortage of splendor in the grandiose peaks, sprawling meadows, and diverse forests of Southwest Colorado. Whether you’re a mountain biker seeking the most epic of single tracks, a hiker finding solitude in Colorado’s largest Wilderness, or a fledgling outdoor enthusiast just scratching the surface, this region is unmatched. The San Juans have everything, and something for everyone.
When I moved to Durango from the front range two years ago, I thought I knew Colorado. Growing up near Denver and studying ecosystem science at CSU, I thought I had my home state figured out. I had yet to spend much time in the Southwest but was confident in my knowledge of and familiarity with Colorado’s diverse landscapes. Two years later, I know I could spend a dozen lifetimes just in the San Juans and never touch it all. These mountains are where I learned to love winter, doubled the interests that get me outside, and formed a deeper connection to the landscape than I thought possible.
But I didn’t do it alone. One of the reasons I moved to this area was to work in public lands stewardship and conservation education through the San Juan Mountains Association. I’ve dedicated my time to empowering locals and visitors in the region to explore, learn about, and protect our wealth of natural resources. Much of my SJMA career centered around developing interpretive programs. Interpretive programs are designed to bring out the relevance and meaning of the area you’re enjoying. They can help you understand how different plants and animals interact in an ecosystem, how ancient people lived off the land, how geologic processes have shaped the landscape, historic events, and more. Now, as warmer weather slowly approaches, and the signs of spring and summer start to make themselves known, the SJMA team is gearing up for an exhilarating schedule of community events.
Starting later this month, we will have a variety of opportunities for you to learn more about your public lands. On April 29th, we welcome you to join us at the Durango Nature Center Open House where you can take a hike, enjoy nature-based activities, and explore the location of our popular summer camps. Then on May 20th, we’ll celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day with two interpretive events: a wildflower-focused hike at Sand Canyon and the Boggy Draw Forest Restoration Bike Ride. Thanks to our partners at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, our educators will work with their rangers throughout the year to connect you to the fascinating desert ecosystem and rich archaeological history west of the La Platas. Look out for more information on a summer Full Moon Hike (July 31) as well as a fall Star Party (September 16).
By popular demand, we’ll also bring back our volunteer-led “San Juan Nature Hikes” at Andrews Lake this summer. From June to August, join our experienced volunteer naturalists in one of the San Juans’ most iconic locations to learn about wildflowers, mushrooms, geology, and ecology of the subalpine environment while practicing your identification skills and enjoying the company of other nature enthusiasts.
In addition to the events we have planned so far, our education and stewardship teams are working continuously to bring more informative and fun opportunities to you and the landscape. Follow San Juan Mountains Association on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to our e-newsletter on our website (sjma.org) for the latest information on all our programs.
Cassidy Storey was the Community Education Manager for San Juan Mountains Association before returning to Fort Collins, CO to pursue a master’s degree in wildlife biology.
- Published in Education, Stewardship
Forest Ambassadors End Second Successful Season
By Cassidy Storey
In Durango, the shift from Summer to Autumn brings warmer layers out of the closet, plans for desert season, and a rush to behold the aspens before their leaves fall. At the San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA), it also signifies the end of our summer stewardship crews. As the first spots of gold splashed across the highest aspens in the San Juans, SJMA’s front-country Ambassadors wrapped up a summer of outreach and stewardship throughout the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests as well as the Alpine Loop.
With one year of Ambassador work under our belts, we began this season optimistic for a second successful summer. We employed a crew of eight to engage with the public on “Leave No Trace” principles, responsible recreation in a variety of ecosystems, and protecting the magic of the San Juans, all while improving environmental conditions and removing hundreds of pounds of trash. Thanks to support from the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative (RMRI); county, state, and federal government; and support from SJMA members and corporate sponsors, we were lucky enough to welcome back five Ambassadors from the 2021 season and add three new stellar individuals to cover trails from Blue Lakes to Ice Lakes, Vallecito to Lizard Head, and many popular places in between.
The small but mighty team of Forest Ambassadors made nearly 14,000 public contacts, hiked about 1,200 miles, naturalized or cleaned 150 fire pits, and packed out over 400 pounds of trash! At the same time, our Alpine Loop Ambassador single-handedly removed more than 1,000 pounds of trash from the high alpine tundra and spoke to over 1,000 OHV users about the importance of staying on the trail in the high country where damage manifested by motorized vehicles could take many years to regenerate.
But why do these numbers matter to the average public lands’ enthusiast? Think of it this way: every time you visit an iconic trail in the San Juans and your trip is not tainted by human and pet waste, poorly-draining trails, excessive trash, overgrown vegetation, or messy campsites, there is a good chance an SJMA Ambassador had something to do with it. If you don’t notice our work, it means we’re doing it right and contributing to a safer and more enjoyable public lands experience.
The Oxford Dictionary defines an “Ambassador” as a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity, and, in our case, there’s more to the job than just time on trail. You may have encountered one of our Ambassadors in a variety of settings. Representing SJMA, RMRI, and our federal partners, the crew led volunteer cleanup events, provided visitor information in Durango and Silverton, hosted interpretive walks, and attended many community events to share messages on forests, wildlife, water resources, and recreation opportunities across the mountains. We can’t thank this team enough for sharing their passion for public lands in our neck of the woods.
While our stewardship programs slow down for Fall, we have big plans for Winter. The San Juans are a year-round destination, so we’re preparing to bring back our Snow Ambassador program for a second season. In 2021, SJMA’s Snow Ambassador stationed at Molas Pass reached hundreds of visitors about avalanche safety, winter ecology, and how to “Leave No Trace” as a winter recreationist. Stay tuned to our website or social media for updates on this year’s Snow Ambassador as well as snowshoeing interpretive hikes and other winter events.
- Published in Stewardship
Stewardship through the Seasons
By Cassidy Storey
It is (another) radiant bluebird day in the San Juans, and thirty people are strapping on snowshoes in preparation for San Juan Mountains Association’s third interpretive ski and snowshoe tour this winter. We have another full crowd ready to explore the powdery landscape, learn the story of the snowpack, and connect with fellow winter recreation enthusiasts. We are thrilled with the turnout and invigorated by the energy buzzing through the parking lot just north of Andrews Lake.
This is the latest success in a transformative year for SJMA. Since last Spring, we’ve exponentially expanded our stewardship and conservation efforts in the region. You may have run into one of our Forest Ambassadors on your favorite San Juan National Forest trail last summer, or volunteered at our biggest Christmas Trees for Conservation lot yet. Perhaps you were one of those thirty participants at the last Après Ski Science & Social or you joined us for a full moon hike beneath the Twilight Peaks. One thing is certain, we are increasingly energized in our goal of empowering people to explore, learn about, and protect the San Juan Mountains and public lands of Southwest Colorado.
There’s a lot to look forward to as our days noticeably get longer and warmer. Starting in May, SJMA’s Forest Ambassador crew will be returning to the most popular trails in the area while the Wilderness Stewardship Crew will work on improving the backcountry for users of all kinds.
Keep an eye out for SJMA Forest Ambassadors
Photo by Meg Burke
Using the momentum we built this winter through our school field trips, interpretive events, and Snow Ambassador program, we’re making big plans for summer. You will have the opportunity to join us for volunteer-guided naturalist hikes, forest ecology tours in Montezuma County, and special interpretive events throughout the season to learn more about our beloved San Juans.
Our plans now will result in a summer season filled with learning, adventuring, and connecting as public lands stewards. We hope to increase responsible recreation in these special places and inspire appreciation for their existence and benefits. By creating engaging interpretive events, we aim to draw in visitors and locals, capture a curiosity, develop an interest, and leave our guests with an undeniable sense of place and a little bit more knowledge than they had before. For nobody will protect a place they do not care about, and nobody will care about a place they do not experience.
February 26th Après Ski Science & Social attendees
Photo by Cassidy Storey.
As winter comes to a close, there are still two more opportunities to participate in our popular Après Ski Science & Social. Join us on Saturday, March 12th, for the interpretive tour featuring Joe Grant, local ultra runner, Protect Our Winters Ambassador, and San Juan Mountain aficionado. We look forward to enjoying the San Juans’ finest powder, learning about the importance of our mountains’ snowpack, and hearing about how Joe came to be concerned with the precipitous decline in snowpack we’ve seen over recent years. We’ll wrap up this series on March 26th.
Stay up to date on all of our interpretive events by visiting sjma.org/events or signing up for our e-news at the bottom of our homepage. You can also find the latest on all our work by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Cassi
dy Storey works as the Community Outreach Specialist and Forest Ambassador Field Manager for San Juan Mountains Association and is looking forward to another successful summer field season.
- Published in Education, Stewardship, Winter