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Post by NorthWes on Aug 30, 2010 8:18:48 GMT -9
While we can't make this a geocaching event (geocaching.com guidelines don't allow us to co-mingle CITO events with other larger events) YOU can personally volunteer to assist either Trail Watch (a volunteer working group guided by MOA Parks) or the BLM in one of several work activities on National Public Lands Day this coming September 25th. Both BLM and MOA Parks land managers are huge supporters of geocaching, and would be delighted to see geocachers show up to assist with these easy projects. I recommend the Trail Watch efforts to complete the Chester Creek Trail safety project.
Here's the press release from the Trail Watch Committee (where several of us geocachers contribute efforts) calling for volunteers. Grab your geocaching buddies, put in some volunteer time Saturday morning from 8:30am to noon, and then chase down geocaches all afternoon!
Be a volunteer on National Public Lands Day - September 25
Volunteers are invited to pitch in and help improve safety on local trails, BLM Campbell Tract and Far North Bicentennial Park as part of National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 25. Anchorage Parks and Recreation and BLM will be hosting projects Saturday morning (8:30a - 12:30p) continuing the tradition of collaboration with users groups and volunteers in this Take Pride in America event.
Trail Watch will focus on two project efforts. The final push on the Chester Creek Trail safety makeover project –E 24th / Hillstrand Pond to Eastchester Park is slated. Volunteers will stage from the E 24th cul-de-sac off of Lake Otis Blvd starting at 8:30a. The goal is to finish the final 1000 ft of trail from Hillstrand Pond but will need a strong volunteer turnout to slam this project home. The second safety effort will focus volunteers to the BLM Science Center and then out to Black Bear & Moose Meadow Trails in Far North Bicentennial Park. BLM has offered to lead work on western segment of Black Bear Trail to complete our safety efforts to open visibility on the alternative West / East trail route to Mellen’s Way / Rovers Run Trail. This safety makeover will be focused on the western 1200 ft of Black Bear Trail working to open up the black spruce / alder tunnel like section in efforts to improve line of sight and reduce wildlife surprises similar to makeover efforts that were completed last year on Moose Meadow Trail.
BLM will also be conducting projects on Campbell Tract and will host a Pizza Party Thank You at the BLM Campbell Creek Science Center. An open house will follow celebrating families getting active and the “Let's Move Outside” national program. The TW Advisory Committee invites all to be part of these trail safety efforts on Saturday, September 25.
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Post by NorthWes on Sept 22, 2010 15:57:48 GMT -9
Volunteers needed to assist NorthWes (Wes Skinner) in staffing a "Meet GeocacheAlaska Inc" table at the Nat'l Public Lands Day event this coming Saturday 25 September at the Campbell Science Center. We have three hours (from 1:30pm to 4:30pm) available to meet'n'greet members of the public who are visiting the Campbell Tract for the day's events. Please reply below if you're able to help for an hour or so. NorthWes will be there all afternoon, and has everything needed (except you & your GPS unit!).
We'll be at the table, and we'll walk interested participants out to the nearby (100yds away) "Bear Aware" geocache to show them how the game works in the woods.
We can use folks of all abilities to help - it's a great chance to thank the BLM for their invitation to participate and to be allowed to play on the Campbell Tract.
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Post by NorthWes on Sept 27, 2010 8:23:56 GMT -9
I'm extending a big 'THANK YOU' to all the folks who came out in support of Saturday afternoon's Nat'l Public Lands Day event at the BLM Campbell Science Center. Omonra, Cavyguy, CapraHircus, Polgera, Meljo and AKfossil were amongst the cachers who set aside personal hunting time on a lovely fall afternoon to help out. Assisting members of the public who walked up to REI's station and wanted to learn about geocaching was interesting, both from the perspective of meeting new people and getting to use REI's wide variety of Garmin GPS units. Thanks again to all of you, and to REI for including us in their support for the game of geocaching. Event coordinators believe over 500 persons attended, with most of them including the GPS experience as part of their visit to the activity.
Next year I hope to establish our organization with a separate table, more extensive and diverse caching experiences, and a recruiting opportunity. We missed participating in the planning phase of this year's event, which meant we had to rely on REI's kindness to be included at all.
Following the activity I took time to stroll along one of the many trails on Campbell Tract, finding three more caches to add to the two I'd found before the activity began. All in all it was a great afternoon!
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