April 3, 2024 — The Chaffee Rec Adopters program addresses fast-paced growth of outdoor visitation through community volunteerism. Now in its third summer, program volunteers have given close to 2,000 hours of volunteer time through dispersed campsite clean ups, barbed wire fence removal, wetlands restoration, public land monitoring and dispersed campsite installation. 

A collaboration of individuals, organizations and land agencies, the Chaffee Rec Adopters announce its events calendar for 2024. Projects include dispersed campsite installation with the Bureau of Land Management, barbed wire fencing removal to improve wildlife habitat, dispersed campsite cleanup, continued restoration on Fourmile Creek and monitoring with the Chaffee Rec Collector App.

The first event is April 20 at McGee Gulch in the Fourmile Travel Management Area. Volunteers will work in McGee and Shields Gulch to breakdown inappropriate campfire rings and remove trash and excessive ash to prep the area for a busy summer season. On May 4, Rec Adopters and Browns Creek Alliance will join to do the annual Browns Creek cleanup day on National Forest lands near Nathrop. 

Rec Adopters also will participate in existing events, including Keeping Bewnie Buena (April 28), Clean Up Green Up (May 18) and National Trails Day (June 1) projects.   

A key part of the Chaffee Rec Adopters program is individual volunteers who “adopt” a section of public lands like “adopt-a-trail.” The Chaffee Rec Collector App allows these volunteers to use technology to monitor and take care of their favorite lands. More than 80 individuals have adopted 45 different land zones in the county. 

The app is simple and easy to use. Data collected is used by land managers and program organizers for planning and grant applications. The first App Training session is on April 24 from 11am-1pm at the Buena Vista Library. 

To volunteer for these and other public land stewardship events, or to become an Adopter, visit ChaffeeRecAdopters.org or contact Rec Adopter Coordinator, Jessica Downing, at landvolunteers@garna.org. 

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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