Page 14 - summer 2017 flip

14 Friends oF red rock canyon

By Pat Williams

he volunteers of Friends of Red Rock Canyon have once again made a huge
T difference at the Rock. Your volunteer contributions equate to adding almost
eleven full time employees dedicated to caring for and preserving this remarkable
space of public lands.

Here are just a few highlights of the contributions made by our member volunteers
since October 1, 2016.

Graffiti Removal at First Creek – Peter Canyon Cleanup – The cleanup crew, led
Sbraccia recently led stalwart souls from the by Liz Carmer, has donated 400 hours of their
MGM Grand, the Back Country Horsemen, time and talents, removing tons of trash. They
Cowboy Trail Rides and our own Graffiti Re- have also hosted multiple businesses, service
moval Team into First Creek for an incredible clubs and government employees who wanted
morning of graffiti removal. Thank you Peter! to make our world a better place.
And thank you to our partner groups.
If you fund it, they will come. Friends of
Light Trail Maintenance – Susan Murphy Red Rock Canyon awarded 54 transporta-
has been leading this team of trail workers tion grants this past school year. Friends paid
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
since January. Did we mention that establish- over $9,000 to provide educational field trips
ing the team was a brilliant idea submitted by for students attending at-risk schools. We’re
Susan? She leads twice-monthly work morn- aiming a little higher for the 2017/2018 school
ings that define and restore the Red Rock year: We want to award 60 bus grants to these
trails. The team has donated 350 hours of their deserving students.
skills to improve our trails.
The Tort Habitat Volunteers have been busy
Information Desk Volunteers – This essen- with Hugo, Max and the girls this season.
tial part of the Visitor Center team spent over Twenty dedicated bipeds have spent almost
3,900 hours telling people where to go and 750 hours (generally at the beginning of the
what to do when they got there. What does day) with the Rock Stars. The team provides
3,900 hours mean? It equates roughly to two food, water, “Spa Days” and more to these
people working an 8-hour day every day (Sun- amazing reptiles. They also share information,
days and holidays included) since October 1. smiles and photo-ops with the Rock Stars’
Thank you to our Front Line volunteers! adoring fans.

Native Plant Team returns – Can you dig Red Spring parking lot restriped – This
it? The Native Plant Team is back with a parking area needed lots of love (and paint) as
vengeance. Shari Young and Patricia Potter it had been neglected for years. Friends volun-
are eliminating invasive weeds, trimming trees teers spent two mornings defining and repaint-
and generally sprucing up the Red Rock Visi- ing the parking spaces.
tor Center Complex.

the Rock - Volume 7 Issue 4