Page 42 - 2002 DT 12 issues

A Grand Adventure, ○ ○ Everyone who attended the training ○ complete. The complex will be designed
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Part 1 ○ really felt that it was a productive and ○ for maximum environmental protection
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by Tom Pfaendler ○ fun week. I hope to bring some of that ○ and energy efficiency. Construction is ex-
expertise home to Red Rock Canyon in ○ pected to begin in June, 2003.
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’m a little embarrassed to admit ○ ○ ○ ○ The Clark County School District has
it, but after living here for ten ○ ○ endorsed the overnight camp for fifth or
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Iyears, this was my first trip ○ ○ sixth grade students. Preliminary plans
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to the Grand Canyon. The oppor- ○ ○ call for two sessions per week, hosting
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tunity came through Friends of ○ ○ ○ 240 students and 30 chaperones per ses-
Red Rock for me to attend a ○ ○ ○ ○ sion. Each session will last two and a half
week-long trail management ○ ○
○ ○ days at a cost of $130-140 per student.
seminar being held at the Albright ○ ○ There are currently 15,000 fifth graders
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Training Center, which is a BLM ○ ○ in the district. Scholarships will be sought
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facility at the south rim of Grand ○ ○ ○ to fund the estimated 40% of students un-
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Canyon National Park. This was ○ ○ ○ able to afford the tuition.
a pilot class that had been three ○ ○ ○ ○
years in the making, so there was ○ ○
○ ○ Board of Directors
a lot of excitement from the four- ○ ○
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teen instructors, as well as the ○ ○ nominating committee, headed
thirty-two students. This was a ○ ○ ○ ○ by Dawn Vargas, will draft a
well-planned inter-agency event, ○ ○ ○ ○Aslate of candidates for the posi-
so there were folks attending from the ○ ○ Grand Canyon Overlook ○ tions of President, Vice President, and
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Forest Service and National Park Service, ○ ○ ○ ○ Director-at-Large. Term of service is 2
as well as the BLM. We even had a guest ○ the form of trail management training and ○ ○ years, beginning October 1, 2002. Inter-
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speaker from the Department of the In- ○ even some trail projects, as the need ○ ested parties should call Dawn at
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terior in Washington, D.C. ○ arises. Stay tuned to the Desert Trumpet ○ 838-3587 to be considered for nomina-
During the forty hours of class time, ○ ○ for more details as these programs develop. ○ tion. Elections will be held at the August
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they tried really hard to cram everything ○ ○ Next month, A Grand Canyon Ad- ○ General Meeting. Nominations from the
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known to mankind about trails into our ○ ○ venture continues in part 2. ○ ○ floor will be accepted.
heads. Some of the topics covered: Trail ○
Ma
May Boary Board Notes:d Notes:
May Boary Board Notes:d Notes:
May Board Notes:
management process, the National Envi- Oliver Ranch Project ○ Ma
ronmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other ○ ○
key laws (there are over 2,000 laws gov- ○ ○ lans for a Science School at Oliver ○ ¨ A motion was made and carried
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erning trails!), accessibility, planning, de- ○ ○ Ranch are moving ahead, accord- ○ to grant special funding up to $10,000,
sign, interpretation, crew management, ○Ping to the Bureau of Land ○ ○ at the request of the BLM, for equip-
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ment and supplies for natural resource
construction, maintenance and monitor- ○ Management and Outside Las Vegas. The ○ ○ projects.
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ing. The class took a couple of field trips ○ ○ new facility will host a science camp for ○ ¨ A motion was made and carried
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in and around the Canyon, including a ○ ○ elementary school students weekdays ○ to approve an investment policy state-
day hike to the top of Red Butte (eleva- ○ from September to May. Adult and high ○ ment for Friends of Red Rock Canyon,
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tion 7,324 ft). This hike was chosen be- ○ school-age programs will be held on ○ as presented at the April board
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cause of an especially poor trail design, ○ weekends and during summer break. ○ ○ meeting.
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so after a sack lunch at the peak, we broke ○ The Science School will offer hands- ○
○ ○ ¨ The June board meeting will be
into four groups and redesigned the en- ○ on training encompassing many elements ○ held in the Friends Room at the Visitor
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tire trail! At the end of the day, we com- ○ of environmental education, including ○ Center at 4 p.m. on June 11.
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piled our sections and the new design was ○ ○ Mojave Desert ecology, endemic species, ○ ¨ A soda machine has been in-
actually submitted to the Forest Service ○ conservation, wild horse and burro edu- ○ ○ stalled at the Canyon with the approval
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for consideration. If approved, the recon- ○ cation, and more. Preliminary layout ○ ○ of the BLM, as a result of the high num-
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struction process will take about two ○ designs for classrooms, living facilities, ○ ber of requests from visitors. All
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years to complete. administration and support functions are machines have been relocated from
Page 2 FORRC/June, 2002