Performing environmental stewardship at an historic ranch
Abstract
During the summer of 2002, teens from all over the country traveled to the 87,000 acre Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving as ranch hands to accomplish much-needed manual labor for the working cattle ranch, which is owned by the State of Colorado for education, recreation, and conservation. The teens learned about the environment, gained service-learning credits, and developed lasting friendships as a result of their community service.Issue
Maintaining and restoring parks and open spaces is essential for sustained environmental quality. Providing teens with opportunities to grow and learn outside of their normal comfort zones makes them more likely to succeed as future leaders.Action
In the summer of 2002, teens from all over the country traveled to the Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving as ranch hands by helping the four men who worked on the ranch with different projects.- The 12 teens were all high school students entering either their junior or senior years.
- Teens came from Chicago, Washington, D.C., Oregon, and Washington State.
- Projects included restoring a bridge and painting corrals and sheds.
- During their two week stay the teens lived in platform tents.
- Teens prepared their own food over a campfire.
- Teens worked under the leadership and supervision of an adult team leader who was a paid member of the sponsoring agency's staff.
- Arrangements and expenses were the responsibility of each volunteer.
- For those volunteers who flew to the site, a member of the sponsoring agency met them at the City Of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and shuttled them to and from the site.
- Off duty, the teens were able to take advantage of the resources of the surrounding community and environs, with appropriate supervision from their team leader.
- Admission was merit-based and granted to those who were viewed as diligent workers, supportive in their relationships with colleagues, and responsible in their representation of the organization to the institution and the local community.
- Volunteers for the 2003 summer season will paint ranch buildings, work around prairie dog holes (pile up brush for coyote cover), rehabilitate the "Lone Star School House" (a one-room school on the ranch), and remove invasive plants, especially the Russian Olive.
- Other volunteer activities may include fence repair, water line burial, tree planting, or installing game bird feeders.
Context
The two week trip to the Chico Basin Ranch was sponsored by Landmark Volunteers, a Massachusetts-based, nonprofit service organization offering high school students the opportunity to perform community service at one of 65 nationally recognized historical, cultural, and environmental or social service institutions located throughout the United States. Landmark Volunteers provides each host organization with an entire team of young people who are capable of accomplishing a great deal of manual labor.
Located 35 miles southeast of Colorado Springs, The Chico Basin Ranch is an 87,000-acre working cattle ranch, one of the largest contiguous ranches in the state of Colorado. It is comprised of shortgrass, sand sage prairie, and creek riparian habitats, with a rich abundance of wildlife. Both the Chico and Black Squirrel Creeks cross the ranch, and there are several small lakes. In 1999 the ranch was preserved by The Nature Conservancy and other Colorado organizations. The new mission includes habitat and species preservation and education through demonstration of a diverse and healthy landscape that provides a balanced ecosystem.
Chico Basin Ranch works to find financially viable ranching and land management practices that build upon its western heritage. A guest ranch and hunting and fishing club are affiliated enterprises, which serve to support Chico Basin. They work collaboratively with neighboring ranches and with people in the local community and neighboring cities to establish relationships that enhance the ecological and economic stability of the ranching process. Part of the cropland is being converted to grass for grazing and wildlife habitat, to improve the organic content of the soil, and to minimize soil erosion.
Outcome
Teens who participated- Came to understand and appreciate the environment more deeply
- Were provided with letters of recommendation
- Earned community service credits
- Met friends from other communities who shared their purpose, interest and values
Posted On
May 22, 2003For More Information
Resources
Newspaper articles about Landmark Volunteers from 2004 through 2006.Related Practices
Related sites
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse