News.bytes Extra, issue 533

Big Sunday Group Sponsors Girl Scouts Trail Restoration Project

On Saturday May 5th 2012 local Coachella Valley Girl Scouts and their parents restored a trail shortcut in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The project occurred on a popular loop trail near the National Monument Visitor Center. Big Sunday organizers sponsored the Girl Scout project by providing T-shirts. The project objective was to reduce erosion to an interesting linear wash feature. The morning was successful with the installation of signs, timber and plant barriers to discourage shortcutting the trail.

Girl Scouts and parent chaperones gather at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center for a 7:00 A.M. staff led Park Ranger orientation and project discussion. This was a great chance for a photo with all the participants in one place. All were wearing T-shirts donated by their sponsoring Big Sunday organization.

Everyone enjoys a short hike to the worksite staging area to receive a tool and safety briefing.

Volunteers and staff divided into two groups. The younger girls with Friends of the Desert Mountains staff, intern assistant and their parents broke off to work on the north end of the shortcut trail restoration. A BLM staff member and intern assistant hiked with the older group of girls shown here with parents to the south end of the trail to restore the shortcut trail access with stone placement, soil aeration, wood timber barrier, native vegetation transplants and sign installation.

The Girl Scouts finish up and admire their handiwork. Can you spot the shortcut trail they restored in the background?   

- Steven D. Harris, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument /BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (May 2012)

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