• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation

Revitalizing Rivers. Reconnecting Communities.

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Employment
    • Blog
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
  • SPREE
    • Elementary
      • Field Trips
        • Preschool SPREE Field Trip
        • Kindergarten SPREE Field Trip
        • First Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Second Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Third Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fourth Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fifth Grade SPREE Field Trip
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
    • Middle School
      • Leaders In Training
    • High School
      • River Rangers
      • Greenway Leadership Corps
    • Families
      • Family Events
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
      • Just for Kids
  • Stewardship
    • Clean Water Challenge
    • Nautilus
    • Gutter Bins
    • Volunteer
  • Projects
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Family Events
    • Stewardship Events
    • CROSSCURRENTS
    • Reception on the River
    • Gala on the Bridge
  • Give
  • SPREE
  • Elementary
    • Field Trips
      • Preschool (ECE)
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
      • Fourth Grade
      • Fifth Grade
      • Field Trip Signup
      • Field Trip Feedback
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Scholarships
  • Middle School
    • Leaders In Training
  • High School
    • River Rangers
    • Greenway Leadership Corps
  • Families
    • Family Events
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Just for Kids
    • Scholarships

Trail Building with The Nature Conservancy

Picture

  • The whole crew – TNC, WRV & Greenway all together at the end of a long and satisfying workday.

Picture

One of northern Colorado’s last roadless canyons is called Phantom Canyon Ranch. This Nature Conservancy site is a rim-to-rim preserve encompassing four miles of the Cache la Poudre River. Greenway’s high school River Rangers and members of the GLC traveled to Phantom Canyon last weekend to help build trails that allow access to and along the river. The weekend-long trip gave our high school students the opportunity to learn about land conservation, youth job opportunities in environmental fields, local wildlife and plant life, and what goes into planning and building trails.

The Nature Conservancy team members at the site were extraordinary hosts, leading us on guided tours of the on-site trails, sharing their knowledge about the preserve and The Nature Conservancy’s work, and providing additional hands while we were trail building. Team members from WRV (Wildlands Restoration Volunteers) came out to teach and guide us as many of us tackled trail building for the very first time. They showed us how to use a variety of new tools to work on the different projects we were tasked with. Our first challenge was to construct two sets of stairs leading to river crossings, using many large rocks. We quickly learned the importance of working together and using our tools properly so that we could successfully maneuver these (very heavy) natural materials. Up next, we learned the ins and outs of the trail building planning process. WRV taught us about many things trail builders have to consider when charting a trail, including slope steepness, distance from the river, and future plant growth.

After all of that hard work, we of course had time for some fun and games. Swimming in the river was refreshing and unbelievably scenic, and we stretched out our acting legs during a pretty intense game of charades. Plus we were lucky enough to see three rattlesnakes and a young bull moose all without catastrophe.

We are so pleased to have another successful Nature Conservancy service trip in the books, and we look forwards to getting back out the Phantom Canyon Ranch next year to continue our trail building work!


Picture

Published: August 2, 2016
Category: Events, High School, SPREE, StewardshipTag: GLC
The Greenway Foundation

About The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1974, we have been leading efforts to reclaim the South Platte River and its tributaries from a virtual cesspool to a place of environmental and recreational pride. Learn More

Previous Post:Theme 8: Underwater Explorers
Next Post:Theme 9: Junior Park Rangers

Sidebar

Stewardship Events

Apr 22
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Family South Platte Stewardship Day

Apr 29
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Spring South Platte Stewardship Day

Apr 29
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Spring High School Stewardship Day

Sep 1
September 1 @ 8:00 am - September 30 @ 11:00 am

Fall South Platte Stewardship Day

Sep 23
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Fall High School Stewardship Day

View Calendar

Current News

Mayoral Candidates on the Future of Denver’s Urban Waterways

The Greenway Foundation reached out to the current 2023 Denver Mayoral Candidates, asking each to respond to three questions concerning the future Denver’s Urban Waterways. As we receive their responses …

More Blog Posts

2022 RECAP: River Rangers

January GLC: Youth Career Exploration Day!

2022 RECAP- The Greenway Leadership Corps (GLC)

Jeff Shoemaker Retires from The Greenway Foundation

Blog Categories

Blog Archive

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

The Greenway Foundation

1820 Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202

info@greenwayfoundation.org

303.481.1974

FEIN: 51-0193575

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
1% for the Planet Nonprofit Partner
About Us
SPREE
Stewardship
Projects
Events
DONATE TODAY
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST
CONTACT US

Copyright © 2023 · The Greenway Foundation · All Rights Reserved