Wilderness volunteer training
The Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance is holding interviews for its backcountry volunteer program. The IPWA is a nonprofit group that acts as an educational outreach organization and actively protects the rugged landscape of the 73,400-acre Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. The alliance, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, coordinates volunteers, reconstruction and reclamation projects, and ongoing research and monitoring of the area. An all-day information and training session is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 5, in Boulder, at the U.S. Forest Service for those chosen to participate.
Backcountry volunteers are asked to make a commitment to visit the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area at least four times between June and September, including once to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
Those interested in applying are required to fill out an application form, found at www.IndianPeaksWilderness.org, and must attend the full-day information and training session.
Forestry volunteers needed
Boulder County Parks and Open Space is looking for volunteer forestry crew leaders to lead other volunteers in forest restoration projects.
These forestry projects help maintain healthy tree density, improve wildlife habitat and reduce wildland fire hazards. Projects include clearing small trees and limb branches, building slash piles, restoring slash pile scars and helping control invasive weeds. Volunteers work in various locations around Boulder County, including Heil Valley Ranch, Reynolds Ranch and Walker Ranch, as well as other beautiful locations.
People interested in being a crew leader should be at least 18 years old, enjoy working outdoors, be in good physical shape and be comfortable working with people of all ages. Six hours of training is required.
Volunteers will contribute to the beauty and health of Boulder County open spaces, gain leadership experience and work with others who care about our environment. Crew leaders also learn about forest restoration, wildfire mitigation and what makes a forest healthy or unhealthy. Crew leaders are asked to lead three forestry community projects this year.
For more information and an application, visit www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/volunteering.
Professional woman of the year
Lori Canova, who has been chief executive officer of “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County since 1977, has been named Boulder Business and Professional Women’s 2010 Woman of the Year.
Canova has expanded the organization from two classes to 10, serving nearly 450 low-income youth and their families, making the Boulder County chapter one of the largest in the country. The “I Have a Dream” program has increased graduation rates of its four graduated classes of Dreamers, doubling expected graduation rates. Eighty-six percent of the foundation’s graduates have attended college or vocational school, a rate almost double that of low-income high school graduates statewide.
Established in 1931, Boulder Business and Professional Women is a local membership organization dedicated to promoting full participation, equity and economic self-sufficiency for working women.
Covidien announces grants
Boulder-based health care products company Covidien has awarded grants to 13 local nonprofits to support the services they provide to residents of the Boulder-Denver area. The organizations were honored at an awards ceremony on March 18.
The recipients of the Covidien Boulder Cares grants are CareConnect, Boulder County AIDS Project, Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, The Inn Between of Longmont, Sister Carmen Community Center, Dental Aid, The Raymond Wentz Foundation, KidCommute, Brent Eley Foundation, Longmont Meals on Wheels, MOVE and Project Angel Heart.
Three nonprofits that received grants in late 2009 were also honored on March 18: HOPE-Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement, There With Care and Carriage House/Community Table.
Covidien Boulder Cares is part of the Covidien Partnership for Neighborhood Wellness, a corporate-wide initiative to give back to the community by providing financial support for deserving nonprofits and encouraging a culture of volunteerism and giving among employees. Covidien’s Energy-based Devices and Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions global business units together employ approximately 1,900 people on their Boulder campus.
More information on the Covidien Partnership for Neighborhood Wellness as well as grant applications can be found on www.covidien.com/givingguidelines.
Caribou Ranch closes
The Caribou Ranch Open Space property was closed to the public this week, and will remain closed through June 30.
The annual closure is in place to protect spring migratory birds and elk activities on the property.
Migrating from lower elevations, the local elk herd arrives annually at this time of the year. Females calve on the property and remain until June or July, when they move to higher elevations.
The resident caretaker, park rangers and Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies who patrol the open space property can fine violators up to $300.
For additional information about the annual spring closure, call 303-678-6200
