Volunteers Protecting Red Rock Canyon Since 1984

The mission of Friends of Red Rock Canyon is the preservation and enrichment of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the public lands of southern .

the Rock Staff Publishing/Lay-Out — Pat Williams Ar cles Editor — Sharon Schaaf 4 Welcome New Members Mary E. Labie Crea ve Editor — Rob Tuvell Photographer — Roger Hembree Tort Tattler Sue & Roger Kolar Editorial Commi ee 5 Cam Camburn Norm Kresge Sharon’s Slant Sharon Schaaf Joe & Mary Labie 6 Sharon Schaaf Rob & Marilyn Tuvell 8 Take a Hike - Caldera Loop Norm Kresge Ar cles for publica on considera on should be sent to news@friendsofredrockcanyon. org or mailed to the Rock P.O. Box 97 Blue Chuck Williams Diamond, NV 89004. Submissions for the 10 Just Another Dam Story Rock should meet the thema c guidelines as established by the editorial staff . All submissions are subject to edi ng for The Best Field Trip EVER! Patricia Potter subject ma er, length and relevance to Red 12 Rock Canyon Na onal Conserva on Area. the Rock is published quarterly by Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t See What’s New Joseph Labie organiza on, for the benefi t of Friends 15 members and supporters. Publica on and mailing costs are subsidized with limited Welcome to the Family! Frazier Haney mission-specifi c adver sing. Statements, 16 opinions and points of view expressed by writers are their own and may not refl ect those of Friends of Red Rock Canyon. 19 Making Friends Mary E. Labie Our mission is the preserva on and enhancement of Red Rock Canyon Na onal Conserva on Area. Friends provides volunteers and funding for projects such Old Places... New Faces Sharon Schaaf as environmental educa on, natural and 20 cultural resource protec on, teacher workshops, community volunteer work days, transporta on grants for Red Storytelling: Sharing the Lore, Sharing the Love Margie Klein Rock fi eld trips and other services. The 21 organiza on receives no federal funds but is provided with offi ce space and telephone service by the Bureau of Land Management. February Meeting - Stuff you should know Pat Williams The main offi ce for Friends of Red Rock 22 Canyon is located in the Red Rock Canyon Na onal Conserva on Area Administra ve Building, 1000 Scenic Drive , NV 89161.

Annual individual membership is $25. Board mee ngs are held on the third Friday of each month and general membership mee ngs are held quarterly. Time and loca ons for the mee ngs may be obtained by calling (702) 515-5360.

For more informa on visit our website at www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org or fi nd us on Facebook.

Find and like us on facebook.

Cover Photo - Cactus Flower © Chelise Simmons Tort Wash and Model Behavior Cartoons © Rob Tuvell

Our board - http://www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org/offi cers.php Committee Chairs - http://www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org/committees.php 4 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 5 Member Updates

Welcome to our newest members of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon family! BByy SueSue aandnd RRogeroger KKolarolar

Sean Allen Jessica Alley Augusta Arato ugo was the forward to getting Salme Armijo Howard Booth Ursula Wilson Booth fi rst tort out Hugo to the vet. This Jerry Bowsher Nelson Cochrane Dale Cotterman this year; he year Hugo is featured Roger Counts Christine Couteau Clay Elting H came out in early February. on the Red Rock Ray Errington Robyn Errington Sybil Friedman Several of the girls emerged Canyon coin. You can Robert C. Furtek Michael Hall Elaine Hodgson about a week later. Maxine purchase a coin at the David Jackson Suzie Jackson Joe Kent had her foot on some unfor- Visitor Center ma-

Mike Kerna Becky Kerna Tania Martinez tunate girl (probably Lucie) Photo by Roger Kolar chine or through the Leroy Mills TK Morris Wes Nelson all winter, but she fi nally Hugo (with Sue Kolar) holding court for his adoring public Friends website. See Rajesh Parikh William Porter Faye Porter ventured out in March and Lucie came out the article on page 15 for ordering informa- Dana Raborn Julio Raimuñdez Marta Raimuñdez too! Max offi cially emerged on Tuesday, tion for the magnets and the coin set. Roberto Raimuñdez Maria Raso John Sacco March 8, but sadly no photo was taken. Georgie Sage Big Jim Sage Kim Schroeder If you’d like to join the Tort Team, or Beverly Schultz Tina Shah Brandon Stark This year we plan to get all of the torts just need a refresher, training sessions are Pamela Stevenson Margit Trautmann Esther Tuvell to the vet for a check-up. Maxine, Lucie and scheduled for Saturday, April 16; Wednes- Gail Wright Willie visited the vet last fall. Only Willie day, April 20; Saturday, June 4; and Wednes- got a clean day, June 8. You only need to attend one bill of health; session. Each session consists of about an Maxine hour of classroom training followed by and Lucie hands-on training in the habitat. Contact Sue have blad- and Roger Kolar at torts@friendsofredrock- Photo by Roger Kolar der stones canyon.org for more information. Libby is happy to be out and about that need to be removed. Friends started a Tort Medi- cal Fund to pay for the torts’ health care. We’ve created a set of nine incredibly cute refrigerator magnets, one for each tortoise. You can purchase the set through the Friends website, and $3.00 from each sale will go into the fund.

We’ll keep you posted on outcomes

Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon of the tort vet visits and are really looking

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 6 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 7

(Sharon’s Slant - continued from page 6) By Sharon Schaaf The last camel charge in the title Sharon’s Slant actually happened on April 7, 1859 at Beaver Lake (that lake not on any cur- Southern Nevada Surprises rent map) in what is now Nevada. Sam Bishop was trying to deliver supplies to Ed Beale’s crew that was now build- ing the wagon road they had mapped out in 1857. Mojave Indians refused to amels crossing the southern authorizing the purchase of camels let them cross the Colorado. Using 20 tip of Nevada. A lake not on for Army use to make travel easier camels with their riders fi ring pistols, C any current Nevada map. for the troops assigned to protect U.S. Bishop successfully smashed through Dinosaur fossils in the Red Rock citizens. the Mojave’s lines and reached Beale’s Inspired by the discovery of dinosaur Canyon National Conservation Area. crew. tracks in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas These are just a few of the surprises Thirty-four camels were purchased geologist Nick Saines has written “A readers will dis- from Turkey and Egypt The Army used the camels in the Dinosaur Lives in Red Rock Canyon” cover in books and sailed across the Texas desert on a mapping expedition for elementary school age children. by local historian ocean, landing in in 1859 and in 1860 tested their use to The history of Red Rock Canyon is told Forrest Bryant Texas in April 1856. deliver mail. However, the Civil War by the young dinosaur who travels Johnson and Californian Lieutenant marked the end of the Army’s camel the area and meets a Gila monster, a local geologist Edward Beale was put experiment and the animals were sold chuckwalla and a desert tortoise as he Nick Saines. in charge of organiz- or released. tries to discover who and what he is. ing an expedition to Finally, a bighorn sheep leads him to Forrest Bry- map out a wagon road Johnson does an impressive job of the fossils that identify his ancestry. ant Johnson is a that would safely get choosing a historical event few people The book is illustrated by Las Vegan Las Vegas resi- troops, supplies and know about and researching it thor- Jonathan Kaplan and uses scenery dent originally citizens to southern oughly. He then tells us an interesting, from the canyon for its backgrounds. from Kentucky. through unique, true story. There are 16 pages “The Last Camel Texas, New Mexico, of pictures (drawings, photos and Both books are available in the Ele- Charge: The Arizona and Nevada. paintings) and 22 pages of Acknowl- ments Gift and Book Store in the Visi- Untold Story His orders were to edgements, Notes and Bibliography tor Center at Red Rock Canyon. of America’s take the camels on the documenting his research. Desert Military expedition to see how Experiment” is they would do on long his eighth book and takes us back trips in the southwest desert. The to the mid-1800s. The United States camels did better than the horses or Army was dealing with Indian at- mules. Beale completed his mission tacks on emigrants heading to Cali- in 1857, even getting the camels to fornia, trouble brewing between pro swim across the Colorado and spot- and anti-slavery groups in Kansas ting our own Mt. Charleston along and clashes with Mormons in Utah. the way. On March 3, 1855, a law was passed Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon (Continued on next page) the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 8 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 9

the parking area. Although it is a diff erent kind of hike from Red Rock Canyon, it’s so worth the drive to get here and hike this trail. Be on guard for bikers. They have the right of way. Photos and authored by Norm Kresge

ravel the Hooch Highway to trail is not marked along the way except in get there, but you’ll have to a few places where mountain bikers have bring your own. As far as I can placed trail signs. From the low point, the tell, no one is brewing their trail crosses some other bike trails but it’s The moonshine cave? hooch here anymore. This hike is in Bootleg marked. Canyon at Boulder City and was created by As you drive up the canyon, on one T curve, there is a cave with a stovepipe stick- the mountain bikers you periodically see on On the way down, as you round the one the trail. The total distance is 4.3 miles and I ridge, you see most of the Las Vegas Val- ing out of the rock. This is most likely where rate the hike easy/moderate. ley. There are good views across the valley Outcroppings with catclaw bushes some moonshine was made. of Mount Charleston and other parts of the From the Spring Mountains. Enjoy the vista and take parking lot, walk many photos. up to the road and Getting to the trailhead: Take the 515/US 95 freeway toward Boulder City. When you get to the you’ll see a sign fi rst red light at the Veterans Memorial Road, turn left onto Veterans Memorial Road and follow with several ar- that. It becomes Industrial rows showing the Road after passing the Veter- way to trails. For ans’ Home. When you get to the Caldera Trail, Canyon Road—a four way go uphill until stop—turn left and you start just before you up Bootleg Canyon. There reach the crest are two traffi c circles. On of the hill (less your right after the second The view of Las Vegas than 1/10 mile) one are restrooms and some and take the trail From that low point, the trail meanders picnic tables. The blacktop going to the right. and slowly you regain the elevation you road ends and it’s dirt from Showing you the way (It is not marked gave up on the way down but it’s a gentle there. You do not need a here.) This is where uphill grade. You’ll hike near a fence mark- high clearance vehicle but the Outer Caldera Loop starts. The trail then ing the boundary of National Park Service you’ll need to go slow where goes along the ridges of the black hills that maintained land. There are also some nice rains may have created small make up a good part of Bootleg Canyon. outcrops of rock and some washes where gullies. As you approach the catclaw bushes grow well. trailhead, the parking area is After a short distance, the trail starts hidden. The road comes to downhill. For the next mile and a half, the Nearing the parking lot on the return, a plateau and then makes a trail is mostly all downhill at a gentle grade. you’ll meet the Boy Scout Bike Trail and 90-degree right turn. The parking area is hidden below the plateau. If you go all the way to the end of the road, you’ve gone too far. The elevation loss is about 800 feet. The the Inner Caldera Loop Trail just before Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon 10 the Rock -Volumethe 3 6Issue F Map withlocationofthedam andpipelinesubmittedwiththeLincolnStoneCompany’s 1906 Water Application T Company tosupplypower(estimatedat60 completed structure. located andseeaphotoordrawingofthe sure benicetoknowexactlywhereitwas really caredwhatitlookedlike.Itwould done, andatthetimeitislikelynoone wide andthreefeetdeep.Butitgotthejob write homeabout,beingonlyfi to theSandstoneQuarry. Itwasnothingto RIENDS The damwasbuiltbytheLincolnStone

OF R ED and w constructed ofwoodandearth he Willow SpringDam R OCK as builttosupplywater C ANYON

fteen feet was was everdone.Itisnotclearifthewater size ofthepipebutwedon’t knowifthis that thecompanyplannedtoincrease pipe andlabor. The waterapplicationstated the expensewouldhavebeenforiron improvements. Iwouldassumemostof ($185,736 intoday’s dollars)onwater tions. LincolnStonespent$7,500in1907 ridges andwashesbetweenthetwoloca- quarry, gravitypropelledthewaterover Willow Springsis300feethigherthanthe through athree-inchironpipeline. As was transportedthreemilestothequarry horsepower) andforgeneraluse. The water By ChuckWilliams

Photo by Chuck Williams Willow Springtodayshowingtheremainingportionof wildlife/cattle Wash whichwouldputit south sideoftheRedRock the damwaslocatedon topo mapseemstoindicate and quarrybuildings. The the locationofapipeline water applicationshows map submittedwiththe shows thepipeline. The map oftheLas Vegas area August 7,1907. and proof-of-usefi ted onDecember24,1906 application wassubmit- used atthequarrysite. The electricity ortopowertools power wasusedtogenerate accumulate andwillbeincluded inthebookwhenasecondediti applications. Additional historicinformation aboutRedRockCa closer lookatthe1907topo mapsuggestedthepipelineexisted Information forthisstory wasfoundafter“Seekers,Saintsand The 1907topographic guzzler thatwasbuiltbytheCCCinlate1930s led on Detail of1907UnitedStatesGeologicalSurveyMaptheLasVegas area and wasoutofbusinessin1911. quarry operationsuntilearly1909 counts, LincolnStonedidnotbegin gallons perminute. to 22.44gallonspersecondor1,346 cubic feetpersecond! if accurate,wasstaggering– water fl approved certifi Springs. closer toLostCreekthan Willow Scoundrels”waspublished. A whichledtoasearchof water nyon willlikelycontinue to on isprinted F According tonewspaperac- According totheapplicationand RIENDS owing from Willow Springs,

OF R cate, theamountof ED . R OCK This equates Spring 2016 C ANYON three

11 12 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 13

she knows exactly what needs to happen and how. Linda and her committee review appli- cations and select the recipients. The process In their own words... begins early in the school year because the (spelling unchanged) demand for FORRC transportation subsidies ByBy PPatriciaatricia PPotterott far exceeds the supply of funds available. Edi- “The tadepoles were cool. I learned that tors Note: The FORRC Board of Directors life at Red Rock survived because of the allocated $5,000 from the Special Projects spring, Without it, the pine would never wonder if your Friends lies and communities to nature through inno- budget account in February to augment the be there.” Ariejohna of Red Rock Canyon vative ideas and evidence-based resources.” available bus funding. The existing grant (www.childrenandnature.org) Its recent re- (FORRC) membership budget of $8,000 was exhausted in January Ever “What I saw there was awesome…we search studies are focused on “what is gained changes lives? Well, it does! Since 2010, and the supplemental funding allowed for through more exposure to saw a lot of scat (specilly donkey). I close to 9,000 Clark County School District an additional 20 bus (CCSD) children have come on fi eld trips to natural settings, including almost steped on it.” Lillian nearby nature in urban grant awards. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area places.” Change happens “Red Rock “ROCKS” Joshua (RRCNCA) on yellow school buses paid for when kids are in nature. Kate Sorom, who with FORRC transportation grants. So far in Here are just a few of the “always wanted to be the 2015-16 school year, 60 bus grants have outcomes: a Ranger,” has been “Thank you for donating the funds for been awarded to transport kids to Red Rock • Children from at RRCNCA for more the bus that took us to Red Rock. I saw Canyon for an outdoor experience in nature. challenging backgrounds than two decades. She all the animals that I know about. Like experience improved manages all of the snakes and water spiders.” David According to Friends member Linda well-being and resilience Ranger-led Kindergar- Vetter, who chairs the Trans- after participating in nur- ten through 5th grade “I had so much fun. That was the fi rst portation Committee and turing outdoor programs educational programs time I went there to Red Rock. I wish to

oversees this initiative, • Nature-based Archives Friends f Red Rock Canyon at the Rock. She also go again with my family. I know they “most all of the kids experiences with academic A Clark County School District class debarks for their fi eld trip at Red Rock teaches a professional would have a great time.” Kimberly who ride the FORRC- mentors in urban environ- development course funded buses come ments enhance students’ awareness and in- for teachers in Clark County entitled Explore Her grade level-based programs bring second from Title I schools.” terest the Great Outdoors (EGO) – Investigating graders to Red Springs to learn more about This means that the • Childhood experiences in nature Red Rock Canyon. This workshop provides what desert tortoise and bighorn sheep need majority of these enhance care for self and others and contribute to survive in our desert. And, along the way, Friends f Red Rock Canyon Archives Friends f Red Rock Canyon Transportation Chair teachers with a basic knowledge of Red Rock students are living in Linda Vetter to spiritual development and the , its native plants and they sometimes see road runners, squirrels, poverty. They likely • Nature-based outdoor classrooms animals, its geology and the early people who participate in the free or reduced lunch pro- enhance children’s learning, behavior and lived here. Upon completion, teachers are able gram. They are highly unlikely to have a Red developmental outcomes to conduct teacher-led programs at Red Rock. Rock experience because it’s too far or too • Enjoying time spent in nature infl u- They are also qualifi ed to apply for a Friends expensive or because there’s no way to get ences children’s sense of connection to nature Transportation Grant. Completion of the there. “These kids usually see only concrete EGO program is a prerequisite for receiving a – this fi eld trip is often their fi rst experience Linda Vetter tackles the job of getting Friends grant. in nature,” says Vetter, “that’s what makes the Las Vegas CCSD teachers excited about the Friends Transportation Initiative so critical.” program, letting them know about the grant Ranger Sorom’s programs keep the kids requirements and how to complete the appli- outdoors at Lost Creek Children’s Trail, the Since its founding in 2005, the Children cation. A veteran teacher with more than 25 Fire Ecology Trail at Pine Creek, the Moen- Agency Partners Southern Nevada & Nature Network has been the preeminent years of experience – 15 in Clark County – kopi Trail or the Red Springs Boardwalk. Ranger Kate explaining the Sandstone Quarry topography movement to “connect children and their fami- Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon (Continued on page 14)

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 14 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 15

The Best Field Trip Ever! (Continued from page 13) hawks, and frogs in the spring waters. The third graders are off to Trail Rides to hunt fossils and go on rock digs. Fourth graders also visit Red Springs; this time they learn about the water cycle, how water By Joseph J. Labie at Red Rock Canyon aff ects them in Las Hummingbirds or Tortoises. Which are your favorites? Vegas, and participate in games to help bring ideas home. Fifth graders get basic lessons in reading a topographical map, locating Think of this as your own little piece of the Rock 2016 Commemorative Coins! Turtlehead Peak above Sandstone Quarry, and how both nature and humans change his Red Rock landscapes. Annually, she educates many  hummingbird Southern Nevada Agency Partners Southern Nevada  was captured more school children than those who arrive Students learning about reading a topo map at Sandstone Quarry  in mid-fl ight by on the FORRC buses. Between 2010 and Kate still gets excited when she overhears  member Chuck De- he 2016 set, designed by Rob 2015, she oversaw 679 programs for 35,474  one of the children say to a friend, “this is the LaTorre. He is now Tuvell, features a hummingbird participants, and those numbers don’t in- best fi eld trip EVER!” immortalized on a and tortoise. There are a num- clude the current 2015-16 school year. ber of hummingbird feeders at the  9” x 7.75” mouse The Kids on the  pad to inspire your Visitor Center and the “hummers” Linda’s commitment to increasing en-  creative side. think it’s an all-day buff et. As for the  vironmental awareness among students and FORRC Buses* Available I can inspire your workspace tortoise, his name is Hugo and he is teachers is what has kept her engaged in this only in our Red a very handsome fellow. The coins project for the past six years. School Year Students Web store, the hummer pad is priced at $10 ($7.50 are 99.9% copper, about the size of 2010-2011 1,911 member price) plus shipping. Remember, Friends a 50-cent coin, and are for sale at the 2011-2012 2,230 members receive free shipping to one address for all Visitor Center for $2 each or on-line 2012-2013 2,475 orders over $25. for $6 per set including shipping. 2013-2014 2,253 8,869 All the Rock Stars in one package!

*According to Ranger Kate, FORRC ow you can have all the Rock Stars hanging pays the transportation costs for ap- out in your house. We’ve created a set of nine proximately 25% of all CCSD students 3” x 2” magnets featuring the images of all the kids in the tortoise habitat. who visit RRCNCA each school year. Friends f Red Rock Canyon Archives Friends f Red Rock Canyon And the best part about buying this set? Aside Ranger Kate Sorom with a visiting class If you are a CCSD teacher and interested from the non-stop cuteness, $3 of the purchase price in a Red Rock Canyon fi eld trip or EGO will be earmarked for the Tortoise Medical Fund. Children with no exposure to the natural Workshop, contact Kate Sorom at 702-515- Available only in the Red Web store, the mag- net set is priced at $10 ($7.50 member price) plus world are not likely to become ecologically 5353 or [email protected] literate or understand their stewardship role in shipping. Friends members - buy several sets and receive free shipping. nature. This is why Linda Vetter, who is pas- Information about our transportation The torts will thank you for your purchase. sionate about conservation and preservation, grants can be found at http://www.friend- is on a mission to give as many Clark County sofredrockcanyon.org/bus_grant.php or by school kids as possible an experience in nature emailing Linda Vetter at busgrant@friendso- at Red Rock. What is the Red Web? fredrockcanyon.org It’s the Friends of Red Rock Canyon on-line store. You can fi nd Friend’s logo wearables, books, pins and patches, hats and more. Find it at www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org/store.php Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon

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By Frazier Haney Mojave Trails

ojave Trails National Monument includes a landscape of the Salt Song Trail sacred to Tribes along the Colorado River. It is spanned by Mojave Trails National Monument - Photo provided by Mojave Desert Land Trust the second transcontinental railroad, made famous through songs and sto- ries like John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath as well as Route 66. Route This spring the California Desert is celebrating! 66 is known internationally and is on The newly created Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains National Monuments the World Monuments Fund's Watch - BLM Bob Wick protect the ecological linkages, historical resources, scenic vistas and public access opportunities List of most endangered sites. Mo- Mojave Trails National Monument across 1.8 million acres of the California Desert. The most stunning result of these February 12 jave Trails also contains several camps and designations is that the California Desert is now the second largest preserved desert landscape in hundreds of square miles used by General ing Mojave Trails an outstanding outdoor the world. Patton in World War II and known as the recreation area. Its boundary contains rare plant Desert Training Center, the remnants of species, some so new to science they haven’t he California Desert is a place with members of the public were present and the which are still written into the landscape. been named. The new Monument is home to which our organization, Mojave support demonstrated was overwhelming. It The Mojave Trail Monument connects iconic bighorn sheep, golden eagles and desert Desert Land Trust (MDLT), is inti- included local counties and cities, area busi- Mojave National Preserve to Joshua Tree tortoises. mately familiar. We work across its 24 million ness groups, tribes, hunters, anglers, faith- National acresT to protect the ecosystem and its scenic based organizations, recreationists, local land Park and The Wildlands Conservancy acquired one and cultural resource values. With a variety trusts and conservation groups, and students 15 des- of every fi ve acres in the Mojave Trails Monu- of partners, MDLT has worked for a decade from local schools. ignated ment for conservation purposes. In 1999, the to protect private lands in special areas. Wilder- Catellus Development Corporation listed for- To date, we have protected 57,000 acres ness mer railroad lands for sale in a "checkerboard" for permanent conservation, restoring and Areas, pattern spread across hundreds of square miles stewarding the places in which we invest. creat- of public lands. The Wildlands Conservancy But we know that without a strong system Archives Mojave Desert Land Trust ing a donated $45 million in privately raised funds in Amboy in Bloom of protected public lands, this private invest- protected conjunction with $18 million in Land and Wa- ment will be impacted through time. For us, landscape across hundreds of square miles. ter Conservation Funds to the U.S. Department the new designations represents a great step of the Interior to acquire, restore and protect towards this goal. Jeep trails off Route 66 provide public this landscape. The Mojave Trails National access throughout the area for exploring, Monument ratifi es this protection and secures The new national monuments are the rock hounding and isolated camping, mak- the commitment made to conserve this area. result of nearly two decades of leadership by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to craft legislation to protect special places in the California desert. In October, offi cials from the Obama Administration visited Palm Springs, California to hear from the com- munity about a possible protection of these areas under the President's authority us- ing the 1906 Antiquities Act. Nearly 1,000 Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon (Continued on next page) Background photo by Bob Wick - BLM (Continued(C ti d on page 18)

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Welcome to the Family! (Continued from page 17) Sand to Snow Castle Mountains Making Friends By Mary E. Labie Sand to Snow National Monument The Castle Mountains National Monu- protects one of the most biologically diverse ment consists of approximately 21,000 acres So far, 2016 is a good year. mountain ranges in the United States and of orty six new members have joined Friends of Red Rock Canyon this year! is surrounded by rural communities built federal Their names are listed on page 4. We now have over 650 members who around tourism. It contains 25 miles of the land sur- provide support for Red Rock Canyon Pacifi c rounded F Crest by the National existing Welcome to our new Member Recruiting Team members Scenic Mojave Meet Diane Stephens Meet Phyllis Burgess Trail, National as well Preserve David Lamfrom and will as one Castle Mountains of the be man- premier aged by the National Park Service. An inte- gral piece of the Mojave Desert, the area has

Mojave Desert Land Trust Archives Mojave Desert Land Trust loca- Black Lava Butte tions rocky peaks, native desert grasslands, Joshua in the southwestern United States for bird- trees, pinion pine and juniper forests. The watching, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. monument has some of the highest quality Because of the existing strong public/private golden eagle and bighorn sheep habitats in partnerships in the Monument, thousands of the Mojave Desert and contains important volunteer hours and in-kind donations help cultural resources including Native American agencies operate the visitor facilities, run archeological sites and vestiges of mining, education programs and maintain the trails. ranching and the railroad from the period of expansion.

Diane has been a Friends member since Phyllis is our newest recruiting team Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) ing MDLT, who gathered signatures, July 2015 and has been volunteering with member, joining Friends in December 2015. and the communities in and around the distributed information and hosted events the Canyon Cleanup Team. She has been a She moved to Las Vegas from California in newly designated Monuments appreciate to build strong and diverse public sup- Las Vegan since 2005, moving here from 1968. Phyllis loves horses and has one of her what a historic moment this is, and ap- port. Now our attention is beginning to Topeka, Kansas due to a job transfer. Be- very own, Diva Rose. Her husband, Jerry, is plaud the tireless eff orts of U. S. Senator focus towards implementation of manage- fore retiring in 2013, Diane worked for the a former Navy Seal and they have been mar- Dianne Feinstein to protect the iconic and ment plans for these areas and working to Department of Veterans Aff airs for 33 years. ried for 27 years. Another love is dogs; she intact landscapes of this place. This work ensure that public access opportunities are She and her husband, Pat Barut, have two is hoping to adopt a rescue dog soon and is would not have been possible without created to experience these new National sons and two grandsons who live in South- looking for the right one. the support of the many groups, includ- Monuments. Wish us luck! ern California. Many thanks to Diane and Phyllis for joining the Membership Recruiting Team! About the Author: Frazier Haney has been the Conservation Director at Mojave Desert Sponsoring a new member helps Red Rock Canyon Land Trust (MDLT) since September 2013. He grew up hiking, climb- Our own Vivienne Touliusis sponsored Diane’s membership, and Phyllis was sponsored ing and camping in Indiana and the California Desert. He attended by Friends member, Marion Caro. These are just two examples of how, by inviting a the University of California at Santa Cruz and received a Bachelor of friend or family member to join Friends, our volunteer base increases. So, please keep Science degree in Ecology. He currently lives in Joshua Tree, CA with sponsoring new members. Not only are you doing something wonderful for Friends of his wife Jamie and their daughter Lily. Red Rock Canyon, you are helping meet the never-ending needs for conservation and preservation of the National Conservation Area. Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon Find out more about Mojave Desert Land Trust at www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org and like them on Facebook

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 20 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON 21

By Sharon Schaaf By Margie Klein

anis Kadlec has worked for Mindy is excited about creating new pro- torytelling is important in many aspects Sunday” series. The target audience will be Red Rock Canyon Interpretive grams, especially working with children in of life. Whether in the oral or written tra- younger children, but I would like to invite Association (RRCIA) for fi fteen environmental education. Since she enjoys dition, it is one way that culture is passed anyone who has an interest in the art of story- Jyears. She is the Director of Interpretive painting with watercolors, she would like to on from generation to generation. Stories are telling. I will be live-telling a story, usually a Programming and recently welcomed two develop a class in watercolor painting that used to convey history, but they can also illus- legend or pourquois new Interpretive Naturalists to her team. would encourage students to paint what they trate lessons and values. Motivational speakers tale, then read a pic- ourquoi story, also known as an origin story, see to create a unique piece of art. tell a story to inspire people; performers tell ture storybook about a pourquoi tale or an etiological Working with the Bureau of Land stories to entertain; even business people use the plants, animals or tale, is a fi ctional narrative that Management, the Interpretative Depart- stories to demonstrate successes and failures. other natural features explains why something is the way ment researches and develops programs for Story is a vital part of the human experience. of Red Rock Canyon. it is for example why a snake has no legs, or why a tiger has stripes. students, clubs, community organizations, Storytime will be fol- Many legends and folk tales at-risk children and teens and the general Can storytelling be extended to the envi- lowed by a show-and- are pourquoi stories. public. These programs include talks, hikes, ronment around us? The answer is yes, abso- tell display of the story demonstrations and exhibits both at the Red lutely, as the human species is part and parcel topic, and then an activity that will let the kids Rock Canyon National Conservation Area of its environment. In fact, when it comes to get some hands-on time with the subject, usu- Visitor Center and on its trails, along with relating a sense of place to people, stories are ally arts and crafts. off -site locations such as campgrounds,

Photo by Stacy Irvin one of the best ways to do it. We have to know schools, assisted-living facilities and more. what happens in the landscape, as well as how No matter how we tell the stories, we need Mindy Grabko, Janis Kadlec, Margie Klein and and why, in order to understand our place in it. to get them out there to the public. Stories Cody Dix at the Nevada State Museum The programs can be about historic or Place gives us a context for our existence. help develop a stronger appreciation for our scientifi c topics, natural resources in the area The second new face in the Interpretative environment, leading to a desire to protect and or the cultural heritage of the conservation Department is Margie Klein. Also originally So what are the stories of Red Rock Can- preserve sites like our national parks and con- area. They are aimed at increasing the pub- from Wisconsin, she has been a Nevadan yon? The location, climate, all the elements, servation areas. With everyone’s help, we are lic’s interest, awareness and understanding since 1991. Three years ago she retired from fl ora and fauna and the people that have been ensuring the future of Red Rock Canyon. of Red Rock Canyon as well as appreciation the state where she had worked in natural here are all interwoven parts. As interpreters, of all public lands. resources and environmental education. A we may tell individual parts of the complete Welcome to new contributor Margie Klein! freelance writer for over twenty-fi ve years, story, one story at a time. Each of us may Margie has been a freelance writer Born and raised in Wisconsin and a Margie worked as an interpretive writer specialize in a certain topic; but together — for over 25 years and a nature-lover graduate of Northern Michigan University for the Southern Nevada Conservancy and friends, volunteers and naturalists — all help all her life. With degrees in agricul- in Marquette, Mindy Grabko comes to Red wrote educational and outreach materials ture and natural resources, she has paint the picture of this fascinating place 30-plus years’ experience in these Rock Canyon from the Lake Mead National for the new Visitor Center at Mt. Charleston called Red Rock Canyon. We tell and retell the fi elds, including parks, forestry, and Recreation Area where she worked as an before coming to Red Rock Canyon. stories in publications like the Rock, media wildlife. Certifi ed in environmental AmeriCorps Intern with the non-profi t Great outlets, guidebooks, artist series, talks, table- education and interpretation, she Basin Institute. Currently, she is assisting Margie’s specialty is native plants and is also a student of nature writing, top presentations, brochures and hikes. storytelling and ecotherapy. When Ranger Kate Sorom with school fi eld trips, animals and ecology in the Spring Moun- not serving as one of the interpretive naturalists for working on tabletop demonstrations and tains. At Red Rock Canyon she is presenting On the fi rst Sunday of each month, I RRCIA, Margie spends time in her yard and garden and guiding hikes. interpretive programs, doing some interpre- will be hosting an environmental “Storytime with her grandson, who is a naturalist-in-training. Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon (Continued on page 22) the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 Spring 2016 1921 - 2016 22 FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON Bonnie McGaugh Levinson

Bonnie was one of the original spirits of Las Vegas. Growing up in the fi lm By Pat Williams February Meeting industry, she enjoyed a career as a skater and actress before moving to Las Vegas in the early 1950s. She met the love of her life, Al Levinson, raised a wonderful family and, along the Stuff you should know way, created Bonnie Springs Ranch.

ver 100 Friends members shared Bonnie lived an amazing life and leaves an equally amazing legacy. Special guest, Nelson a February morning with a hearty Cochrane – Vice Presi- Thank you. You will be missed but you are still with us. breakfast, organizational updates dent and Chairman of the and a great guest speaker. Nevada Test Site Histori- O Members were brought up- By the Numbers cal Foundation, shared to-date on Friends ongoing “I could skate fine (October through December) the history of the test site projects, informed about going forward and and answered multiple Volunteer Hours & Value: volunteer trainings and 4,950 hours worth $14,000 questions afterwards. I could skate go- opportunities and provided Total Revenue - $50,954 ing backward but with our fi rst quarter ac- Total Expense - $38,478 I couldn’t do a complishments and fi nan- cial information. Mohawk to turn A fund raising raffl e, with a framed around so I would acrylic painting Jerry Barrett was recognized with the have to stop and by Rob Tuvell, Presidential Call turn around.” generated over to Service Life- $300 in dona- time Achieve- tions. New mem- ment Award for ber, Julio Raimu- his 4,000 hours of ñdez, purchased volunteer contri- the winning “Al heard butions. Jerry is “I don’t think I ticket for the about a dingy the fi fth Friends “Calico Can- Linda Vetter, Julio Raimuñdez and can complain. I blond out in member to re- yon” painting. Gary Vetter with “Calico Canyon” have been work- the boondocks ceive this prestigious award. ing for [this] ever running a bar since, but I think and he got Old Places New Faces (Continued from page 20) that it is okay, stuck coming kept me going.” back for 40 tive writing and helping to expand Everyone at Red Rock Can- RRCIA’s website. She’ll be starting yon warmly welcomes Mindy years.” a storytelling program at the Visitor and Margie and we look for- Center in addition to Citizen Sci- ward to getting to know them ence Programs. better, working with them and participating in their new and All fi ve Interpretive Naturalists exciting programs. “Then I found - Janis Kadlec, Bob Peloquin, Cody the place I Dix, Mindy Grabko and Margie Photo by Janis Kadlec You can fi nd a complete wanted to Klein - are Certifi ed Interpretive Bob Peloquin listing of their hikes and pro- Guides, receiving that designation from the grams at www.redrockcanyonlv.org live and had National Association of Interpretation. They my babies and Volunteers dedicatedVolunteers the to preservation of Red Rock Canyon are also CPR and fi rst aid certifi ed. that’s what I the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 3 did.” Date Event What is it? Contact 4/1 Bus Grant Applications Last day to apply for busing grants Linda Vetter [email protected] 4/8 & 4/22 Canyon Cleanup Neat Freaks rejoice and join the fun! Liz Carmer [email protected] 4/9 Astronomy Night See the stars at the Rock Kate Sorom 702-515-5350 4/9 Member Recruiting Drive Sign up at the Visitor Center Mary Labie [email protected] 4/9 Natural Resource Workday Trail repair or improving Red Rock Wyatt Mulvey [email protected] 4/10 Authors & Artists Meet author Donald Ensenbach - Visitor Center Gallery Jennifer Vincent [email protected] Learn about the best volunteer job at the Rock Sue & Roger Kolar 4/16 & 4/20 Tort Habitat Training (only one session required) [email protected] 4/14 & 4/23 Graffiti Removal Workday Help remove the blight from the Rock Diane Hall [email protected] 4/15 Friends Board Meeting Meeting in the REI Community Room [email protected] 4/16 Dedication Walkway Deadline for the Memorial Day Installation Leila Arthur [email protected] 4/16 Wildflower Day Find out about the wildflowers of Red Rock Canyon Cody Dix [email protected] 4/29 & 4/30 Annual Photo Contest Accepting entries from: 2 to 4 on 4/29; 9 to 3 on 4/30 Mary Labie [email protected]

5/1 Annual Photo Contest Accepting entries from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mary Labie [email protected] 5/6 & 5/20 Canyon Cleanup Neat Freaks rejoice and join the fun! Liz Carmer [email protected] 5/8 Authors & Artists Meet author and Friends member Nick Saines - VC Gallery Jennifer Vincent [email protected] 5/12 & 5/21 Graffiti Removal Workday Help remove the blight from the Rock Diane Hall [email protected] 5/13 Friends Board Meeting Meeting in the REI Boca Park Community Room [email protected] 5/14 Natural Resource Workday Trail repair or improving Red Rock Wyatt Mulvey [email protected] 5/14 Quarterly Meeting Join Friends for updates and breakfast Pat Williams [email protected] 5/20 Endangered Species Day Learn what you can do to help . Ongoing at the Visitor Center Cody Dix [email protected] 5/21 May Day at the Rock Community volunteer event at Red Rock Canyon Cal Howell 702-515-5350 5/21 Member Recruiting Drive Sign up at the Visitor Center Mary Labie [email protected] 5/28 Butterfly Day Family friendly and informative programs ongoing at the VC Janis Kadlec [email protected] 5/31 Red Rock Campground Campground closes for the summer at 11 a.m. 702-515-5350

6/3 & 6/17 Canyon Cleanup Neat Freaks rejoice and join the fun! Liz Carmer [email protected]

6/4 Ice Cream Social A celebration for Volunteers (Tentative) Pat Williams [email protected] Learn about the best volunteer job at the Rock Sue & Roger Kolar 6/4 & 6/8 Tort Habitat Training (only one session required) [email protected] 6/11 Member Recruiting Drive Sign up at the Visitor Center Mary Labie [email protected] 6/12 Authors & Artists Meet photographer Nick Diggins in the Visitor Center Gallery Jennifer Vincent [email protected] 6/17 Friends Board Meeting Meeting in the REI Boca Park Community Room [email protected]

6/25 Annual Photo Contest Awards Reception & Photo Returns (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Mary Labie [email protected]

6/26 Annual Photo Contest Photo Returns 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mary Labie [email protected]