September 11-17, 2016 Rocky Mountain National Park: A Reunion Experience
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park System... Experience the sounds and sights of the Rockies amidst the beauty of changing aspen and the bugling of rutting elk. Enjoy a week discovering flora and critters in the multiple ecosystems accessible from our home at 8500 feet. Learn in the field and in our picture window classroom with spectacular lake and mountain panoramas. Guided by birders, naturalists, seasonal park rangers and our local faculty you will learn the ancient patterns that created this unique setting and the geological and glacial features that formed the region’s present day topography. An all day field trip through the Park provides views of glaciated mountains, lingering wild- flowers, glimpses of high country animals and the headwaters of the mighty Colorado River. ...at beautiful Shadowcliff Lodge
Register for this event online: Schedule http://form.jotform.com/shadowcliff/reunion
Sunday September 11, 2016 3:00 Arrival & registration 5:00-6:00 Informal reception and re-connecting time 6:00-7:00 Evening meal 7:30-8:30 The Shadowcliff Story & Rocky Mountain National Park Video
Monday September 12, 2016 7:30-8:30 Breakfast buffet 8:45-9:30 Short interpretive walk along Shadowcliff’s Laws of Nature Trail 9:30-10:15 History of National Park System and Rocky Mountain National Park - Charles Money. Executive Director Rocky Mountain Conservancy 10:15-10:30 Break 10:30-11:30 Continuation with Charles Money 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:30-4:00 Adams Falls/ East Inlet Trail Hike with seasonal Park Ranger Harry Canon 6:00-6:45 Evening Meal 7:15-9:00 Music and campfire with local musicians Tuesday September 13, 2016 7:00-9:00 Bird Hike along North Inlet Trail-Jeff Maughans, naturalist, retired RMNP Park Ranger 9:15-10:00 Breakfast buffet 10:15-11:45 The Colorado River—faculty TBA 12:00-12:45 Lunch 1:30-3:00 Boat Tour on Grand Lake (Headwaters of the Colorado) Led by Jane Tollett, retired Grand County Water information Network Director or current GWIN Executive Director 5:15-5:45 Evening meal 6:00-8:00 Drive into Rocky Mountain National Park-- experience the evening sounds and sights of bugling elk in the time of the rut
Wednesday September 14, 2016 7:30-8:30 Breakfast Buffet 8:45-10:00 Tragedy of the Commons-an interactive exercise in understanding ourselves-Bob Mann 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-12:00 Watershed Science- recent geological processes interacting with active ecology- Geoff Elliott, Earth Scientist, principal Grand Environmental Services 12:00-1:00 Lunch Buffet 1:15- 4:00 Interpretive hike along Colorado River Trail-with Geoff Elliott 6:00-7:00 Evening Meal 8:00-9:00 Astronomy on Shadowcliff Point-Sam Crane, Biology Teacher and seasonal Park Astronomer 10:00 Quiet Time
Thursday September 15, 2016 7:00-8:00 Breakfast 8:30-4:30 A Tour to the Top of the World- a full day of touring RMNP with short guided hike options at various points. Sack lunch provided 6:00-7:00 Evening meal 7:00 Free evening
Friday September 16, 2016 7:30-8:30 Breakfast Buffet 8:45-12:00 Optional Activities (with leaders provided) • Ute Trail (above treeline-4 miles hike downhill) • Shadow Mountain Trail to the dam- 3.5 miles, gently rolling • Grand Ditch: A water diversion project- 6 miles round trip, steady climb up and downhill return. • Grand Lake Walking Tour-followed by time in town 12:00-1:00 Lunch Buffet 1:30-4:00 Hot Sulphur Springs outing-one of the oldest continuously used hot springs in Colorado 6:00-7:00 Evening meal **Free Evening with encouragement to consider Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre performance
Saturday September 17, 2016 7:00-8:00 Breakfast Buffett 8:00-8:30 Closing 10:00 Check-out
To register for this event, please visit: http://form.jotform.com/shadowcliff/reunion Instructor Bios
Jeff Maugans worked as a naturalist for the National Park Service for 32 years with a special interest in birds. He has a degree in outdoor education and natural science from Pennsylvania State University. Jeff has worked at Mammoth Cave National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Edison National Historic Site, Gateway National Park, Redwood National Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He came to Rocky Mountain National Park in 1990.
Charles (Charley) Money has been the Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Conservancy since mid-summer of 2012. RMC is one of the oldest national park support organizations in the nation dating back to 1931 as the Rocky Mountain Nature Association. Immediately prior to RMC Charley spent 14 years as head of Alaska Geograph- ic which served as the nonprofit partner to 15 national parks, 16 national wildlife refuges and the two largest national forests in the country. Charley’s other roles have included 15 years as the Deputy Director of the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy, the Finance Director of Western National Parks Association and several years working for the National Park Service. Charley and wife Julie Dreher have three adult children and he and they now call Estes Park, home.
Sam Crane is a Seasonal Park Ranger for Rocky Mountain National Park and a High School Science Teacher. Sam has taught science in Colorado for more than 24 years and has been a seasonal park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park for even longer! Sam leads astronomy sessions one night each week in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the program is one of the most well known and well attended ranger led interpretive sessions in RMNP. Sam has a bachelor of science from SUNY College Of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a Masters of Science from Mississippi State University (geoscience).
Geoff Elliott is project scientist and installation foreman for Grand Environmental, combining over 30 years experience in natural resource management with hands-on field experience in over 200 river and riparian projects. He is particularly interested in hydrogeomorphic studies aimed at restoring river-riparian hydrology to support restoration and enhancement of aquatic habitats. Geoff has a BSc. in Earth Science and MSc. in Geology and is a Certified Professional In Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC #5082).
Harry Canon has been a seasonal interpretive Park Ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park for thirty-two years, enjoys his frequent visits with Shadowcliff guests and his storytelling and tall tales at the Old Ranch Campsite at RMNP’s historic Holzwarth Ranch.
Jane Tollett is a County Commissioner in Grand County Colorado. She is formerly the Executive Director of Grand County Water Information Network, a not for profit organization whose mission is to provide accurate and current information on water quality and issues related to Grand County’s watersheds. Jane spent many years as an engineer working with a Fortune 500 Company and brings both knowledge and passion to her work for water conservation and quality. Her new responsibilities as a County Commissioner bring the challenge and the opportunity to balance her knowledge of these water related issues to the social, economic and environment concerns of the County.
Robert J. “Bob” Mann is a, Shadowcliff Associates Sustainability Consultant and Trainer. Bob practiced law for twenty-five years, founded Bridging The Gap, Inc., in Kansas City, the mid-west’s largest environmental education organization and with his wife Judith Christy served as Co-directors of Shadowcliff from 2001-2012. Bob has facilitated more than fifty multi-day sustainability, environmental and planning workshops at Shadowcliff including participants of all ages and levels of experience. Bob has extensive experience in working with elected and staff leaders from municipal, county and state governments and has provided training services on sustainability principles to the Environmental Protection Agency in Region 7 & 8. Bob brings people together and helps all of us see the importance of the natural world in our daily lives.