QUARTERLY Summer 2016 LETTING ROCKY SPEAK FOR ITSELF by Geoff Elliot about the park, played some exploratory This past spring, I welcomed a classroom games about what it means group of ten middle schoolers from the to work for the Na onal Park Service, Boys and Girls Clubs of Denver to Rocky as well as a round of RMNP trivia. While Mountain Na onal Park. They came to these delay tac cs gave the group a the park to explore diff erent job oppor- rough understanding of the park and tuni es with the Na onal Park Service. some of the work opportuni es with the Now this is not unusual. The Conservan- Park Service, it readily became appar- cy has brought other groups of young ent that it was a weekend day and these people up for similar programs with kids did not come to Rocky to sit in a great success. Typically, groups spend classroom. So, at wit’s end, weather or the whole day outside, mee ng diff erent no weather, I decided to let Rocky speak rangers as well as various Conservancy for itself. staff , followed by some kind of volun- We le the Field Ins tute in the teer project. These group visits have all preheated bus and adventured into purposely been held in the summer and the park. Driving in, the students were fall, minimizing any poten al weather overtly more enthralled with whatever issues. This group, however, scheduled radio sta on was playing quietly on the their trip in March. bus than the fact that we were headed As their scheduled day arrived, the for Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. local weather network was predic ng <Sigh> Then, miraculously, just as we several inches of snow in Estes Park and passed the Fall River Entrance I heard even more in Rocky, so the group de- someone from the back yell, “ANI- cided to reschedule. The only date they MALS!” As I scanned the meadow to s ll had available was a Sunday in April. the le of the road, I no ced a handful In theory, this is no big deal, except that of bull elk. We pulled over and got out on this weekend day there were limited to watch them for a bit. As the students Conservancy staff resources and the Na- le the bus, their smartphones and onal Park Service had no extra staff to selfi e s cks were the fi rst things they help facilitate the program. This would pulled out to document the moment. require some signifi cant adjustments to A er pos ng their fi rst elk sigh ng on the usual program design. social media, the ques ons started pop- When the day arrived, it came in ping up: “What are those?” “Why do a bluster, with high winds and blowing they have fur on their horns?” “What is snow. It is safe to say that these city that fence over there for?” “Will these kids from Denver were not expec ng animals hurt us?” And on and on. this weather, nor were they prepared About fi een minutes later, a er to be outside in it. I decided I’d begin discussing basic elk ecology, some of the the program indoors with hopes of the elk management projects in Rocky, and weather ge ng friendlier later in the how they could get involved, the group day, so we started out with a brief video (Leƫ ng Rocky Speak con nued on page 2) I: SIGN UP FOR THE ANNUAL PICNIC IN THE PARK! (DETAILS ON PAGE 3) 2 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er (Leƫ ng Rocky Speak con nued) bring them to Many Parks Curve before Secondly, I realized that I had es- was ready to move on to the next stop. they had to leave to show them the tablished an expecta on for the group We were headed to the Alluvial Fan. We view and a glimpse of the beauty of Trail before they even arrived based on the got out in the West Alluvial Fan Park- Ridge Road, so we le and headed up previous experiences I’ve had with ing Lot and started walking toward the the road. Already the crew was remi- similar groups. I was afraid to spoil their falls. As we walked, the middle schoolers niscing about their experience at the experience in the park with bad weath- ra led off ques ons: “Who put these Alluvial Fan. er, so I decided to try to control the rocks here?” “Why is there so much When we arrived at Many Parks kids’ experience of the park and present sand?” “Where did all the trees go?” Curve, there was not a moment of hesi- Rocky from inside the Field Ins tute. Of Before ge ng the fi rst view of the ta on — all the kids were scrambling to course, they had no interest in listening falls (knowing the distrac on of the get out and explore; climbing rocks and to me. They needed to get outside and spectacle would just be too much to posing for pictures along the boardwalk, experience the area fi rsthand, to im- handle), we stopped and I explained they took no no ce of the strong winds, merse themselves in it. They needed to the geological and erosional forces that freezing temperatures and intermi ent discover their own ques ons based on shaped the area and how it had changed blustering snow. These kids were in the what they explored on their own terms, drama cally, during their life me, with moment and enjoying the park in their not what I was telling them about and the 2013 fl ood. At that point, one of the own ways. deemed important for them to know. girls raised her hand, pointed behind All this brings to mind a few key ele- They were celebra ng and taking own- me to the falls and asked, “Can we go ments worth no ng. Hav- ership of the park in up there now?” Happily, I gave them the ing lived near Rocky and [The kids] needed to discover their own way. thumbs up to climb around on the rocks all its grandeur for some their own questions based on It’s a good re- and explore the area, but not before years, it’s easy to become what they explored on their minder for ideal envi- hearing the following exchange: immune to the nuances of ronmental educa on One of the boys in the group asked nature when that connec- own terms, not what I was condi ons. Our ongo- me, “Do we have to go up there?” on feels so familiar. And, telling them about and deemed ing eff orts to preserve I responded, “No, if you don’t want because of it, I tend to an- important for them to know. these places require to you can hang out here.” cipate uncomfortable or that we present these He then yelled to the group, “Hey less desirable condi ons and avoid being public lands to future genera ons in a guys! We don’t have to go!” out in it when condi ons are less than way that fosters respect for the history One of the students shouted from ideal. As a result, I miss poten ally magi- and inten on behind protec ng wild one of the rocks above, “I don’t care, I cal moments and experiences that might spaces. But always, the most important want to! It’s awesome up here!” have been transforma ve. It equates to piece to this is invi ng and encouraging The boy reluctantly sauntered up a lack of acceptance and apprecia on of young people to take ownership and the hill un l he spo ed his friends glee- Rocky and all of its beauty. This group of embrace these important places in their fully jumping from rock to rock, climbing largely unprepared youth, on the other own unique ways. up to li le overhangs, and crossing the hand, embraced the snow and wind with I’m grateful for this experience with stream on exposed stepping stones. In a smile and found joy in the park land- these kids. This group of fi rst- me visi- two seconds he was up there with them scape regardless of the weather. I do not tors from middle schools throughout the climbing, laughing and dipping his feet say this to condone hiking unprepared or Denver area reminded me how empow- in the cold water. adventuring out in dangerous condi ons, ering and freeing the park can be, as What seemed like only a short me but to remind myself that Rocky — Rocky long as I allow it. later, I looked at my watch and real- in all its forms — off ers enjoyment and ized we had been at the Alluvial Fan for fulfi lling experiences in a wide range of Geoff Elliot is the Rocky Mountain Conservancy nearly forty-fi ve minutes. I wanted to condi ons and in a variety of ways. Conserva on Corps Manager. Photo: Richard Youngblood Photo: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 3 Announcing the Annual Ask Nancy Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson a empts to unearth answers Rocky Mountain Conservancy to any ques ons asked by Conservancy members and park visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the Picnic in the Park! park, email [email protected] or write: When: August 6, 2016 Nancy Wilson, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100, Estes Park, CO 80517.