***Colorado State Parks Press Release***
STERLING, Colo. – North Sterling State
Park is inviting you and your friends, family, or coworkers to put down
roots and help plant and care for trees at your state park! The second
annual springtime Put Down Roots tree-planting and tree-care day will be
held on Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a free barbecue
lunch and story time for the kids!
This fun and
engaging volunteer event includes moderate and light tasks that can get the
whole family involved, and help keep our young trees healthy and
thriving.
Then, join us
that evening for the springtime Star Party at the west end of Chimney View
Campground. Local Northeastern Junior College professor David Coles hosts this
fun evening of stargazing on the prairie. Under his expert guidance, you’ll view
planets and distant galaxies through several different telescopes, while you
keep warm around a campfire and roast marshmallows! Park staff will also be
showing a short movie on astronomy in the nearby South Camper Services Building.
Stargazing begins as soon as the stars come out, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. – and
be certain to dress for the weather.
Put Down Roots
volunteers will meet up at the park’s visitor center in the morning at 9 a.m.,
where guest speaker Jeff Schile from Country Gardens Nursery in Sterling will
talk with us about what we can do to maintain and care for the young trees in
the park, and in your own backyard. Then we’ll spend the morning planting,
trimming, watering, and nurturing trees in Elks Campground, until it’s time for
the free barbecue lunch at Cottonwood Cove Swim Beach, where we’ll hand out door
prizes and honor our 2011 park volunteers and the Volunteer of the Year. We’ll
finish up the afternoon in Inlet Grove Campground, and our young trees will be
ready for a new season of growth.
Sound like too
much work? The trees we’ll be working with are all small, and the heaviest
labor will be digging holes for a few new trees – and what kid doesn’t like to
dig holes? Bad back? We’ll also need volunteers to help with the registration
desk, the barbecue, taking pictures throughout the day, and other light duties.
Just let us know, and we can find a way for you to help. Or, if you are
interested in sponsoring a tree, bench, or plaque in memory of a loved one,
please contact the park as soon as possible for more information and
details.
Don’t worry,
volunteers don’t need to purchase park passes to plant trees – when you check in
that morning, you’ll be given a temporary volunteer tag for your dashboard for
the whole day. No pre-registration is required for this year’s event – just
show up with your friends, family, or coworkers at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the
park’s visitor center. And don’t forget, volunteers who contribute 48 hours of
service to the state park earn a free annual pass! Why not get started with
this fun and free event?
North Sterling
State Park is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for
outdoor recreation, and with your help, we can build and improve our park’s
scenery, shade, and wildlife habitat for you and your family to enjoy for years
to come!
Colorado
Parks and Wildlife gets everyone outdoors! Attracting more than 12 million
visitors per year, Colorado's 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of
Colorado's economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 224,447
land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations
in the state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a leader in providing opportunities
for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching
generations about nature and partnering with communities. Colorado State Parks
also manage more than 4,300 campsites, and 63 cabins and yurts. For more
information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit
www.parks.state.co.us.
