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Save the date: August 17 - 19, 2012
SHELDON FINAL FENCE PULL

Bonanza Extravaganza

Exploring the Pahute Peak Wilderness

Fourth annual Dutch oven cook-off

Citizen Stewardship Initiative

Upcoming events and volunteer projects

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July 27, 2012

Save the date: August 17 - 19, 2012
SHELDON FINAL FENCE PULL

photo: Volunteers pulling fence on the Sheldon (c) Graham Stafford
Volunteers pulling fence on the Sheldon. You can help finish the job AND celebrate! Photo (c) Graham Stafford

Get ready for a great event and blow-out celebration!

On August 18, Friends of Nevada Wilderness will remove the final bit of unneeded fence internal to the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Already, many miles of fence have been removed by Friends' field crews and dedicated volunteers. Join us for the final piece.

Celebration will include a fabulous desert luau - bring your wildest Hawaiian shirt - prizes will be awarded.

An amazing barbeque will be offered up by chefs, Craig Demetras and Pat Bruce.

YOU are invited! Come out to volunteer to work on the fence or just to celebrate! We will be on site Friday, August 17 and will pack out Sunday, August 19. RSVP by email to Darcy. Let us know if you’ll be joining us to pull fence or celebrate, or both!

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Bonanza Extravaganza

by Katie Sanchez

Thirteen dedicated volunteers spent the 4th of July with us and our SCA interns in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness at the Bonanza Extravaganza.

photo: Volunteers rebuilding a water bar (c) Jose Witt
Volunteers rebuilding a water bar (c) Jose Witt

With the help of these volunteers, we were able to improve 13 water bars and restore 120 feet of switchback cuts on the Cold Creek side of the Bonanza Trail. We got to see some storm clouds roll in while we were out there, and made it back into town in time for thunderstorms, cookouts and fireworks! We really appreciate all who came out to spend their holiday giving back to our wild lands in southern Nevada.

photo: Intrepid volunteers send Fourth of July smiles from the slopes of Mt Charleston (c) Jose Witt
Intrepid volunteers send Fourth of July smiles from the slopes of Mt Charleston (c) Jose Witt

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Exploring the Pahute Peak Wilderness

by Brian Beffort

photo: Volunteers surveying a valley of springs from an overlook on the west slope of Pahute Peak (c) Brian Beffort
Volunteers surveying a valley of springs from an overlook on the west slope of Pahute Peak (c) Brian Beffort

The weekend following the Fourth of July, five volunteers joined me for a backpack trip to explore the nooks, crannies, high reaches and wild waters of the Pahute Peak Wilderness, in the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our nation’s birthday by caring for our public lands. Read the full story here.

photo: BLM hydrologist John McCann looking over a riparian area in the Pahute Peak Wilderness (c) Brian Beffort
BLM hydrologist John McCann looking over a riparian area in the Pahute Peak Wilderness (c) Brian Beffort

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Fourth annual Dutch oven cook-off

by Brenna Archibald

The 4th annual Dutch oven cook-off will be Saturday, August 25th at Riverview Park in Winnemucca. I want to extend an invite to each of you (since I know many of you are fantastic at cooking with dutch ovens) and let you know that we still need cooks!! We only have one cook registered so far, and many community members are already interested in tasting each dish!

flier: Dutch-oven cook-off
Dutch-oven cookoff flier (small)

I have attached the registration packet for all who are interested in cooking or taste-testing some great Dutch-oven cuisine. I believe we also are still looking for judges, as well!

It should be a great family event at the park so please invite others who may be interested. I've also attached our flyer that has more information. We would love to have you out with us this year!

Nevada Outdoor School Community Outreach Specialist, Charlee Ricker is in charge of the event, so please feel free to contact her with questions or for more details. Hope to see you there!

Email Charlee Ricker for more info and to register.

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Citizen Stewardship Initiative

by Wes Hoskins

All photos for this story are (c) Graham Stafford

Friends of Nevada Wilderness is wrapping up a series of projects made possible by the generous support of the Humboldt County Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee. Friends has teamed up with the Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) and the Santa Rosa Ranger District to complete a diverse mix of projects we call the Citizen Stewardship Initiative.

photo: Volunteers revegetating wildfire-scarred Tom Basin (c) Graham Stafford
Volunteers revegetating wildfire-scarred Tom Basin

Our projects have included native plant revegetation in areas scarred by wildfire, fence surveys, campsite restoration, trailbuilding and picnic table refurbishing in the Lye Creek Campground. So far, our five weekend camping trips have attracted 68 volunteers, who contributed 900 hours of labor worth $19,600 in service to Nevada’s public lands. Fifteen kids participated as part of the NOS kids camps. For many of the young campers, it was their first exposure to Lye Creek Campground as well as their first stewardship project.

photo: Volunteers refurbishing picnic tables at Lye Creek campground (c) Graham Stafford
Volunteers refurbishing picnic tables at Lye Creek campground

“It was an incredible experience to see the passion of everyone on this project regardless of age,” said Brenna Archibald, Friends’ Winnemucca-based Stewardship Project Coordinator. “All of the campers were so proud to be making a difference on the campground, and their personal contributions were evident — immediately showing what a powerful difference a few volunteers can make.”

photo: Young volunteers helped heal Tom Basin (c) Graham Stafford
Young volunteers helped heal Tom Basin

photo: Volunteers revegetating wildfire-burned Tom Basin (c) Graham Stafford
Volunteers revegetating wildfire-burned Tom Basin

The Citizen Stewardship Initiative still has one project to go: National Public Lands Day with the US Forest Service September 14th through the 16th. The event will be on the Santa Rosa Ranger District. Come join the fun!

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You are invited: events and wilderness volunteer projects

Friends of Nevada Wilderness offers up lots of fun opportunities to help your Nevada wildlands heal and prosper.

August 3 - 5   Hike Arc Dome and do a little trail work, too (Arc Dome Wilderness - 3 hours east of Reno) - email Wes to RSVP or call (775) 762-6730.

August 10 - 12   Summit Twin Springs Fence Removal (Black Rock NCA - 4 hours north of Reno. STRENUOUS / LABOR INTENSIVE) - email Pat to RSVP or call (775) 815-5598.

August 17 - 19   Sheldon fence pull and CELEBRATION Remove fence to help antelope habitat. (Sheldon Wildlife Refuge - 4 hours north of Reno.) - email Pat to RSVP or call (775) 815-5598.

September 14 - 16   Santa Rosa National Public Lands Day (Santa Rosa Mountains - 1 hour north of Winnemucca. FAMILY FRIENDLY) - email Brenna to RSVP or call (775) 623-5656.

September 21 - 23   National Public Lands Day at Trego Hot Springs (Black Rock Desert - 3 hours north of Reno. FAMILY FRIENDLY) - email Pat to RSVP. or call (775) 815-5598.

September 29   Cow Camp post-and-cable fence installation (Desert National Wildlife Refuge - just north of Las Vegas.) - email Jose Witt or call Jose at (702) 203-1720.

New projects will be announced in later emails. See also the stewardship events page.



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