CPL Stewardship Ranger
The Center for Public Lands, Western Colorado University, are collaborating with students to support recreation infrastructure at 8 winter trailheads in the northern part of the Gunnison Valley leading into the Gunnison National Forest.
The CPL Rangers consist of ordinary students from Western Colorado University who have a love of the wilderness and wildlife, along with a passion for the outdoors. CPL Rangers is a mini-semester long, for credit class, first launched in the Winter of 2023. It is designed to involve students in the monitoring and conservation of the many beautiful trails in and around our area in the Gunnison Basin. Students do this by taking turns patrolling various local trails and keeping track of conditions through a well-documented patrol log. Ideally, each person patrols 10-20 hours a semester. In addition to patrolling, CPL Rangers receive a working understanding of trail etiquette, survival skills, volunteerism and service learning.
Our mission is to watch over, maintain, and preserve recreation assets and archeological sites around Gunnison in the (GMUG) National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Southern UTE Reservation lands. At the same time, we wish to educate the public of proper trail etiquette so they can enjoy trails and the wilderness responsibly.
Trails we maintain include, but are not limited to, fat tire nordic mountain biking trails, cross country skiing trails, snowmobile trails, as well as snowshoe trails, trails. Our goal is to support access for the public while maintaining the integrity of the wilderness, including plants, geographic features and wildlife. CPL Rangers regularly patrol these trails, documenting disturbances, and seek ways to repair pathways in order to preserve the landscape and keep trail users safe. In addition, we serve as site stewards for the (GMUG) National Forest assessing archeological sites for damage or vandalism.
“Join CPL Rangers and hike with a purpose. Become a public land steward!”
About The Project
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CPL Stewardship Rangers come from all walks of life. Rangers can come from being associates of CPL Rangers, the Center for Public Lands, along with Western Colorado University students, as well as other student clubs. We try to help Rangers become more familiar with trails and gain confidence so they can enjoy more time on trails.
Rangers need to be able to meet physical requirements: able to hike 1-3 miles on uneven, snowy, and sometimes steep terrain. Additionally, Rangers will need to be prepared for any possible events. They can be prepared by having the 10 Backcountry Essentials and reviewing safety and risk management before patrolling. Rangers are encouraged to review and promote Leave No Trace ethics. Rangers will fill out an emergency contact information sheet prior to field work.
Training will be addressed on patrol with CPL Leaders. Rangers will experience safe contacts with the general public on designated trails. Upon completion of each patrol, a monitoring form will be completed with all information gathered during the patrol.
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CPL Rangers are responsible for assessing trail conditions and basic maintenance of trails they patrol for the BLM, GMUG, and UTE Tribe. They will collect trash, remove movable hazards, trim bushes, and monitor the status of daily fat tire nortic mountain biking’s, cross country skiing, snowmobile, as well as snowshoe, trail users while encouraging trail etiquette and LNT practices.
CPL Rangers Leaders also supervise volunteers to prevent accidents by assessing risks and addressing minor medical needs while ensuring a productive and enjoyable experience in the Outdoors. Leaders are responsible for filing waivers, trip forms, travel authorizations, patrol logs and communication to campus contact.
· Conduct trail monitoring by assessing trail conditions, counting usage, and ensuring a positive outdoor experience for all.
· Drive to trailheads, participate in volunteer days for restoration and conservation, and engage in basic trail maintenance.
· Embrace outdoor adventure by walking or skiing the trails, contributing to the preservation of our natural spaces.
· Take part in risk management activities and gain insights into outdoor recreation and public lands.
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Dr. Eastep, Paul Rivera and Eloise Armour supervises CPL Rangers.
Before heading into the field, CPL Rangers notify a CPL Supervisor to ensure safety and have all CPL Rangers and company accounted for.
When you arrive back to campus, notify a CPL Supervisor that all the CPL Rangers made it back safely.
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The goal of the Volunteer Stewardship Orientation Program is to create a productive and safe patrolling environment.
Preparation
Being a part of nature allows us to see many beautiful parts of the world but it also brings us to the mercy of the unpredictability of simply being outside. There is no way of knowing exactly how every excursion or patrol will go and so we must be prepared for anything. This includes every CPL Ranger bringing their ten essentials, and having everyone involved sign waivers and releases.
➢ Ten essentials
○ Navigation: printed map or avenza/gps device, compass.
○ Sun protection: sunscreen (each individual needs sun clothing).
○ Insulation: up to each individual.
○ Headlamp + batteries
○ First Aid Kit
○ Fire starter: waterproof matches + cotton-vaseline balls
○ Duct tape + multi tool
○ Nutrition: bars
○ Hydration: extra bottle, individuals bring own water
○ Emergency shelter blanket
○ Latex gloves
➢ WCU Waivers and Releases Signed
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Now we get to do the fun part! Patrolling allows CPL Rangers to go out on trails and be a part of an area by regularly visiting it and documenting everything they see. This will allow Rangers to observe changes (Both negative and positive) as well as any problems that may be ongoing. CPL Rangers are the first contact point citizens have with regulation of our beautiful trails and parks, therefore Rangers should set an example for everyone.
General patrol duties are listed below:
➢ Safety briefing before heading out.
➢ Hiking/biking.
➢ Picking up trash with gloves.
➢ Site stewardship, and volunteerism.
○ Site stewardship allows members of the public to regularly visit and report on assigned sites.
➢ Encourage Leave No Trace 7. Principles practices.
○ Plan ahead and prepare.
○ Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
○ Dispose of waste properly.
○ Leave what you find.
○ Minimize campfire impacts.
○ Respect wildlife.
○ Be considerate of other visitors.
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· Resume-Worthy Experience: Boost your resume with practical experience in trail monitoring, conservation, and outdoor stewardship.
· Communication Skills: Learn effective communication with the public, enhancing your interpersonal abilities.
· Initiative & Problem-Solving: Develop personal initiative, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt in diverse environments.
· Service Learning & Teamwork: Engage in meaningful service learning and teamwork activities, making a positive impact on the environment.
Why CPL?
The Center for Public Lands is at the forefront of cross-boundary land management and study. Joining CPL means becoming part of a community dedicated to addressing contemporary land management challenges. As a Stewardship Ranger Volunteer, you will contribute to the sustainable future of public lands while gaining invaluable skills for your personal and professional growth.
Ready to embark on a transformative journey with CPL? Apply now and be a part of the team shaping the future of public lands stewardship! Send a resume and brief cover letter to eloise.armour@western.edu, and attend a training session Saturday February 24th for the 10-week block or Saturday March 25th for the 5-week block.
If you would like to become a Stewardship Ranger please register for our training HERE!
Meet the CPL Stewardship Team
Briget Eastep
Dr. Briget Eastep joins Western Colorado's University's Center for Public Lands after working for 17 years at Southern Utah University where she built and led innovative programs connecting students, faculty, and staff with public lands. Through internships, service learning, scholarship, monitoring, and volunteer work thousands of students found their way into professional careers and have become lifelong advocates for public lands. Dr. Eastep is passionate about public land stewardship, collaboration and building pathways for the next generation of public land leaders. Our society is facing amazing challenges, and it will take stewardship, research and collaborative practices to move us forward.
Contact: beastep@western.edu
Paul Rivera
Paul Rivera is our 2022 Great Outdoors Colorado Fellow, a team member of the Center for Public Lands, and a member of the Sustainable Tourism Outdoors and Recreation crew. Having earned his Bachelors degree in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University, he is passionate about conservation and making sure we improve our outdoors for future generations. He is pursuing his Master’s in Environmental Management from Western Colorado University with a concentration in Integrative and Public Lands Management..
Contact: paul.rivera@western.edu
Eloise Armour
Eloise Armour, is a Graduate Assistant for the Center for Public Lands. Currently she is pursuing a Masters in Environmental Management in Integrative and Public Lands track at WCU. She completed her BA in Sociology - Global Politics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California. She is passionate about public lands management, specifically landscape-scale wildfire resiliency and management. For the past 5 years she has been working as a wildland firefighter for USFS, and has gained experience mentoring young professionals. This experience pushed her to pursue her master’s to be part of finding solutions to the climate crisis. She hopes to bridge the worlds of the doers and planners.
Contact: eloise.armour@western.edu