ArrowCorps5
Five Sites - Five Weeks - Five Thousand Arrowmen
Fifth Project Completed at Bridger-Teton National Forest!
The fifth week of ArrowCorps5 saw the completion of the final
project in the beautiful Bridger-Teton National Forest of western Wyoming. Once
again, as with the other four ArrowCorps5 projects, the service
exceeded expectations and the participants had a great experience.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest project was carried out from July 26 - August
2. The setting was gorgeous and the weather was perfect ranging from the mid 80s
during the day to the low 40s overnight. These conditions allowed the 1034 participants
and staff, plus the Forest Service personnel from Bridger-Teton, to complete the
planned projects. The crews completed more than 10 miles of trail on the Teton Pass
as well as removed the exclusion fence and completed additional small projects in
the Goosewing area. In addition the Arrowmen removed allotment fences, constructed
off-highway vehicle closures, constructed wash bars, provided general campsite maintenance
at Soda Lake campground, and other additional projects in the Gros Ventre area.
The new trail at Teton Pass was named the Arrow Trail. Because of the successful
early completion of several planned projects, a fuels reduction project consisting
of the accumulation and piling of residual slash from cutting operations was developed
and completed on 15 acres in the Fall Creek area and on more than two acres in the
Granite Creek area (which included a Girl Scout camp). Arrowmen also provided support to the USFS firefighting effort in the New Forks fire north of Pinedale.
The week was not all work. Recreation was provided throughout the week, allowing
each participant and staff member to take one day to enjoy either whitewater rafting,
a float trip, a tour of Yellowstone National Park, or just relax around Jackson.
The project had several visitors throughout the week: Wyoming Governor David D. Freudenthal and his wife, Nancy, dropped by the site
on Saturday for a brief visit. Abigail Kimbell, Chief of the USFS, and Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief National Forest System, USFS, arrived on Thursday. A press
conference was held on Thursday afternoon at Teton Pass. A photographer and two
reporters with Boys' Life and Scouting magazines visited the work sites. "Meet the
Chiefs" sessions were held on Monday night with Bob Mazzuca and Jake Wellman, and
on Thursday night with Abigail Kimbell and Jake.
The closing gathering on Friday evening proved to be a great way to end the summer.
Kniffy Hamilton, Bridger-Teton Forest Supervisor, thanked the group for an outstanding
job. Gloria Manning (at her second project site) thanked the OA on behalf of Chief
Kimbell and presented a beautiful plaque to the National OA Committee for its development
and leadership of the largest volunteer service project ever conducted for the U.S.
Forest Service.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in this, the final of the
ArrowCorps5 projects!!!
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