ENOR group hiking in the park

ENOR Environmental Discovery Camp Has Scholarships

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

ENOR group hiking in the park

You’re hiking or cycling in one of our Open Space parks. You encounter a group of kids with a couple of adults, and they seem totally engrossed in a patch of shrubbery. You stop for a moment, you hear children’s voices exclaiming about what they’ve found – they seem so excited about everything around them.

Welcome to ENOR – Eagle’s Nest, Owl’s Roost – Environmental Discovery Camp, which is sponsored by the Jeffco CSU Extension office. ENOR has been in the business of getting kids outdoors for more than 50 years.

Jeffco Parks & Open Space was so impressed with ENOR’s achievements that, in 2024, they presented ENOR with the Gambel Oak Award, as a Pioneer in Environmental Education, at that year’s Conservation Awards Ceremony. Read more

Leave No Trace Training for All

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

In memory of our beloved Board member Bette Seeland, we’re republishing a few of the articles in which she was a major contributor…this is one of them.

 

Leave No Trace — do you really understand what it means? LNT is introducing a free course on the principles of Leave No Trace.  Training for All calls upon people of all different backgrounds and outdoor experiences to take action by participating in Leave No Trace’s free 45-minute virtual outdoor education course. Read more

SLASH 2025 Calendar image

SLASH 2025

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

SLASH 2025 Calendar image

The 2025 SLASH season is upon us. From May 16th to October 26th, four SLASH collection sites will be open for business , mostly on Thursdays thru Sundays, 9AM to 4PM, unless otherwise posted. You should plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to closing. Read more

Female park ranger cartoon

DEAR MISS MOUNTAIN MANNERS – An Advice Column on Multi-Use Trail Etiquette

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

In memory of our beloved Board member Bette Seeland, we’re republishing a few of the articles in which she was a major contributor…this is one of them.

Dear Miss Mountain Manners: When I got to my favorite Jeffco Open Space Park for a hike, the parking lot was full. What should I do? Feeling Shutout

Dear Shutout: You could walk close to home instead of driving to a park. Do not park on the road shoulder leading to the park. Download, sign up, then check the LotSpot parking lot app to find a park not currently overcrowded.  Come at a time when the park is less crowded such as weekdays, before 9 am or after 3 pm.

Read more

Take Notice — Winter Is Here!

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

A few years ago, Shaun Howard, who was the Jeffco Open Space Ranger lead at that time, wrote this post to help all Open Space Park visitors understand a little more about how to enjoy winter activities in the Parks. It’s time to republish as a reminder.

Our parks are “primitive” parks. Don’t expect the trails to be groomed for you. Make sure you have micro-spikes with you, just in case you need them. Be prepared for any type of weather, especially as you gain in elevation. Know before you go.

Temps have dropped and winter winds lick the landscape of the Jeffco Parks. Although the winter season has arrived, the parks are still great places to visit. Read on for essential winter safety tips.

Read more

Furred, feathered & finned critters that are protected by conservation easements

Conservation Easements Preserve Open Lands, Protect Wildlife

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

Furred, feathered & finned critters that are protected by conservation easementsIn 1971, Carol Karlin conceived of the idea of buying large swaths of scenic mountain property to protect it from development and build trails for public recreation. Shortly thereafter, PLAN Jeffco was formed, and months later, the Jeffco Open Space program was voted into reality. Read the full story here.

Since that time, nearly 58,000 acres have been purchased by Jeffco Open Space, lands that have become Open Space Parks and that have been incorporated into local city and park & recreation district trails and playgrounds. But purchasing lands is not the only way to preserve open space.

Conservation easements, voluntary, legal agreements that permanently limit uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values, are instruments that have protected and preserved some 2.7 million acres in Colorado alone, a number that represents over 6% of private lands in the State. Read more

2024 Open Space Survey

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

It’s that time again, when — every few years — Jeffco Open Space elicits feedback from the public on issues like planning for the parks, and improving and maintaining not just the Open Space Parks, but also shared parks, trails and open spaces.  Here’s your chance to voice an opinion on our Jeffco Open Space Parks. The survey will be open for just a short time, so go to this page and start engaging!

SLASH collection site

SLASH IS BACK 2024 SCHEDULE

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Slash collection site

SLASH – Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes — is back for 2024, and the full schedule, with all relevant information (where, when, cost, what constitutes a truckload, etc) is available at https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection

The Short List of Locations & Dates

Blue Mountain Open Space, 23401 Coal Creek Canyon Rd, Arvada CO 80007

Th 5/23 – Su 5/26
Th 5/30 – Fr 5/31
Th 6/06 – Fr 6/07
Th 6/13 – Fr 6/14
Th 6/20 – Fr 6/21
Th 6/27 – Fr 6/28
Th 7/04 – Fr 7/05
Th 7/11 – Fr 7/12
Th 7/18 – Fr 7/19

 

Elk Creek Elementary, 13304 US Hwy 285, Pine CO 80470

Sa 6/01 – Su 6/02
Sa 6/08 – Su 6/09
Sa 6/15 – Su 6/16
Sa 6/22 – Su 6/23
Sa 6/29 – Su 6/30
Sa 7/06 – Su 7/07
Sa 7/13 – Su 7/14
Sa 7/20 – Su 7/21

 

Marshdale Property, 26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen CO 80429 (site closes at 3PM daily)

Th 7/25 – Su 7/28
Th 8/01 – Su 8/04
Th 8/15 – Su 8/18
Th 8/22 – Su 8/25
Th 8/29 – Su 9/01
Th 9/05 – Su 9/08

 

Tincup Ridge Slash Yard, 151 S Rooney Rd, Golden CO 80401

Saturdays and Sundays, June 1 through October 27

 

Site hours: 9AM to 4PM except for the Marshdale Property. Please plan to arrive no later than 1/2 hour before closing.

Fees, what’s accepted and what’s not, and how to calculate coast are available at https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection
Credit cards only. Neither cash nor checks will be accepted on-site.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

Miss Mountain Manners wants to thank everyone who will take part in the 2024 SLASH program.  Removing slash and creating a defensible space around your home is the first line of defense against wildfires, which are a consistent cause for concern in Jefferson County. You can create zones around your home, removing any fire fuels, such as tree debris, to create a properly mitigated property. This doesn’t mean that wildfire will pass you by, but it gives the fire department a better opportunity to save your home when it does happen. Great tips on how to protect your home and property can be found on the Jeffco Sheriff’s hazard mitigation page and at FireWise website. Jeffco’s CSU Extension also has a  factsheet that can help homeowners plant low-flammability gardens.

SLASH collection site

SLASH 2024 is on its way!

/1 Comment/in , , , , /by

Slash collection site

SLASH – Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes — is back for 2024!  The anticipated start date for the opening of the first SLASH site is May 23rd, and the program is scheduled to continue through the end of October.  At the time of this writing, the location schedule has not been published, but we will advise when it’s available.

Fees for Slash Drop-off

Any size truck or trailer is welcome at Jefferson County Slash Collection sites. Dump fees are based on six cubic yards (162 cubic feet) of material: six yards is one load. The cost to drop off a single load is $24. Credit cards only. This is equivalent to:

  • Truck bed full to truck cab height
  • Trailer up to eight feet long by five feet wide by four feet high
  • Loads outside these parameters will be charged accordingly

Materials Accepted vs. Not Accepted

SLASH accepted - not accepted list

For additional clarification on what’s accepted and what’s not, or how to better calculate costs, go to https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection

For more information and to stay up-to-date, sign up for Alerts. It’s free, non-intrusive, and you’ll be notified of schedule changes, closures of SLASH sites, and updates to the SLASH program.   Enter your email address at the top of the page, scroll down to the Alert Center section, look for Jeffco SLASH and choose the email or cell phone icon — or both — to receive alerts.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

Miss Mountain Manners wants to thank everyone who will take part in the 2024 SLASH program.  Removing slash and creating a defensible space around your home is the first line of defense against wildfires, which are a consistent cause for concern in Jefferson County. You can create zones around your home, removing any fire fuels, such as tree debris, to create a properly mitigated property. This doesn’t mean that wildfire will pass you by, but it gives the fire department a better opportunity to save your home when it does happen. Great tips on how to protect your home and property can be found on the Jeffco Sheriff’s hazard mitigation page and at FireWise website. Jeffco’s CSU Extension also has a  factsheet that can help homeowners plant low-flammability gardens.

Ann & Mary Ann at the Lookout Mtn Nature Center 2018

Ann Bonnell Lived A Life of Service

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Ann Bonnell head shot

Ann Bonnell’s death on December 26th, 2023, at the age of 85, left a gaping hole in the heart of the Jefferson County birding community and in the hearts of her fellow PLAN Jeffco Board members.

Ann’s life was focused on family and service. As a high school biology teacher and volunteer Water Safety Instructor for those with special needs, she was able to reach into the lives of many, passing along her belief in service, empathy, and passion for the outdoors and all that it encompasses. Her specific focus, as we at PLAN Jeffco knew her, was birds – birding, leading Tuesday Birders, and teaching about bird life. Read more