It’s SLASH season again!
The 2025 SLASH (Sustainable Lands and Safer Homes) season is upon us. From May 15th to October 25th, 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
Information Specialist Judy Smetana, Volunteer Program Coordinator Ronnie Terry, and Volunteer Gardeners Michelle Poolet and Sandy Bates stand in front of the Boettcher Mansion display at this year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair, which was held at JCPOS Headquarters in Golden.
Volunteerism isn’t anything new – it’s been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Officially, volunteerism can be traced back to the 12th century in Britain, where more than 500 hospitals were staffed by volunteers.
The word “volunteer” stems from the Latin voluntarius – “willing, of one’s own free will”. It became part of the English language via Middle French, initially referring to someone who willingly offered themselves for military duty. Today, it has evolved to mean anyone entering service freely, whether military or community service.
Every year, Jeffco Parks & Open Space (JCPOS) hosts a Volunteer Recruitment Fair, during which time folks who are interested in becoming more engaged with our parks can investigate what being a hands-on part of Open Space might be like, i.e. entering service freely. Read more
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
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
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
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.
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.
In 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
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 – 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
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
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
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
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.
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.
