This winter, a portion of the Clear Creek County Open Space lands was used to provide an incredible opportunity for Clear Creek County youth. Ben Shay, Youth Involvement Coordinator for the Mountain Youth Network, took twelve Clear Creek High School students and alumni to Waldorf Basin for a three-day Avalanche Safety Level 1 course. The course was free for the students. Two additional instructors from Outbound Mountain Gear assisted with the training.
Since 1999, when a citizen-initiated ballot measure approved a $1 million “Open Space Property Tax,” the Open Space Fund has ensured that Open Spaces in Clear Creek County are there to preserve fragile high alpine environments and foster appreciation of natural spaces and provide public spaces for learning and recreation.
Today, MountainYouthNetwork in Clear Creek County is a true community-based initiative. MYN includes individuals from a range of sectors: law enforcement, education, faith community, health, and human services, government, youth-serving organizations, students, community organizations, parents, and local businesses. Mountain Youth Network is now funded through foundation contributions as well as state grants from both the Office of Behavioral Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The MYN course that took place on Open Space land provided knowledge and technical skills for safely planning and traveling to the backcountry in the winter. It helped develop an awareness of avalanche risk and rescue techniques in the event of an avalanche. It also provided some students the opportunity to consider a career in outdoor recreation.
“One of the goals of the course is to eliminate barriers for young people to gain the certifications required for employment in the outdoor industry in Clear Creek County,” Shay said.
The course provided a step in the pathway to ski patrol or professional guiding. Many of the students surveyed after the class are interested in the prospect of professional employment in outdoor recreation. One student plans to work as a ski patroller and pursue a degree in Snow Science.
For others, it demonstrated the importance of recreating safely in our mountain environment.
“This was a great opportunity to get local kids out and educated in the area we live and on the dangers of avalanche terrain” Pressley, an 11th grader at CCHS, said.
Ayden, also an 11th-grade student agreed.
“It’s a great opportunity to get more into backcountry sports….I enjoyed snowshoeing and learning how to use avalanche gear. It is a skill I plan to use my whole life.”
The course occurred on a part of Waldorf Basin designated as Clear Creek County
Open Space previously purchased by the Clear Creek County Open Space
Commission. The property provided the perfect setting for MYN’s kids to learn the skills, making it a valuable use of lands purchased by commission.
“Without the support of our county entities like the Open Space Commission, courses like this would not be accessible for youth and young adults,” Shay said.
The Open Space Commission advises the Board of County Commissioners on preserving and protecting one of this County’s most precious resources; our land. If you are interested in serving on the Open Space Commission contact Beth Luther at bluther@clearcreekcounty.us or Martha Tableman mtableman@clreacreekcounty.us
Kay Axtell is a member of the Open Space Commission.