Today’s forest health outreach update covers the following topics:
* Forestry Tip of the Day: Volunteer as a Community Forestry Sort Yard Host
* Outreach Event: Free Wildfire Mitigation Community Training in the Sugarloaf Community this week!
* Seasonal Job Opening: Now Recruiting for a Seasonal Forestry Sort Yard Technician

*Forestry Tip of the Day: Volunteer as a Community Forestry Sort Yard Host
Forestry Tip of the Day: We hope everyone is enjoying the snowy winter-like weather today and staying safe on the roads. It sure is nice, awesome, great, splendid, fabulous, etc. to have fairly consistent spring moisture this year! On snowy days like today it is hard to believe that the Nederland sort yard site will reopen in just over two weeks, on May 1.

Speaking of the sort yard; we are still seeking community volunteers to help us out at both the Nederland and Allenspark locations.Volunteer Sort Yard Hosts greet people as they enter the yard, collect data on the material they are delivering, and provide information about forest ecology, bark beetles, and wildfire mitigation. Volunteers will not be responsible for helping unload materials. We are looking for volunteers who can commit to 4 hour shifts and 15 hours per month.

The Nederland Sort Yard will operate May to July from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday. September through October it will operate on Friday and Saturday. Application deadline for the Nederland Sort Yard have been extended and are now due by April 30th.

The Meeker Park Sort Yard will operate May to June from 9am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday. July to October it will operate Tuesday through Saturday. Application deadline for the Meeker Park Sort Yard is May 10th.

For more information and an application, contact Shane Milne at 303-678-6089 or smilne@nullbouldercounty.org.

Why is this important?  Volunteering as a sort yard host is a great way to give back and stay connected with your local community. Sort yard hosts will learn about forest ecology, bark beetle management, wildfire mitigation and meet inspiring landowners who are being great stewards of their backyard forest!

*Event: Free Wildfire Mitigation Community Training for the Sugarloaf Community this week!
When: Thursday, April 18, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sugarloaf Fire House # 2, 1360 Sugarloaf Road
What: Educational program focused on wildfire mitigation and upcoming community chipping event

Program Description: Learn about simple actions you can take to dramatically improve the chances of your home surviving the next wildfire. Our understanding about how homes are lost in wildfires is changing. Learn the latest science available and lessons learned from last summer’s Waldo Canyon Wildfire.

Program Highlights:
*Hear about our planned Community Chipping Days
*Sign-up for the discounted curbside chipping program (geographic restrictions exist)
*Learn about simple spring maintenance tips to better prepare your home for wildfires
*Understand the latest wildfire mitigation science
*Learn how to retrofit your home to be more fire-resistant

Community Chipping Program: Boulder County recently awarded Sugarloaf Fire Protection District a community chipping reimbursement grant to help the community set up a curbside chipping program. This year Sugarloaf FPD will host two “curbside chipping events”, on May 15 and Oct. 15. Please join us at this community meeting if you are interested in learning more and taking advantage of the heavily discounted chipping program. If you cannot attend and/or have questions please call CB Bassity, Sugarloaf Firefighter, at 720-406-7835.

Program Sponsors: Sugarloaf Fire Protection District and Boulder County.

*Seasonal Job Opening: Now Recruiting for a Seasonal Forestry Sort Yard Technician
Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space Department has an opening for a Seasonal Forestry Sort Yard Technician. The Forestry Sort Yard Technician performs a variety of skilled and semi-skilled duties related to the daily operation of the Community Forestry Sort Yard program.

This position will work full time hours, Tuesdays through Saturdays, and will report to the Parks and Open Space building in Longmont. Salary $15 hourly (dependent on qualifications). We hope to hire for this position as soon as possible. The position is open until filled.  Qualified applicants should have a minimum of two years course study in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, or a related field and/or equivalent experience.

This posting only includes a short description of job duties and required qualifications. To receive a complete job description or ask questions please contact Wayne Harrington, sort yard manager, by emailing wharrington@nullbouldercounty.org. Please contact us asap if you are interested in this exciting job opportunity.

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator
Boulder County | Land Use Department
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth
*Please visit our website to sign-up to receive emails about forestry workshops, community meetings, bark beetle management tips and more!