List of Potential Projects

• Tongass National Forest, Alaska: Angoon Youth Conservation Corps (Michael Morganson-Alaska)

• Tahoe National Forest, California: Alder Creek Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail Project (Naz

Ahmed-Sierra)

• Pike-San Isabel National Forest, Colorado: Mt. Elbert, Find Your Fourteener (Jon Frankel-Denver)

• White River National Forest, Colorado: Quandary Peak, Find Your Fourteener (Jon Frankel-Denver)

• Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho: Alden Gulch Trail (Sylvia Cooper-Boise)

• White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire: Crawford Path Trail - Honoring the White Mountain

Legacy (Paul Gannon-Boston)

• Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina: Chattooga River Access Enhancement – improving access

to the premier Wild and Scenic River in the Eastern U.S. (Nolan Wildfire-Knoxville and Brianna Hiott-

Asheville)

• Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Illinois: Midewin Youth Corps (Theresa Salus-Chicago)

• Tonto National Forest, Arizona: West Pinto Creek Trail Restoration (Jana Randall-Phoenix)

• Chattahoochee National Forest: United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Youth Conservation

Corps (Daniel Jessee-Atlanta)

Project: Angoon Youth Conservation Corps

Project State: Alaska

Project Location: Admiralty Island National Monument, Tongass National Forest

Timeline for project: 8 weeks in summer 2017

Brief description of project: This project will benefit hikers and sea kayakers and provide an

opportunity for six rural Alaskan Native youth to participate in an eight week public land stewardship

program. The Angoon Youth Conservation Corps will conduct restoration and stewardship projects

within the Admiralty Island National Monument (AINM). Through this project, underserved youth will be

provided with meaningful opportunities to engage in restoration activities. This program offers one of

the only opportunities for rural underserved Alaskan Native youth in the community of Angoon to

develop career and leadership skills, be exposed to employment opportunities in the science and

conservation fields, and learn about the importance of the public lands that surround and sustain the

community on Admiralty Island. Restoration and stewardship work to be conducted by the Corps will

include:

• Recreation site (campsites, picnic sites) restoration and trail maintenance;

• Shoreline cleanup and marine debris removal inside the AINM, a destination for sea-

kayakers;

• Invasive species inventorying and removal;

• Locating reported cultural resources for inventorying and monitoring to reference when

considering future project development.

The corps will achieve meaningful on-the-ground results to aid in the preservation and maintenance of

the AINM, which benefits wildlife and both the local community and visitors. Additionally, it is a

lifechanging experience for each of the youth involved. Last year's corps went on camping trips into the

wilderness, learned outdoor skills and conducted important conservation work. For them, the

opportunity is best described as a life-changing experience of "firsts": the first time sleeping in a tent;

the first time drinking water from a stream; the first time going on a hike; the first time paddling a

kayak; the first time feeling sore from so much exercise. "I've never spent this much time outside in a

single day," remarked one of the youth. See more info here.

Partners involved in project: Chatham School District, Hecla Charitable Foundation

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Yes, this is funding for an all Alaskan Native Youth

Conservation Corps

Additional Benefits of project: This project fulfills conservation needs, and also impacts an underserved

community, directly benefitting Native Alaskans. As a partner in this project, REI would have the

opportunity to have a presence at and be a focus of the Alaska Forest Fund celebration in the spring of

2017.

Closest major city: Juneau, Alaska

Closest REI store(s): Anchorage, Alaska

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Limited due to remote location.

Stories/Content opportunities: This is a truly one-of-a-kind story that is inspiring and unique. In the first

year of this project, the Juneau Empire ran a story on the project. The NFF believes that other outlets,

potentially national outlets, would also pick up on this story in the future.

Map of project area: Google map here.

Project lead: Patrick Shannon

Photos representative of project:

Project: Alder Creek Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail Project

Project State: California

Project Location: Truckee Ranger District, Tahoe Natl. Forest

Timeline for project: Summer 2017

Brief description of project: This project is a component of a large scale project that melds stream and

riparian restoration with recreation improvements, and will re-open a 1.4 mile segment of this 15 mile

multi-use trail popular with mountain-bikers, trail runners and day hikers. This project will provide for

the installation of two bridges, one a 75’ span and one a 65’ span. This is the only step remaining to

complete the larger project. Instream and riparian restoration has been achieved, and the trail has been

relocated out of the riparian area to improve the recreation experience and limit associated adverse

impacts to the watershed. The relocation reduced stream crossings from four to two.

Partners involved in project: Truckee Trail Foundation

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): No

Additional Benefits of project: Completing this project will re-open this 1.4 mile segment and reconnect

one of the most popular single-track routes near Truckee, CA. This will benefit mountain bikers and

other recreationalists, in this outdoor-recreation dependent area that serves as a playground for San

Francisco Bay area residents, as well as tourists from all over the world.

Closest major city: Sacramento, CA (100 miles), Reno, NV (31 miles)

Closest REI store(s): Reno, NV. Three other REI stores are within 100 miles.

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: No

Stories/Content opportunities: Yes, this is a well-known, high profile trail and this project to reconnect it

through completion of this segment is a great story to share with Bay Area members, Reno-Tahoe

members and the mountain biking community.

Map of project area: Google map link here.

Project lead: Marcus Selig

1 photo representative of project: Photo credit: Daniel Christianson, MTBProject.com

Project – Mt. Elbert, Find Your Fourteener

Project State: Colorado

Project Location: Mt. Elbert, Lake County, Pike‐San Isabel National Forest (highest mountain in CO).

Timeline for project: Summer 2017

Brief description of project: Project activities will improve trail conditions on Colorado’s highest peak,

improving degraded trails, restoring fragile alpine tundra ecosystems and will improve access and

recreational experiences.

Partners involved in project: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Friends

of the Dillon Ranger District, Colorado Mountain Club, and Wildland Restoration Volunteers, Rocky

Mountain Youth Corps, Southwest Conservation Corps, and more.

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Yes. Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Southwest

Conservation Corps, and SCA

Additional Benefits of project: The Find Your Fourteener campaign is an ambitious effort to connect

Coloradans to the state’s 54 peaks that are higher than 14,000 feet, 48 of which are on National Forests.

Investing these funds in two high‐profile projects will position the NFF extremely well for completing the

five to seven year program on schedule. On‐the‐ground benefits include ecological improvements in

fragile habitats, improved recreational experiences and long‐lasting benefits. The campaign is also

creating a new model for collaborative stewardship in Colorado, uniting many of Colorado’s nonprofit

stewardship organizations to focus on a largescale opportunity for improving recreation opportunities

within the State.

Closest major city: Leadville, CO (130 miles from Denver)

Closest REI store(s): Lakewood, CO; Boulder, CO; Denver, CO

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Yes

Stories/Content opportunities: This project provides great opportunities for stories about backpacking

and hiking, volunteerism, and outdoor recreation generally. The importance of 14ers to Colorado’s

identity and economy make this high profile work. The images of degraded fragile, alpine ecosystems

clearly illustrate the need for and benefits of the work. And, the campaigns model of collaborative

stewardship brings together a host of well‐known stewardship partners that Coloradans love to support.

Map of project area: Google map link here.

Project lead: Rebecca Davidson

1 photo representative of project: Photo credit: www.coloradomountaineering.com

Project: Quandary Peak, Find Your Fourteener

Project State: Colorado

Project Location: Quandary Peak – Summit County, White River National Forest

Timeline for project: Summer 2017

Brief description of project: Project activities will improve trail conditions on one of Colorado’s highest

peaks, improving degraded trails, restoring fragile alpine tundra ecosystems and will improve access and

recreational experiences.

Partners involved in project: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Friends

of the Dillon Ranger District, Colorado Mountain Club, and Wildland Restoration Volunteers, Rocky

Mountain Youth Corps, Southwest Conservation Corps, and more.

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Yes. Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Southwest

Conservation Corps, and SCA

Additional Benefits of project: The Find Your Fourteener campaign is an ambitious effort to connect

Coloradans to the state’s peaks that are higher than 14,000 feet. Investing these funds in two highprofile

projects will position the NFF extremely well for completing the five to seven year program on schedule.

On-the-ground benefits include ecological improvements in fragile habitats, improved recreational

experiences and long-lasting benefits. The campaign is also creating a new model for collaborative

stewardship in Colorado, uniting many of Colorado’s nonprofit stewardship organizations to focus on a

largescale opportunity for improving recreation opportunities within the State.

Closest major city: Denver. Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Keystone and other Summit County

communities are nearby.

Closest REI store(s): Lakewood, Boulder, Denver

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Yes

Stories/Content opportunities: This project provides great opportunities for stories about backpacking

and hiking, volunteerism, and outdoor recreation generally. The importance of 14ers to Colorado’s

identity and economy make this high profile work. The images of degraded fragile, alpine ecosystems

clearly illustrate the need for and benefits of the work. And, the campaigns model of collaborative

stewardship brings together a host of well-known stewardship partners that Coloradans love to support.

Map of project area: Google map here.

Project lead: Rebecca Davidson

1 photo representative of project: Photo credit: coloradoguy.com

Project: Alden Gulch Trail

Project State: Idaho

Project Location: Ketchum Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

Timeline for project: Work will be completed in Summer 2017

Brief description of project: Reconstruction of three miles of the Alden Gulch Trail #144 on the Ketchum

Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest. This section of this important community trail was

damaged and made impassable in places by landslides, flooding and erosion following the

uncharacteristically severe Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 and subsequent heavy rains on the damaged

landscape. This trail restoration project is critical from both an environmental perspective and from an

economic development perspective.

When functional, the Alden Gulch Trail is a non-motorized multiple-use trail that accommodates cyclists,

hikers, trail runners, horseback riders, and backcountry skiers. The Alden Gulch Trailhead does not

require a four-wheel drive to access it, unlike many other trailheads in the area. It also provides critical

access to a popular destination trail, the Osberg Ridgeline Trail, which provides spectacular views of the

Boulder and Pioneer Mountains. The reconstruction of the Alden Gulch trail will restore the connection

to this much sought-out trail, and serve as a shorter and alternative exit in case of emergency situations.

Additionally, the redesign and realignment of the trail to reduce erosion will allow the trail to safely

accommodate a larger variety of users and ability levels than it previously provided.

Partners involved in project: 5B Restoration Coalition, State of Idaho, Idaho Conservation Corps, USFS

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Yes, Idaho Conservation Corps

Additional Benefits of project: Without the trail restoration, run-off will continue to erode the slope and

increase the depth and width of the trenches and gullies. Reconstructing Alden Gulch will reduce the

likelihood of users riding or scrambling cross-country on steep side hills to avoid washed out, unstable,

or buried sections of trail. These user-created trails lead to further erosion and sediment deposit into

streams, trail braiding, and a larger footprint impacting wildlife habitat. In addition, the costs of

reconstruction will continue to increase with each year of inaction.

From an economic standpoint, outdoor recreation is the linchpin of the economy of this area and the

public lands trail system is a critical component of what attracts both recreation tourists and residents to

this community. The “flagship” trail system surrounding Ketchum and Sun Valley is used by thousands of

tourists, and adds to the quality of life for Wood River Valley residents. Restoring the trail system,

including the Alden Gulch trail, is an important step in helping the Wood River Valley community to

recover from the Beaver Creek Fire.

Closest major city: Boise, Idaho

Closest REI store: Boise, Idaho

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Yes

Stories/Content opportunities: This area of Idaho has been a premier outdoor destination for

generations. The Beaver Creek Fire damaged large swaths of this landscape and this project offers a

high-profile opportunity to not simply remedy damage from the fire, but to improve and re-establish a

beloved recreation opportunity in a community that depends on outdoor recreation.

Map of project area: Link to Google map on Blaine County Recreation District website here.

Project lead: Karen DiBari

1 photo representative of project: Members of a local forest health collaborative, facilitated by the NFF,

visited with Idaho Conservation Corps students working on restoring Deer Creek Trail, a 2016 project.

Project: Crawford Path Trail - Honoring the White Mountain Legacy

Project State: New Hampshire

Project Location: White Mountain National Forest

Timeline for project: 2017

Brief description of project: The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire draws millions of

visitors from New England every year to hike, backpack, ski and snowboard and enjoy this green oasis of

public lands. The Crawford Path project will address degraded and unsustainable trail conditions on one

of the most popular trails in the country, which is also a critical part of the Appalachian Trail. Overuse

and a long gap in meaningful trail maintenance have degraded the trail and due to its popularity, the

needs must be addressed now. Additionally, in 2018, the Crawford Notch Trail will celebrate its 200th

Anniversary and the White Mountain National Forest will celebrate its 100th Anniversary. Finally, REI runs

a guided snowshoeing trip that uses this trail each winter.

Partners involved in project: US Forest Service

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): No

Additional Benefits of project: The Crawford Path Trail is one of the most popular trails in New England.

This would be a kick-off project tied to the trail community convening a new collaboration as well as

celebrating 200 years of the trail itself and 100 years of the Forest. The rock work will also provide

skillbuilding and training for trail clubs. Volunteers will help control invasive dandelions on Mount

Washington in the vicinity of the Crawford Path, including at Lakes of the Clouds Hut.

Closest major city: Boston, MA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH

Closest REI store(s): Reading, MA, Framingham, MA and Boston, MA

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Volunteer components will be included, but

opportunity would be a long distance to travel for REI employees.

Stories/Content opportunities: Crawford Path is billed as the oldest continuously used trail in northern

New England. It is a critical segment of the Appalachian Trail and receives a huge amount of use. There

are few locations in Northern New England that have as long a history as the Crawford Path.

Map of project area: Google Map here

Project lead: Mark Shelley

Photos representative of project: Photo credit: USFS, www.taylorlenz.com

Project: Chattooga River Access Enhancement – improving access to the premier Wild and

Scenic River in the Eastern U.S.

Project State: North Carolina

Project Location: Nantahala National Forest, outside of Asheville, NC.

Timeline for project: Summer 2017

Brief description of project: The Chattooga River is the premier Wild and Scenic River in the East.

Running from North Carolina through Georgia, the Chattooga is beloved and heavily used. This project

on the section of the river that runs through the Nantahala National Forest includes construction of

three kayak launch sites, construction of access trails to launch sites, installation of trailhead information

kiosks, and trailhead parking improvements. This section of river is popular with white water kayakers

and recent management changes have opened this river to recreational boating. This project would

ensure that this access is environmentally sustainable.

Partners involved in project: North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps.

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Yes, North Carolina Conservation Corps.

Additional Benefits of project: This project is critical in providing kayaker access to the upper Chattooga

River per recent changes in river management, and to provide sustainable routes to minimize potential

sedimentation from user-created trails.

Closest major city: Asheville, NC

Closest REI store(s): Asheville, NC

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Yes, especially once the access points are in place.

Stories/Content opportunities: This project provides an excellent opportunity to highlight REI’s

investment to secure ecologically sustainable and safe access to one of the most beloved rivers in the

Eastern United States. In addition, 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which

provides timely and national opportunities for publicity.

Map of project area: Google map here.

Project lead: Mark Shelley

1 photo representative of project: Photo credit: Nantahala Outdoor Center, noc.com

Project: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie – North Lawndale College Prep – Midewin Youth Corps

Project State: Illinois

Project Location: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Timeline for project: Summer 2017 (annual program)

Brief description of project: The Midewin Youth Corps is a six‐week long summer work program offered

to 16 underserved youth each year from the North Lawndale College Prep school in urban Chicago. The

students receive an hourly wage, learn valuable work skills, are exposed to nature and conservation

while restoring and improving the unique Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

Partners involved in project: North Lawndale College Preparatory School

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): 16 youth per year

Additional Benefits of project: Restored and improved native tallgrass prairie, a particularly imperiled

ecosystem.

Closest major city: Chicago, IL

Closest REI store(s): Several in Chicago

REI employee/members volunteer opportunities: Yes, REI employees and members could come out for

a joint work day with the youth and/or a custom volunteer day with REI employees and/or members.

Stories/Content opportunities: Midewin is a fascinating story. The former Joliet Arsenal, which employed

over 10,000 people at its height and operated from the early 1940s until the 1990s, was best known for

producing bombs and explosives for WWII. In the 1990s the Department of Defense transferred nearly

20,000 of the acres to the Forest Service which,in partnership with the DoD and others, remediated the

worst of the toxic legacy left by decades of munitions manufacturing. The Forest Service and local

partners then began restoring the area to native tallgrass prairie, a complicated effort requiring restoring

hydrology, removing munitions bunkers, removing road and rail beds, removing invasive vegetation and

replanting the prairie with native grasses and wildflowers.

The NFF included Midewin in its Treasured Landscapes program in 2010 and has completed significant

restoration there since, in addition to spearheading an effort to return 27 bison to the prairie in 2014.

We are currently working to meet a $2 million challenge grant that, along with another $2.7 million

challenge match pledged by the Forest Service, will allow us to create a 4,000‐acre swath of nearly

contiguous tallgrass prairie, more than double the amount of restored tallgrass prairie than all the

remnant prairie sites throughout the entire state of Illinois put together!

In the Prairie State, where less than one hundredth of one percent of true tallgrass prairie remains,

Midewin provides tremendous opportunity to bring back a disappearing landscape. Funding for the

Midewin Youth Corps does not count towards the $4.7M match, which is reserved for direct restoration

work only, but the work youth complete at Midewin contributes to the 4,000‐acre restoration effort. In

addition, funding for this program would be leveraged by the funding we have secured through the

Exelon Foundation.

Map of project area: Google map here.

Project lead (NFF internal): Mary Mitsos

1 photo representative of project:

Project: West Pinto Creek Trail Restoration

Project State: Arizona

Project Location: Globe Ranger District, Tonto National Forest

Timeline for project: Summer 2017

Brief description of project: West Pinto Creek, just east of Superior, Arizona, is a popular recreation

destination on the Tonto National Forest. Miles of hiking and equestrian trails in this area allow access to

beautiful scenery and the Eastern Superstition Wilderness, but after years of increasing recreational

traffic and deferred maintenance, significant erosion and sedimentation is causing increasing

management concerns. This project is part of a multi-year effort to reduce erosion from trail networks

throughout the area. Degraded trails are problematic because they channelize runoff from heavy rains,

causing excessive flows that cut through highly erosive soils and deposit unprecedented sediment loads

in nearby streams, creeks and water supply reservoirs. Sediment deposits from these trails flow into

West Pinto Creek and Haunted Creek, direct tributaries of Pinto Creek, which drains directly into

Roosevelt Lake Reservoir. In 2017, the work will support the implementation of activities that will reduce

erosion and sediment runoff along approximately 26 miles of trails in the West Pinto Creek area of the

Salt River watershed, completing efforts initiated in 2016 to prevent excessive erosion in this popular

hiking area.

Youth corps and volunteers will rehabilitate trails by restoring proper trail design and improving drainage

characteristics. The youth corps teams work in several week hitches and implement the hard to access,

difficult rock work that is needed to replace steep trail sections that encourage high velocity runoff and

erosion during rain events. Drainage features, such as water bars, grade dips, proper out slope, and

steps, will also be installed to reduce erosion and prevent future trail damage. Areas damaged by the

creation of unauthorized trails will also be mulched and covered with slash to prevent further use and

degradation. These activities will not only reduce erosion and sedimentation into nearby streams,

waterways, and the Salt River, but will also improve access and users’ recreation experiences. REI

funding will support approximately five miles of trail improvements. The remaining 21 miles will be

accomplished with partner funding.

Partners involved in project: Arizona Conservation Corps, Volunteers, USFS

Youth involved in project (SCA/Youth Corps/Other): Arizona Conservation Corps

Additional Benefits of project: The project is important for both improving the visitor experience,

protecting critical water supplies and improving fish and wildlife habitat.

Closest major city: Phoenix, Arizona

Closest REI store(s): Phoenix, Arizona

REI employee volunteer opportunities: Potentially.

Stories/Content opportunities: This project is part of a larger NFF initiative called the Northern Arizona

Forest Fund. This initiative has received significant and ongoing coverage in local and regional media

outlets and we expect this interest to continue. Additionally, the project has multiple benefits that offer

compelling story-telling opportunities.

Map of project area: Google map here.

Project lead: Rebecca Davidson

Photos representative of project:

West Pinto Creek. Photo from Cronkite News Service

Eroded Trail

Project: United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Youth Conservation Corps

Project State: Georgia

Project Location: Blue Ridge Ranger District, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Timeline for project: 2017, but looking for long term funding for multiple years.

Brief description of project: The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest and United Keetoowah Band

(UKB) are proposing to hire two crews of four tribal youth each. The crews would on the

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest concurrently from 6/5/17 – 6/30/17 and be housed at Young

Harris College. The UKB would provide one leader per crew and two vehicles for crew transportation.

The crews would work with a variety Forest Service programs (recreation, trails, wildlife projects) and

each crew will work with the Forest Archaeologist for one week.

Partners involved in project: UKB of Cherokee Indians; Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Young

Harris College

Youth involved in project: UKB Youth Corps – 10 youth including team leaders

Additional Benefits of project: Wildlife habitat restoration, recreational infrastructure improvements

and restoration, trail restoration. Closest major city: Atlanta, GA

Closest REI store: Atlanta, GA

REI employee/member volunteer opportunities: Opportunities could be developed for volunteer

outings with the UKB crews.

Stories/Content opportunities: This project provides interesting and compelling story lines. The UKB are

a removal tribe that originated in the southeastern U.S., but current tribal youth are growing up more

than 800 miles away from their ancestral land. As part of the program, UKB youth will have the

opportunity to strengthen the connection to their culture, gain new experiences and skills, and explore

career options.

Map of project area: Google Map

Alternative map from Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/conf/maps-pubs