Organization of the Month | |
Pilot Hill Recreation & Wildlife Habitat Management Area, SWORC |
Pilot Hill was born 3 years ago out of southeastern Wyoming citizens’ historic love for the land between Laramie and the Pole Mountain Unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest. Inspired by the land’s beauty and wildlife habitat, its critical position over the aquifer, and its potential for recreational use for locals and visitors, a grassroots community movement secured the 7100-acre open-space area. Pilot Hill now enhances community health and quality of life for the community, and spurs much needed economic development in Albany County and the region.
Over the past three years, tremendous progress has been made toward implementing the community vision outlined in the Pilot Hill Land Use Plan. They have removed miles of old wildlife hazard fencing and tons of trash. They have also constructed over 20 new miles of trail on Pilot Hill to connect Laramie backyards to the adjoining Medicine Bow National Forest. They have hosted over a dozen events and races, welcomed school groups and researchers, and have logged over 150,000 visits from individuals utilizing Pilot Hill for a hike, run, bike or horseback ride.
In the next year, Pilot Hill would like to see completion of the Pilot Hill Trailhead at Willett Drive. This will provide parking for cars, school buses and horse trailers, a shelter and group gathering space, bathrooms and other user amenities. There is also a goal of construction of an additional 10 miles of trails in the recreation corridor, and installation of wildlife habitat enhancement features within the Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
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Featured Education Partner | |
Central Wyoming College Alpine Science Institute,
WRORC
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In the foothills of the Wind River Mountains near Lander, just outside of Sinks Canyon State Park, is the Central Wyoming College's Alpine Science Institute. This multi-use educational and recreational center features a 5-mile trail lab, model farm, classrooms and student cabins.
The Institute serves as a model for environmental stewardship featuring solar-paneled buildings and a composting facility. It's a living, learning field school for Professional Trail Construction, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Recreation, Geospatial Science, Expedition Science, Mountain Bike Guiding and Regenerative Small Scale Farming. The trail system and bike park are open to the community year-round.
The area also features a 130-acre trail network with professionally designed one-way downhill mountain bike trails, a pump track and bike skills area and residential cabins for student housing.
The primary goal of the Alpine Science Institute is to train tomorrow's leaders in outdoor recreation. They teach students to become professional guides of all kinds--hunting, fishing, climbing, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding, natural and cultural interpretation, and mountain biking. They also recently launched a 4-year Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Outdoor Program Leadership for students interested in recreation program administration. They offer both trail building and mountain bike skills clinics on nearby BLM and USFS trails. They run clinics and private classes for students of all ages and maintain a fleet of rental bikes with an in-house bike shop. In the summer, their college students assist with overnight summer camps for K-12 students from around the state. Summer camps feature science, art, backpacking, and a variety of skills for the outdoors.
Alumni of the program are are working throughout Wyoming in State Parks, USFS, NOLS, ski resorts and guiding hunting, fishing and wilderness expeditions.
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Casey McQuiston,
PCORC
Who is your employer, and what is your official job title? U.S. Forest Service, Shoshone National Forest. District Ranger
Why do you love your job? The opportunity to be a part of managing public lands for multiple uses and working with a number of partners in managing those lands.
What are 3 ways you support outdoor recreation through your work? Providing opportunities for the public to recreate in a number of different ways. Providing opportunities for those in the outdoor recreation industry to operate on public lands and support local rural economies and communities. Working with various partners to increase or improve outdoor recreation opportunities.
What are some projects are you currently working on? To name just a few, the Shoshone is working with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on additional semi-primitive boat launches on the North Fork. The Forest is working through deferred maintenance in campgrounds, specifically replacing picnic tables and fire rings, that has been accomplished through Great American Outdoors Act Funding. The North Zone is also working with Wyoming State Trails, Cody Country Snowmobile Association and Park County on some improvements and maintenance of the Pilot Creek parking area.
How and with whom do you like to spend your free time? My wife and I have three daughters. In my free time, I like to spend with family either on the activities they are involved in, such as figure skating, archery, softball, or anything outdoors like hunting, hiking, fishing and rock hounding.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? Prior to living in Wyoming, I worked for the Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota and before a recent trip to Washington D.C., the only aircraft I had ever flown in were Forest Service owned de Havilland Beavers (float planes).
What are your 3 favorite places in Wyoming to visit, and why? That's really tough because there are so many. The Beartooth Mountains, Pathfinder Reservoir and surrounding area, and Wind River Mountain Range around Dubois because of the impressive landscapes and expansive public lands to recreate in.
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Collaborative Member Spotlight | |
Caleb Carter,
NEWORC
Who is your employer, and what is your official job title? Weston County Natural Resource District, District Manager
Why is outdoor recreation important to you? Enjoying the outdoors is an opportunity for me to escape the hectic world and acts as kind of a reset for me emotionally. I have always enjoyed being outside as well as sharing the outdoors with others, both family, friends, or new acquaintances. I think that having locations close by that provide opportunities for recreating in the outdoors is important for our health as human beings in general. I have developed many friendships while out for a run or hike, while backpacking or climbing, or just hanging out around a campfire. There is also the benefit gained from pushing ourselves to new heights or new accomplishments that provides an increased self-confidence and self-worth that is hard to get anywhere else.
What organizations and clubs do you participate in? I am a part of the Bent Sprockets club in Weston County. We are a nonprofit and help maintain and develop many of the local trails in the county. We also host events including trail races, bike rodeos, and an annual bike obstacle course, among others.
How do you spend your time outdoors? I enjoy about any activity that gets me outside and active, especially with my family. But my main hobby is trail running. I love the variety of trails available right here in Weston County as well as across the Black Hills. As our kids have gotten older, my wife and I have had the opportunity to share this with them and that has been even more fun! My wife and I have five children ranging from 5 to 16 and as a family we enjoy camping, hiking, running, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, or just going for a walk. As you can see we are up for about anything and I am grateful that we live in a place where we do all of these things and more.
What are your 3 favorite outdoor recreation areas/trails in Wyoming? That is not easy to limit it to three places, as there are so many great opportunities in Wyoming! But I would have to list the Flying V Trails as my first choice, mainly because it is less than 10 minutes from town and boasts over 17 miles of trails and counting. There is something for everyone there with challenging climbs, great views, and nice walking trails too. I’ve run a lot miles on these trails. And, as many of my memories are with my family, I would have to say the Bighorn Mountains. We have spent a lot of time there hiking, fishing, backpacking, and much more and there are endless opportunities and views for days whenever we make it over there. Lastly would be Glendo and Guernsey State Parks. Our state parks are wonderful in Wyoming and when we lived in Torrington, we spent many days at both Glendo and Guernsey camping, hiking, running, paddling, and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. While the trails at Glendo get a lot of use, the trails at Guernsey State Park are a well-kept secret. I almost always had them all to myself whenever I was there and hope more people get out there and explore them!
Why did you choose to join the Outdoor Recreation Collaborative? As you can tell I have a passion for the outdoors. And when I found out that the state was making an effort to increase outdoor recreation in Wyoming, I was very excited. Wyoming has so much to offer, both to visitors as well as those of us who live here. I knew that I wanted to be a part of the effort and I am so glad that I joined. In my day job I work with landowners and agencies to conserve the natural resources of Weston County. So that they are around for future generations to enjoy and utilize. I look at outdoor recreation in the same way. And the best way to conserve our great outdoors is to get people outside to experience them. And while I am excited to bring people to Wyoming to enjoy our outdoors and spend money and support the state’s economy, I would argue that the most important part of this effort is increasing the quality of life for the residents of Wyoming.
Do you have any project advice for other Collaborative members in the state? My best advice is in the title. Collaborate. Work together. Just as the acronym for TEAM says: “Together Everyone Achieves More”. Involve local government, stakeholders, clubs, and others interested in the project. You will get more buy-in, support, and new and fresh ideas that can help make a project appeal to a wider audience. And collaboration is about relationships. Build relationships early and often with those stakeholders, agencies and government officials that can help get your projects off the ground. Then when you are ready to begin a project you are ready to work together to make it happen.
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Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives | |
| The Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative is exploring the idea of producing a one page map showing hiking and biking trails around Gillette to be distributed to participants of the International Pathfinder Camporee. This event will be held in Gillette, August 5-11, 2024. There will be up to 55,000 attendees from over 100 countries attending this event with most of the participants camping. The goal of the map is to let people know where they can hike and bike safely as well as to educate them on trail etiquette and "Leave No Trace" principles. The Red Rock Trails subcommittee continues to meet and make plans to develop this social trail system that sits on the north side of the city and is adjacent to a neighborhood and City Park. They are currently working to on gauging community and political support for this project. NEWORC is heading up the cross collaborative Award subcommittee. They would like to celebrate people who are doing great work in outdoor recreation in the state. This award will be presented at the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit. Let us know if you are interested in participating in this subcommittee and we will connect you to the right people. The finishing touches for the Flying V Trail system are being completed. After several years of work, land has been secured inside the Newcastle city limits for a bike park/pump track. Planning has started for this new, in town outdoor recreation opportunity. | |
| The Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative continues to move forward on the Bighorn Blueway with help from the National Park Service. The Blueway subcommittee recently met to discuss the next steps, which include creating a printed map of the river trail. The Tensleep Nowood Trailbreakers (TNT) have announced that their fall fundraiser will be online this year. . TNT works to keep the winter trails groomed for use in the Ten Sleep area. TNT is currently working on 2 projects that can benefit from Collaborative support They would like to see a magic carpet installed at Meadowlark Ski Area to allow safe uphill travel for beginner skiers and snowboarders. TNT has designed a non-motorized connector trail that will link together several existing trails and two track roads near Meadowlark Lake. This connector will require a crossing at US Highway 16. At the last BBORC meeting, WYDOT was asked to recommend a route to cross, and a below-grade crossing utilizing an existing bridge was recommended. TNT and BBORC will continue to pursue the safest and most sustainable route. BBORC has also been asked to review and comment on the USFS Powder River Ranger District's Ten Sleep Canyon Climbing Management Plan. This plan will impact route development and climbing access in Ten Sleep Canyon for the future. Individuals can submit comments by clicking on the link below. Comments on the draft plan are due November 24th. | |
| Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: The meeting started with updates from the Office of Outdoor Recreation, which included the WORG program, the Charter, and meeting dates for 2024. Questions about the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit were answered by guest, Taylor Kruger. Guest speaker, Clemencia Caporale from Wyoming Western Community College, provided a great overview of the new Outdoor Program including what students can expect for classes and how this program can benefit employers through recruiting and internship opportunities. Next, updates provided by the Bureau of Land Management for the Rock Springs Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan were dispersed and questions regarding the draft RMP were recorded from collaborative members. These questions will be sent to the Rock Springs Office and answers will be shared with SCORC. There was a discussion about the State Parks subcommittee and the various interests involved in the ongoing conservation of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Mark Tesoro, from Southwest WY Off-road Trails, provided an update on the organization. SWOT will be included in the Motorized Projects subcommittee. | | |
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Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative:
Numerous topics were discussed at the November general meeting. A vote for a letter of support for the Riverton Pathways Project from the Collaborative did not have a quorum, so the letter will be reworked and sent out again for a vote via email. An overview of the work Fremont County is doing to develop a proposal for the State Shooting Complex was provided by the Mayor of Shoshoni, Joel Highsmith and the Wind River Visitors Council Director, Helen Wilson. Updates were given from the Bus Loops subcommittee and the CDT Advisory Committee. The Government Draw subcommittee highlighted details from the Clean-Up Day on September 30th and provided an update as well. Brian Parker, from the WY Game & Fish Lander region, showcased updates that will be coming to the WY Game & Fish website in late winter/early spring. The new format prioritizes public use of the website and will minimize clicks. Brian also provided updates on the hunting season for the region and other news from the agency. An update for Sunnyside Trail was provided during Word on the Street, and will into evolve into the new year.
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The BRAND NEW Cloud Peak Outdoor Recreation Collaborative has been convened, and will serve Sheridan and Johnson Counties. The 7-person Steering Committee has been selected, and is a perfect mix of Outdoor Recreation interests and experience. The Collaborative Steering Committee had their first virtual meeting in November. The meeting was an introduction to the spirit of Collaboration, and an overview of the purpose of the group. Roles and responsibilities of members were also discussed. The Steering Committee has determined the group's name, and has been charged with making recommendations for a permanent logo. They have also been helping to build the initial potential members list. The Steering Committee will meet again in December to tackle the group's Charter and to approve the agenda for the first general meeting which will be held in February. | |
The Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative's most recent meeting included a Wyoming Game and Fish presentation by Biologist Corey Class. He spoke about ways to minimize the impacts of recreation on wildlife. Click below to read more about the presentation. The Lane 17 access project continues to gain momentum under the leadership of Rebekah Burns, and has began to receive pledges for funding. Many Federal and State agencies are involved in this project. Progress on the Outlaw Trails system is awaiting further approvals from the land managers. Other projects that are beginning to form subcommittees include improvements to Cody's Belfry Bridge River Access, The development of Spirit Mountain Recreation Area near Buffalo Bill State Park, and the possibility of a disc golf course in Cody. New project ideas throughout Park County are always welcome and encouraged. | |
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The Natrona County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: The Hell's Half Acre subcommittee has been hard at work gathering public comment for this project. This subcommittee is working to reopen access to this scenic public land that has been closed for several years. They are getting input from the local Historic Preservation Society about the history of this area. A subcommittee is being formed to explore the idea of connecting soft surface trails between Pathfinder and Alcova, as well as adding trail to connect campgrounds. The Mike Sedar Bike Park subcommittee was able to meet with American Ramp Company on a concept plan including the pump track, bike playground and jump lines. They now have a rough cost estimate and will begin the process of securing funding. Meetings to discuss plans for trail development in the Yesness/Casper College Corridor continue to take place. The development of trail in these projects will connect several neighborhoods. NCORC is also working with Wyoming Pathways on a trails charrette to gather information and ideas for new and existing trails in Natrona County. Hogadon Basin Ski area is set to open in December, featuring night skiing.
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| Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: After the previous collaborative meeting, members (charter signatories) voted online for a letter of support for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest Fee Proposal. The letter was submitted on behalf of the collaborative before comments closed on November 1st. At the meeting in November, several updates were provided on the Hwy 130 Winter Recreation subcommittee and the Scenic Byways/Backways subcommittee. An overview of the site visit to Roger Canyon in October was provided by attendees and a discussion followed on how a subcommittee could move forward with this area as a project. This will include working with local partners on organizing clean-up days, education on the site, and the development of a user-focused plan. During Word on the Street, it was announced that the Centennial Visitor Center will be open for the winter season thanks to a continued partnership between Common Outdoor Ground (COG), Albany County Tourism Board, and the Laramie Ranger District. Before the next meeting in January, a poll will be sent out to determine the meeting time for future general meetings. | |
Would you like the Wyoming State Shooting Complex to be located in your community? Wyoming's Shooting Complex Task Force is requesting submissions of letters of interest from any city, town, county, entity, group or any combination of those that is interested in being considered as the location! | | | |
SAVE THE DATE
Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit
April 18-20, 2024 in Casper
The WORTH Initiative and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation are pleased to announce the 1st annual Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit. The summit will take place April 18-20th, 2024, at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Downtown Casper, Wyoming.
Please consider submitting a proposal for the summit on an outdoor recreation-related topic of your choosing: presentations, case studies, facilitated workshops, keynotes, and other formats are accepted through our call for proposals. Delivery methods that involve audience participation, group work, or facilitated discussions are encouraged. We want this summit to best serve Wyoming’s outdoor recreation industry, so please do not hesitate to submit your ideas.
Please sign up for the WORS mailing list. This will keep you informed about any and all updates regarding the summit, including pre-registration, keynote speaker announcements, and more.
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Wyoming Outdoor Recreation is excited to announce we are partnering with fellow western states for the Mountain West Trails Conference next May! Mark your calendars and join us this spring. | | | |
Turkey Trot- November 23, Casper
Windy City Striders windycitystriders@gmail.com
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Turkey Trot- November 23, Rawlins
https://raceroster.com/events/2023/80776/2023-turkey-trot
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Lander Turkey Mile Benefit Run - November 23, Lander
https://runsignup.com/race/wy/lander/landerturkeymile
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Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Opening Day- November 24, Teton Village
www.jacksonhole.com
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Run Run Rudolph 5k- December 2, Douglas
Outdoor Enthusiasts of Converse County angelastieber@yahoo.com
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Platte Valley Ugly Sweater Fun Run - December 2, Saratoga
https://saratogaplatte.chambermaster.com/events/details/ugly-sweater-fun-run-12403
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World Record Skiers and Riders in Jeans- December 9, Jackson
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort www.jacksonhole.com
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Bighorn Rush Sled Dog Challenge- December 30-31, Sheridan
Antelope Butte Ski Area www.bighornrush.com
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Wyoming Ice Festival- January 4-7, Cody
wyoicefest.com info@wyoicefest.com
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Free Avalanche Awareness Class- January 5-6, Cody
Cody County Snowmobile Association
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Moonlight Ski- January 20, Sheridan
Sibley Lake www.wyowinterrodeo.org
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Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby- January 20-21, Saratoga
Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce
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Burbot Bash Ice Fishing Derby- January 27, 28 29 - Flaming Gorge
https://www.burbotbash.com/registration/
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Family Sled Day- February 3, Sheridan
Trails End State Historic Site www.wyowinterrodeo.org
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Hawg Ice Fishing Derby- February 3-4, Casper
Pathfinder Reservoir Wagner's Outdoor Outfitters
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Kings and Queens of Corbet's- February 3-10, Jackson
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort www.jacksonhole.com
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Taste of Trails- February 10, Cody
Park County Nordic Ski Association www.pcnsawy.org
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Wyo Winter Rodeo Skijouring- February 10, Sheridan
Sheridan County Fairgrounds www.wyowinterrodeo.org
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The Skinny Skis Moose Chase- February 17, Wilson
Jackson Hole Ski Club wwicherski@jhskiclub.org
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WY State Snowmobile Assn. Fun Days- March 1-3, Dubois
Dubois Sno-Katters www.snowmobilewyoming.org
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The Drift 100- March 8-10, Pinedale
www.thedrift100.com
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47th World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb- March 23-26, Jackson
Snow King Resort www.snowdevils.org
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