By Beth Lawrence, SCLT Operations Manager
I’ve been the operations manager at SCLT since September. I came here because it means a lot to be part of a team whose daily work supports the care, enhancement and stewardship of our beautiful corner of Wyoming.
In the time I’ve been here, I’ve been blown away by just how much that rings true. Every day, I learn more about how this great work is made possible thanks to the help of many people in our community.
Did you know SCLT has helped study mule deer in the northern Bighorns? Our Conservation Director Meghan Kent said SCLT helped collar 60 mule deer. Those collars recorded movement data for three years.
This spring, the collars fell off. Meghan got some quick training in telemetry from Wyoming Game and Fish and assisted in retrieving six of those collars. Data from those collars is vital to ensuring mule deer in the northern Bighorns remain healthy as they move from the forest to the foothills each spring and winter.
Meghan said since this long, hard winter was a challenge for wildlife across the state, we were extra careful not to disturb the deer as they moved among open patches of ground while we retrieved fallen collars. Read about collecting collars near Big Goose Canyon at sheridanclt.org/helping-mule-deer-in-the-northern-bighorns.
Have you been to the new trail that opened this year? The Double Eagle Trail has an out-and-back loop and connects to The Link for quicker access deeper into the Soldier Ridge Trail System.
Much of the land surrounding these trails has been permanently conserved, which means the open space we love about them will be there for future generations.
Thanks to the city of Sheridan, you can access Double Eagle from a new trailhead at Kendrick Golf Course.
The best part?
You feel like you’re out of town while close to home. Read about why we think it is a fairway to heaven at sheridanclt.org/recreation/maps.
Who knew there was so much history on Soldier Ridge Trail? Now, everyone can, thanks to History on the Soldier Ridge Trail, launched through TravelStorysGPS this summer. You can listen to stories from the rich history around the trail anytime you hike, bike or ride your horse there. You can also listen to it online anywhere (great for a wintry day.) I had a blast doing this tour with History Program Manager Kevin Knapp and many of our friends at a Discovery Session this fall. Download the tour now so you can take it the next time you visit Soldier Ridge Trail at travelstorys.com/tours/history-on-the-soldier-ridge-trail.
Speaking of Discovery Sessions, many are led by volunteers. They teach people new skills or help them learn while getting outdoors, like Steve Stresky, who leads our popular geology hikes on Red Grade Trails.
Did you know there are rocks on the trail that are more than 2 billion years old? Volunteers help research Explore History programs, sign people in at events, make fences more friendly for wildlife, build and maintain community trails, and so much more.
Volunteers are the heartbeat of SCLT’s work. If you have an idea for a Discovery Session or would like to lead one, please email me at [email protected].
If you’d to help, we all would love to work with you. Sign up for volunteer updates at sheridanclt.org/volunteer/volunteer-sign-up.
Finally, none of this work would be possible without people like you. Right now, gifts to SCLT are being matched, so your donation is doubled.
I hope you are proud of what you have helped accomplish this past year. Working with a community of people who care deeply about connecting people to land and history in Sheridan County is an honor.
