Utah - Manti-La Sal NF
Closed! Preservation at the Great Basin Environmental Education Center, Part II
UT-4260
August 10-14, 2015
Must commit to minimum of two days
Sanpete Valley and the nearby Wasatch Plateau in central Utah ring with the history of western settlement and its environmental consequences. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, valley communities experienced catastrophic summertime floods. In 1912, the Great Basin Experimental Range was established as one of the first range research stations in the world. Its job was to discover how livestock overgrazing contributed to the floods, and how grazing practices could be changed in order to reduce the impacts. The Center's eight principal buildings were constructed during two periods, the first built between 1912 and 1913 and the last between 1934 and 1936. These buildings embody both the research successes of the facility and the inter-relationship of the Forest and its associated communities. The Great Basin Experimental Range was in continuous operation until 1972, and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is now known as the Great Basin Environmental Education Center (GBEEC), and is operated by nearby Snow College.
This PIT project is a continuation of one we began in 2012, and will, once again, take place as a partnership between the Forest and Snow College. It will be comprised of a variety of maintenance projects, which, this year, will include work on the Alpine Cabin, an isolated structure located near the mouth of Ephraim Canyon. The headquarters complex includes a museum, amphitheater, offices, and much more. Come enjoy the beauty and unique history of these buildings as you help care for them - see you in August!
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Maintenance, construction, landscaping, and/or related special skills and/or experience with or interest in historic building preservation desired and helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 14 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Sleeping quarters with bunk beds, full baths, and a large, communal kitchen available at no charge at the Center; space on site available for trailers (no hookups) and tents; Ephraim, Manti, and Mt. Pleasant are all full-service communities with hotels/motels/B&Bs, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for own lodging (if opting to stay outside of Center), bedding/camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest town: Ephraim Canyon/Ephraim, 10 miles; Manti, 16 miles; Mt Pleasant, 26 miles
Applications due: Filled