Monday, July 15, 2013


FOS Work Day July 13, 2013

Work Day Coordinator Ann Bennett sent the following report:

A total of 20 volunteers were greeted by another beautiful work day with cool temps and plenty of work from cleaning bathrooms and firepits to spreading lime chips under tie rails at the upper campground and trimming trails with walk behind mowers, chainsaws and loppers. 

New signs about Pack It In, Pack It Out were designed by FOS. Forester John Byrd had several permanent signs made which were mounted near trail heads by volunteers. We have all noticed that there are fewer and fewer drink bottles and beer cans tossed along the trail.  Our appreciation to everyone that is remembering to Pack it Out and recycle those cans and bottles. We have lots of work to maintain trails and campgrounds each work day and appreciate not having to crawl around under multi-flora roses and down into ditches retrieving someones tossed cans!

We all wore the orange Friends of Shimek safety vests so campers and trail riders noticed the small army of volunteers working to clean up camp and work on trail maintenance. 

The first set of horse stalls at the lower campground were deconstructed and boards and gates salvaged.  Shimek staff will remove the posts. Several volunteers are coming back to move the lime chips in the lower campground under the tie rails.   Thank you to John Byrd, Shimek State Forester, for co-ordinating lime chips and the skid loader.  

Debbie Miller and Bonnie Moothart made their way around to the campers explaining more about the volunteers and Friends of Shimek and Debbie collected $60 donated by folks who appreciated the work being done.   Debbie received several positive comments about the hand sanitizer dispensers in the bathrooms – that is courtesy of the Iowa DNR and installed by FOS.   

Ringo Covert talked to several people about the new horse shelter to be constructed.   A new volunteer commented about the great esprit de corps and what a pleasure to work with a well organized and positive group of volunteers.  Then all enjoyed a delicious salad and cold cuts potluck lunch.

Debbie Miller and Neal Hartman returned to the trails that afternoon with a chainsaw to clear downed trees off trails. Volunteers put in over 133 hours of work that day!

Ann Bennett, Bonnie Moothart and Lora Conrad made photos to document the activities and volunteers of the day. These are posted for you to enjoy at


When the page opens, you can click on Slideshow at the upper left. There are 20 photos showing all the activities Ann described and our 20 volunteers hard at work.


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