News

May 25, 2022 – Habitat Project at Barr Lake State Park

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On May 25th, Oxy, STEAD school, Pheasants Forever and the Barr Lake team all partnered to provide protection and food for our bird friends of all varieties.  

400 feet of nesting, berries and shelter were on the agenda for planting.  First, the holes (185 of them) were dug.  Six cubic yards of compost and mulch were used to make our new plants welcome as we tucked them into the ground. Our new residents- 35 Junipers, 60 each of chokeberry and sumac bushes were planted. 

There were approximately 60 people present to do the planting -20 students and 5 adults from STEAD school, 30+ Oxy employees, the Pheasants Forever Habitat and outreach chairs, and a half dozen employees from Barr Lake.

All enjoyed the morning of connecting to each other, and to the wildlife that we are helping protect! 

April 23, 2022 – Hands-on Habitat Project

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In partnership with Barr Lake and Oxy, SE Metro Pheasants Forever Chapter joined the national effort for “Hands-on Habitat”. This project highlighted dry lands habitat development in Barr Lake’s Educational Plots. Previously, the primary development has been with the pollinator plot. This project planting included planting rabbit brush and prairie dropseed plants. It also included a dry land seeding of a grass mix specifically designed by the National Pheasants Forever wildlife team. The mix included Blue Stem, Indian Grass, Switchgrass as well as several other native grasses. 

SMPF hosts wildly successful Ladies Day event!

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Organized and led by Banquet Chair Kylie Alstrup, our South Metro Chapter hosted 16 women for a wildly successful Ladies Day wingshooting clinic and live pheasant hunt at Valhalla Hunt Club and Kennels. As the number of female hunters increases, so does our support and mentorship! We’re not sure who enjoyed themselves more — the ladies, the volunteers, or the dogs?!

We extend a huge thanks to Mike Mills and the Clay Connections Foundation for hosting our group at the Warren Watson Shooting Grounds, and for his expert coaching tips! Our female shooters were able to practice their skills before the live hunt.

We had 18 mentors and six dog handlers who helped with our day-long event. Our event would not have been successful without their passion and dedication! 

September 25, 2021 was National Public Land Day!

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Sept. 25 was National Public Land Day!

South Metro Pheasants Forever and Oxy joined to participate in two events at Barr Lake State Park that day.

The first was the painting of a mural depicting our pollinator plot and the multicultural volunteers responsible for the creation of the pollinator plot.

The artist, Dominic Velando, sketched the mural and guided the volunteers in the painting. Thanks Dominic! The second was adding more pollinators plants to the plot!

Oxy volunteers team for two Barr Lake projects

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On Thursday, August 19, PF and Occidental volunteers teamed with Barr Lake staff to complete the next stages of 2 projects.  The first project, an exciting project that will continue for the next month, is the mural project. 

The first step was to build the fencing structure needed as the surface for the mural. The team measured, dug holes, measured again, widened the holes and finally cemented in the upright structure beams for the fence.  It was hard work, and created many laughs as the structure took shape! 

The next steps on the mural will take place in September as the fence is finished and the mural sketched in for the final painting stage on National Public Land day, the 25th of September.  At the same time as the posts were being planted, additional planting was taking place in the Pollinator Plot.  More rabbit brush, coneflowers, and others joined the growing plot.  The additional plants were gently placed by the Oxy team as the PF team helped with both projects!  

It was a great team day.  Thanks Oxy!!

South Metro Denver Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Occidental announce a project partnership!

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The purpose of this partnership is to support, with both financial and volunteer resources, South Metro’s habitat and pollinator projects at Barr Lake State Park. Oxy is committed to community projects that help wildlife habitat and education of their communities regarding the importance of wildlife in our ecosystems. Barr Lake, another of SMPF’s partners, excels in wildlife husbandry and community outreach/education on the importance of protecting wildlife.

This is a great alliance for wildlife, SMPF, Barr Lake and Occidental.  Welcome to the team!!

Telbe Storbeck, Occidental Denver’s Advocacy Advisor (at left); Michelle Seubert, Head Ranger at Barr Lake State Park; and Mel Wernimont, South Metro PF Habitat chair; met June 12 at Barr Lake Pollinator plot. Michelle and Mel showed Telbe the progress to date and reviewed plans for the next steps. Exciting to see the sunflowers growing and the new plants beginning to flower. More planting in July!!

Leave No Trace Gold Standard

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South Metro Pheasants is honored to help support Barr Lake State Park in obtaining their Leave No Trace Gold Standard site designation. This gold standard designation was achieved by implementing and enhancing education outreach, signage and messaging for encouraging people to care for their public lands.

Watch Park Manager and SMPF Member Michelle Seubert tell this story!

Click here to download the Seven Principles Poster

Pollinator Project at Barr Lake State Park May 22 2021

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On Saturday, May 22, a consortium of Barr Lake State Park, Pheasants Forever, Occidental Petroleum and Wildland Restoration Volunteers hosted the Black to Nature Book Club at Barr Lake for a three-hour event. 

The focus of this event was twofold: First, the group, guided by PF and Wildland volunteers, and taught by Michelle Seubert, the head park ranger, learned the importance of and the technique of planting pollinator plants. The second focus was getting the job done! Serviceberries, goldenrod, and sunflowers—LOTS of sunflowers. The planting was fun and exciting. The pictures are worth a thousand words! Those displayed here show the group learning the importance of the pollinators and their habitat, getting hands-on training in planting, and gathering to celebrate their success.

A special thanks to the team of planters, the training and guidance of Wildland Restoration volunteers, the expertise of Michelle and the Barr Lake staff, and the financial support of Occidental Petroleum!!  What a great day.

May 1, 2021 – Ladies Event

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Our chapter hosted 28 women at the May 1st Ladies Shotgun Clinic at Valhalla Hunt Club in Bennett, Colo. Women from all over the state joined us to learn about upland hunting, firearm safety, and wingshooting basics. After classroom instruction on safety, all of the ladies participated in shooting clays and honing their shotgun skills.

It was an energetic and fun day for all — we are looking forward to hosting more ladies events and hunting with these women in the Fall! Special thanks to Valhalla for hosting all of us!