Cadettes take action in RMNP

Submitted by Carol Lucero

Thornton

Denver Metro

Thornton Troop 63979 spent four long days camping in Rocky Mountain National Park– pitching tents, cooking meals, doing dishes, hiking trails, playing games, bridging one member from Juniors while earning five badges, plus an unplanned Junior Ranger patch. We had signed up to volunteer through the GSCO’s partnership with the National Park Service for a Take Action Plan.

We were assigned ‘General Clean Up’ and showed up Monday at 9 a.m. only to be greeted by the Road Hogs Road Crew. Our assignment had changed from cleaning camp to cleaning roads in the park. The girls spent four hours shoveling, sweeping, scooping and loading sand, rocks, fallen branches and other debris from the roadside for miles– creating safer travel conditions for the millions of visitors to RMNP each year. The Road Hogs are a volunteer group themselves, composed of retired gentlemen who work every Monday, year-round, at RMNP, either clearing roads or downed trees.

The girls and the Road Hogs filled the front loader three times in four hours– amazing! It was awesome to work alongside these men who complimented the girls hard work and selfless spirit. I was proud to hear them comment that the girls just kept going- never complained, never slacked off, never gave up. And they couldn’t believe they were only 11 and 13 years old! The crew leader ‘fired’ the girls just before 1:00 p.m. so they could all have a long overdue lunch break. Although tired and hungry themselves, the girls reluctantly gave back the hard hats and vests.

For our part, the road leading up to Bear Lake Trailhead is much cleaner, much safer and more loved by this Troop. Thanks to RMNP Road Hogs for welcoming us to Take Action and make a difference!

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