Cairn Corner: March 2025 Crew Leader Training & Final Project Prep

Cairn students and mentors visited Environmental Learning for Kids' (ELK) headquarters located in Northeast Denver. Back in December 2024, Cairn program participants voted ELK as the location for their Final Project that will be held in April. This site visit served as a time for students to meet the land manager and learn about the project work they will be leading, much like VOC staff do for any other public project. There, they learned from ELK's Volunteer Coordinator about how this non-profit organization serves as a vital connection to nature in the urban Montbello neighborhood.

After lunch, VOC's Leadership & Training Manager, Benja, led a brief outdoor leadership training session to prepare the students for leading crews, working with tools, and assessing safety. These skills will come in handy as they fulfill their various leadership roles they chose for the Final Project. Afterward, students and mentors gathered into their leadership role teams and collaborated with each other to understand their responsibilities for the project day and gain a sense of how each role contributes to making a volunteer project happen. We can't wait to see this year's students practice their outdoor leadership skills and complete the Cairn Program successfully next month! A big shout-out to Damian with ELK for hosting, educating, and guiding our Cairn students and mentors as they bring their Final Project to life.