Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on October 7, 2025
Camp Gathering and Service Projects
September 18, 2025 – September 20, 2025
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 12 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 18.5 |
| Participants | 7 |
| Total Hours | 142.5 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: Gila National Forest
Landscape/area: Gila National Forest (2658321 acres)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Trail/land monitored (3 sites/plots)
Outcome 2: Other (1 surveys)
Outcome 3: Hiked (3.5 miles)[/if 1231]
Short Description of Activity
This September we took a break from our “traditional” retreat to a different location with a focus on stream restoration stewardship and a campground survey for the forest service. This was our way to contribute to Public Lands Day, albeit a week early! This service project and camp gathering focused on the lovely Stone Creek area near the NM/ AZ border within the northwest corner of Gila Natl. Forest (GNF). It was an opportune time to gather here to initiate monitoring of the Stone Creek restoration, along with GNF staff and additional input from the Bat Conservation International staff who are engaged in the stream restoration. On the first day we met at a nearby GNF campground on the San Francisco River to conduct the campground condition survey (as we are doing in other areas, per request by GNF staff.) After assessing several campsites and amenities as a group, we broke into 2 teams to complete different portions of this rustic campground. We will be noting any impacts we observed and ideas for campground improvement when we turn in our survey. Then we drove to nearby Luna Lake campground to set up our group camp in the pines overlooking the lake. The next morning, we met two GNF employees to initiate monitoring photo points for the Stone Creek restoration and general ongoing riparian monitoring. (Stone Creek is one of our grazing monitoring areas so we hope to participate in stream photo point monitoring at the same time, including the spring area.) One of our key members provided background on the Stone Creek restoration and info on specific features. As we returned from our photo point hike, it began raining and we were glad we reserved a group camp with a pavilion! The Natural Resource Specialist was able to join us under that shelter to share information on the GNF monitoring plan she is setting up relative to the updated (almost signed) forest management plan. Each evening, we shared stories at social hour under the pavilion.
Reflection/Evaluation
It went very well, was memorable, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants. In addition to the public lands service projects, another highlight was conversing with the Natural Resource Specialist about monitoring plans for GNF, and getting to better know her as we sheltered under the pavilion against a background of rain. We got to meet the Quemado District range con employee, who also worked with the photo point initiation. Meeting her should help with communications regarding our grazing monitoring in that district. We had fewer participants at this year’s Sept. gathering, but the number was good relative to transportation logistics down to the monitoring area, given the need for all wheel drive high clearance vehicles. Given this, we were not aiming for a large group, but several more would have been ideal. We know that some potential participants want or need lodging and perhaps less physical service projects or other activities. Plus the location entailed a bit more drive time. However, it was timely to offer this interesting service project this year, enjoyed by the hardy participants, and we were glad we came together to perform this relevant service project. It was a successful and enjoyable gathering.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
1. Broadband participants and Natural Resource Specialist setting up stream monitoring photo points, gazing up toward springs.
2. One of our members talking to us about the stream restoration and pointing out a restoration feature.
3. Starting to gather under the camp pavilion (and enjoying the Abert’s squirrel antics).
4. Conducting the campground condition survey (near the San Francisco River) and noting the condition of the “vintage” picnic table.