Summit County residents are known to love their recreation, and a new program will allow them to give back to the community while exploring the great outdoors.
The Lands and Natural Resources (L&NR) Volunteer Ambassador Program was launched earlier this month to help county officials educate people about using trails, mountain parks and other open spaces. The first opportunity will allow volunteers to support the newly acquired 910 Cattle Ranch — a $55 million effort to conserve around 9,000 acres near Jeremy Ranch in East Canyon.
Volunteer ambassadors will be sent to various county properties to help promote safe and responsible recreation.
“Summit County has a robust system of trails and open spaces, interconnected with Special Service Districts and City-owned lands …. However, users sometimes lack knowledge required for safe and responsible recreation on these lands,” the county said in a prepared statement. “This lack of knowledge can cause the destruction of sensitive ecosystems, confrontations between users, and citations that could have been avoided if the user were better informed.”
The ambassador program will help supplement the county’s land and natural resources staff by providing additional resources and community outreach, according to county officials. Volunteers will be tasked with documenting compliance with trespassing, hunting and other land use restrictions on county-owned land. They will also help educate the public about goals and ongoing land management efforts.
Ambassadors will be stationed on trails and at trailheads. They can be identified by an orange vest. Volunteers are responsible for engaging with recreationists in a friendly manner and will provide information about proper etiquette. They are not responsible for confronting people who break the rules but will relay relevant information to the appropriate agencies. A report will be submitted after each shift.
The County Courthouse has been considering how to promote compliance with certain rules on its conserved land following the largest open space purchase to date. The 910 Cattle Ranch land has been characterized as a legacy opportunity and residents from across Summit County have differing opinions about how accessible the property should be.
County officials in early September voted to criminalize hunting on conserved land following the purchase of the 9,000-acre ranch. Former owner David Bernolfo has long been opposed to hunting on the land.
People who are found guilty of participating in banned activities such as riding motorized vehicles and dumping or burning on county property could face a class B misdemeanor for engaging in prohibited uses or a class C misdemeanor for destroying signage indicating what activities are banned. Penalties can range from 90 days in jail and up to a $750 fine to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies and rangers with the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District are expected to routinely monitor the area, too.
Volunteer ambassadors must commit to serving in the program for at least eight hours a month for six months. County employees are exempt from this requirement. Around 25 volunteers will be selected for the program and will complete an onboarding training.
Visit bit.ly/3S3di0v to fill out an application form.