Our fifth year of clean up collaboration!
In an effort to keep the Giant Rock area pristine the BLM Barstow office suggested a Giant Rock Community Clean-Up to celebrate National Public Lands Day , in partnership with Karyl Newman and Blight Sites, the Mojave Desert Land Trust, the Landers Community Association, High Desert Keepers and the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.
Thank you to volunteers who each received a bright orange NPLD t-shirt and day pass coupons for free access to our parks from BLM Barstow.
We worked from 9 AM – 2PM on Saturday, October 12th, because dedicated volunteers stay until it is done! This year we had some teams head north of the rock and they brought back the bulky items and construction waste, while others worked hard sifting the glass from the sand, climbing up onto Spy Mountain and very detail oriented youngsters who would carefully bring me un-fired shotgun shells!
The event is part of the programming for a California Humanities Grant received in December 2017, Our Giant Rock: a Community Touchstone in the Mojave. Karyl Newman (project director) will share her research in a digital exhibit.
While our graffiti power washer left to refill thanks to Gubler Orchids, Karyl Newman included a presentation of stories and research for #storiesandstewardship, which gave everyone a little break in the shade. Thank you to Michael at $5 pizza in Landers for donating lunch!
See you next year!