By Charly SHELTON

At the top of Rosemont Avenue sit 7.75 acres of preserved wilderness, saved from development. The Rosemont Preserve was founded in 2012 by the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy to preserve this land for future generations. But preservation is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing battle to keep the land pristine and cared for, while making sure the community has access to the preserve for events and tours.

“Friends of the Rosemont Preserve is an advisory committee – composed completely of volunteers and created to steward the Preserve and conduct programs for the local community,” said Barbara Goto, director of Operations for the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy. “Since the purchase in June, 2012, Friends of Rosemont has been responsible for coordinating over 2,000 volunteer hours of work at the Preserve.  In addition to the monthly events listed above, they work closely with local Boy and Girl Scouts who built a trail, an outdoor classroom and demonstration garden complete with planter boxes at the Preserve.”

The Rosemont Preserve is looking for volunteers. There are several different ongoing programs at the Rosemont Preserve that need volunteers and docents throughout the year. The second Saturday of each month is restoration day, where volunteers help with habitat restoration, removing invasive plants and planting new native plants. There is an ongoing field trip program that needs docents on weekday mornings in the spring. The Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy provides training for third grade native plant curriculum and sixth grade Earth science curriculum. Volunteers are also needed to host the Open Gate events every third Sunday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. and docent-led hikes every fourth Saturday of the month where members of the community “with knowledge pertinent to our local flora, fauna, natural or human history come to share what they know in an interesting and engaging 60 to 90 minute hike through the Preserve.”

Overall, Goto said, “we need someone with a passion for the outdoors and a desire to learn about land conservation and how nonprofits get it done!”

For more information and find out how you can get involved, visit arroyosfoothills.org/Rosemont.

  Charly Shelton