Shoshone District Happenings

Snow is melting (for now) and our programs schedule is heating up too! We're excited for the many programs across the district we have planned for you - including programs on black-footed ferrets starring our domestic ferrets, Maddy (Madison Limestone) and Sandy (Sandstone Buttress). 

To stay in the know, make sure you're subscribed to this newsletter by entering in your email and selecting "Shoshone District". 

Did you know I do field trips? Yep! They've started again in full swing. My district covers Fremont, Uinta, Sweetwater, and Carbon Counties, so I work with local libraries, homeschool groups, and others not directly affiliated with parks! If you're interested in a program for your group, fill out this form.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This double rainbow appeared over Sinks Canyon last summer. We were preparing dinner on our Latino Outdoors campout and the rain wouldn't let up!! These rainbows were a good consolation prize.

Hot Job Alert! 🔥

I have to share this superintendent position at Hot Springs with you - even though it's not in our district! Folks in state parks come from a variety of backgrounds - Biology, Parks & Rec, Game & Fish, Museums, and so many more. Don't count yourself out as we have a number of outstanding employees from diverse backgrounds!

We also have a special district-wide maintenance position, allowing the new hire to see cool projects at all five of our sites (and satellite sites) throughout the southwest district! 

Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner!

Birds singing, building nests, and laying eggs are a sure sign of spring (not here yet!) and will be a part of our egg hunts at Fort Bridger and Bear River. These programs are free and open to the public.

This year we're excited to announce an additional egg hunt at Bear River that will work toward universal accessibility! Please spread the word on this new program that will allow those in wheelchairs, kids with severe allergies, people with intellectual disabilities, and those with sensory issues to take part in an eggstra special hunt! Pre-registration, though free, is required to limit numbers and ensure we can serve our visitors' needs!

 

 

 

Sinks Canyon State Park worked to open Boulder Choke Cave to public tours. Previously tours were not publicly available or listed, but staff Jessica and Skylar have worked to build plans to make the cave open to more people. The first three tour times sold out in under 24 hours! Depending on snowmelt there may be April options. If not, watch for late summer tours to open up via this newsletter and on Sinks Canyon's Facebook page.

We're thankful to Skylar and Jessica for taking classes, working with our fees office, and other efforts to make this publicly accessible. This is a fantastic opportunity and we're glad they worked to make it so that visitors can learn geology, experience the park in a whole new way, and discover one of Wyoming's hidden gems.

This cave, discovered within our lifetimes, is undeveloped. The cave's Madison limestone walls are incredible - as is seeing the Popo Agie where it disappears "underground". The cave is still very protected - folks can only go in at designated times, with a guide, in limited numbers, and obeying all decontamination protocols. Cave tours run about 1.5 hours, 3 hours total for preparation, decontamination, etc. All gear is provided (headlamps, overalls, etc.). The cost is $20 and pre-registration online is required. 

We are hosting a program to learn about preventing bird/building collisions right before spring migration gets into full force! Unfortunately, many of us have seen birds killed or knocked out with windows - either at home, office, or out and about in town. What can we do to prevent that? Audubon Rockies' Zach Hutchinson will be teaching us methods that we can use at our homes or work places to make our windows "bird safe"! 

This is a free program on Friday April 21st at 6:00 - part of Earth Day Weekend! Zach and Sinks Canyon will be at the Garden Expo in Lander on April 22nd.

Interested in making a weekend out of it? Book a yurt at Sinks Canyon!! They have electricity and heat with nearby vault toilets. Bring your own water this time of year.

 

We will be hosting our Semilitas Outdoors event with Latino Outdoors and Carbon County Library on the evening of April 21st! Join us for community and celebration and time outdoors (weather permitting!)

 

What am I working on now? My big project is a fun and beautiful one!

Stihl, through the National Association of State Park Directors, has granted us $20,000 to implement pollinator projects at five sites throughout the state! 

Bear River State Park will highlight bats, Keyhole State Park will focus on beetles, Edness K. Wilkins will showcase their birds, Curt Gowdy State Park will highlight bees, and Medicine Lodge State Historic Site will focus on butterflies! These five sites will have demonstration pollinator gardens for visitors to see along with special programming around pollinators.

We are very excited about this huge pollinator project!! Want to help out? If you're good at building and want to help assemble raised beds, have a green thumb and want to help plant, or just want to be involved -- sign up here!

Also...be sure to check out these sites throughout the bloom season later this year!

 

Until our next newsletter - stay in touch on Wyoming State Parks' facebook page and instagram @wyo.state.parks!

 

Angelina

Angelina.Stancampiano@wyo.gov