Following the success of Volunteer Day 2023, where the CCY team worked alongside the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association to clear and clean trails, CCY Architects joined forces with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) to once again focus on ecological restoration efforts in our Colorado community.
For 2024, the project concentrated on planting trees around an area near our offices in Basalt, Colorado. The project intent was to help obscure the view of a highway and provide much-needed shade along a popular walking path. These newly planted trees will help counteract the heat island effect caused by surrounding impermeable surfaces, facilitating a more comfortable and accessible outdoor environment for the community.
Our team gathered with RFOV leaders, who walked through the safety protocols and tool usage for the day's activities. Town of Basalt’s Arborist/Horticulturist then joined to provide insights on the best practices for tree planting. With tools in hand, the team split into small groups and began digging. As CCY’s Kevin Neuman recalls, the process proved to be a challenge. “...digging nine holes through very rocky soil to give our new trees a home - was hard work,” he says. “Once in the ground, we built rock rings around each sapling and mulched the area to help retain moisture.” The team used pickaxes, shovels, and rock bars to break through the tough soil, ensuring each tree was properly placed to thrive in its new environment.
"Through our Adopt-a-Trail and Group Project programs, RFOV provides a team building experience for organizations all over the valley. These volunteer projects are important as they connect coworkers with each other and with their natural world. RFOV hopes to turn outdoor recreationalists and users into stewards of the land by creating these hands-on stewardship projects where you can see the impact at the end of the day, and know firsthand the hard work goes into keeping our natural spaces beautiful for the long term" - Claire Woodward, RFOV Program Coordinator
“Getting out of the office and working with my hands was a nice change of pace. It’s great to have the opportunity to give back to my community by planting trees that will hopefully stand tall throughout the years and provide much-needed shade and habitat for all”
CCY is proud to continue our commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement through initiatives like Volunteer Day. This year’s event not only enhanced the landscape of Basalt but also fostered a deeper connection among our team members and the natural world around us.
CCY Architects Team Members
