OLT - Items filtered by date: July 2021
Tuesday, 31 August 2021 09:12

Ranch Volunteers

Do you want to get away from urban life, live in the country and live on a ranch helping with ranch and garden chores? Orient Land Trust is asking for end of season ranch volunteers.

Available soon! We offer a remote, peaceful setting on the 150 year old Everson Ranch. The garden and ranch buildings are only four miles from the base of the Sangre de Cristos and the views are inspiring. The Everson Ranch is 760 acres and offers unlimited hiking opportunities on the ranch and in the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains. There are two hot springs nearby. Valley View Hot Springs, part of Orient Land Trust, and Joyful Journey Hot Springs and Spa. The garden provides fresh, organically grown vegetables. For pictures and background information go to the website at olt.org or watch Historical Everson Ranch, Orient Land Trust on YouTube.

Volunteer housing is in a rent free, small, solar heated cottage (no running water). Shower, bathroom and fully equipped kitchen nearby. Use of Valley View Hot Springs as availability permits (about 1-3 times per week).

We ask that you commit to at least two weeks. Longer stay for the right person is also workable. For more information contact Doug Bishop (email)

 - Sabine Borchers  - Sabine Borchers  - Sabine Borchers

Tuesday, 31 August 2021 09:06

Beehive Workshop

Free workshop at the Everson Ranch: 
How to Assemble a Beehive Box 
September 19th, 10:00 am - 11:30 am 

Learn from Don Baker, our local beekeeper, who brings 50 years of hands-on experience of beekeeping in the San Luis Valley. The art of beekeeping has been in the family for 100 years. 

This will partly be a hands-on experience. Maybe this might spark your interest in a lifelong hobby or finetuning your beekeeping skills? Bring your questions for the expert. We are grateful that Don generously is volunteering his time to take care of the bees at the ranch and for sharing his knowledge in this workshop.

Bees have been struggling, they need all the support and care we can give them now.

The ranch opens at 9:30am, the event is outside, please bring a mask.

Friday, 06 August 2021 01:18

Looking Ahead

OLT Is looking to the future! The OLT Board of Directors is excited to announce that we are beginning our advertising to find a candidate to fill a newly created managerial position. This new position is titled Deputy Director.

Salary range: $38,000 to $45,000

Status: Exempt, Salary

Closing Date: November 30, 2021

Benefits include: An employee may be eligible for OLT group health plan coverage the first of the month after 60 days of employment depending on the hours worked and for Paid Time Off (PTO) benefits after 120 days of employment depending on the hours worked.

Dear Valued Orient Land Trust Members and Guests

The Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the Orient Land Trust's Deputy Director position. This position will report to the Executive Director. One of the primary goals of the Deputy Director Position is to be mentored by the Executive Director, and if all goes well, within two to three years the successful candidate will be promoted to the Executive Director position for Orient Land Trust.

The Orient Land Trust Mission Statement is the following: OLT is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to the preservation of Valley View Hot Springs and its view shed - including natural and biological resources, agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, open space, and historic and geologic features of the northern San Luis Valley - for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Deputy Director Position Summary: The Deputy Director works under the supervision of the Executive Director and is responsible for the successful management of OLT and its programs. OLT protects over 2,200 acres. The primary destination for visitors is Valley View Hot Springs, a clothing-optional recreational facility providing pools, camping, and cabins for land trust visitors. OLT engages in public outreach to forge a strong connection between Orient Land Trust and communities, local and wide spread; scientific and educational programs to increase visitor appreciation for and understanding of the many interrelated aspects of Orient Land Trust.

What are some of the Deputy Director Responsibilities?

· Administration/Management: Human Resources (Staff, Volunteers, Members, etc.)

· Organizational Planning: Financial Management, Regulatory Compliance and Facilities

· Outreach: Community Support, Education, Events

· Programs: Land Protection & Stewardship, Visitor Services and Educational Programs

The Deputy Director:

  • Responds as circumstances require and has flexibility regarding working hours. May be required to live on site.
  • Requires the ability to walk on rough, steep terrain at altitudes up to 10,000 feet
  • Has previous association with Orient Land Trust and clothing optional Valley View Hot Springs and/or other clothing optional resorts.

If you would like to be considered for this position please email your letter of interest and resume to the email address . Also, please be aware that this search process, including filling the position with the successful candidate, will take some time because of the unique nature of the position and search criteria. We do have more detailed job descriptions that we will share during the vetting process. We are looking forward to talking with appropriate candidates for this position and appreciate your interest and time.

Friday, 06 August 2021 01:16

Rosie to Retire

Rosie, OLT's Visitor Service Manager and Volunteer Coordinator will retire this September! Some of Rosie's accomplishments were expanding our Kids Science Camp, Volunteer Program and Educational Activities. She is also responsible for the beautiful flowers planted around the swimming pool and throughout the village. Kelley Michelle from our front desk staff will be the new VSM. Kelley has worked in visitor services since 2014 and is excited to take on the new position. Crystal England will assist Kelley with the Volunteer Program and Tina Serna with Kids Science Camp. Sabine Borchers, our Everson Ranch Garden Manager will take care of the flowers.

"It has been my joy to work for Orient land Trust these past 8 years. I have made many friends along the way and will take away wonderful memories of my time spent here. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this community. Thank you to everyone who has been an important part of my OLT experience. Love, Rosie"

Friday, 06 August 2021 01:14

Board Musings - July 2021

From July 2021 Board Meeting

I am starting this report the week that the CDC has issued new pandemic guidelines for Americans. Welcome news to many, being able to recognize one another outside again is a real treat. There are those of us who are still very cautious, understandably. Variants, fewer than 50% of Americans vaccinated, and politics rather than public health concerns drive much of the dialog.

Personally, being older, immune compromised by a variety of age related vagrancies and vaccinated, I feel finally able to reengage with humanity. Jane and I are recognizing that after 18 months of being relatively isolated, even on a few trips, that we are now seeing that once again we are mingling. Eating out. Listening to live music. Getting back to this new normal.

Before I go too much further, I want to acknowledge those of you who have been donating to OLT throughout this pandemic - Thank You.

Visiting Valley View and the Everson Ranch continues to be a special treat. With the modest increase in the daily capacity and even a few day passes now and then, the characteristic sense of community is back. New visitors, kids, cooking in the pavilion and discussions around the picnic tables have returned with a force. Even though all is not the same - sauna closed and masks indoors - the feeling I get when I visit is the same it was before. My "plague neuroses" are finally fading.

I also thank our staff. They have been able to hold together and in fact improve this special place. Even with the reduced capacity and fewer staff, OLT is financially sound. Also fewer people and vehicles continue to let the land breathe. You really will hear more birds, see more critters and larger expanses of aquatic and terrestrial flowers.

One last thought. Your Board is alive and well and committees are meeting. The variety of opportunities to get involved are numerous. Those folks who may be interested in joining the Board at some time will find that joining one or more of our committees or task forces is insightful as well as helpful.

Respectfully Submitted,
Martin Jolley
Chair, Orient Land Trust Board of Directors

Friday, 06 August 2021 00:50

Travel Advisory - US 285 Closure

Full closure on US 285 over South Fork of South Platte bridge replacement to begin soon!

If you are traveling from the front range to Orient Land Trust, please note that there will be a full road closure of US 285 just south of Fairplay. The detour will take you on CO 9 to Hartsel where you will turn right onto HWY 24 which takes you back to 285. Estimated time increase of 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Please plan accordingly. It was scheduled to begin August 2 but has been delayed due to the mudslides on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. The work is planned to extend through November. Please click here for more information from CDOT: https://www.codot.gov/news/2021/july-2021/us285-south-platte-bridge-work-begins

There are other routes if the delay on 285 seems excessive. From Denver go south on I-25 to Colorado Springs. From the Springs you can cross the mountains:

1) Hwy 24 to Woodland Park, Wilkerson Pass, Hartsel to 285.

2) Hwy 115 to Penrose, to Hwy 50, Canyon City to Salida to Poncha Springs to 285.

From Denver, go west on Interstate 70 to Copper Mountain and Hwy 91 (Fremont Pass) to Hwy 24 near Leadville and then south to 285 at Johnson's Village near Buena Vista

If you want to check road conditions anywhere in the state of Colorado we recommend: www.cotrip.org

For the education, enjoyment, and well-being of current and future generations, Orient Land Trust: 
promotes a positive clothing-optional experience at all properties including Valley View Hot Springs, Orient Mine and Everson Ranch;
preserves the viewshed, including land acquisition; 
protects natural, wild, agricultural, and historic resources, in the northern San Luis Valley.