ATV volunteers for volunteer Rangers?

[lisa]

 Well, it seems the ONF is getting some good press here, so I am asking how many of you would like to volunteer to be volunteer rangers?

This is a good program that is in danger of falling apart due to lack of volunteers. It is an education, maintenence, forest inspection program that regular folks participate in.

Mainly, what you do is while doing an "offical" ranger ride, make note of fences and trees down, and trails blocked. If you see folks violating the laws of the forest, stop and educate them on the Rules and Regulations of riding the trails.

We, mostly ATVs though, are in danger of losing a lot of trails ya'll ride. There is talk of closing off trails on un-numbered roads and limiting the ATVs to 2,000 miles of trails. We can stop that talk, and prevent any more closures if we ban together and show those controlling the ONF that we are willing to police ourselves, as well as offering to help maintain our Forest, thereby saving them time and money.

Any takers?

[Njoutlaw88]

If I lived closer I would. Good luck finding people.

[lisa]

 Do you ever come up to the forest? All we are asking is for folks to donate one weekend day, not even the whole weekend. With enough folks volunteering that, it won't take but a fraction of those of you who visit the ONF.

The idea is that we get three no more than four vehicles, 4x4s, ATVs, etc. to patrol Saturday and Sunday at least. There are only 52 weekends a year, that is 104 days. 104x3 vehicles means 312, if the same ones are not patrolling over and over again.

There are that many vehicles out on a slow weekend! With all the groups in Florida that use the trails, surely we can get half that many willing to keep our trails open.

This is a pilot program that very likely could spill over into our state parks and forests. If enough interest is shown, we can be a voice to reopening our trails throughout the state. (that is my long term goal, short term, getting folks to understand this may be the only way they have to keep our National Forests in our state open to us!)

[Qdawg76]

Hey if it would help keep more trails open Count me in I can help out

[GrizzlyBear]

I will gladly give whatever time is necessary.  Where do we go to sign up.

[qt314nfla]

Lisa I think you have a great idea.  It's good to see positive solutions to potential problems or issues.  I'd be willing to help out.  I live quite a distance but if someone can give me a weekend day that I'd be scheduled to patrol that'd be great.

Have you considered posting the dates needed and how many people so that people can sign up?  Is someone going to make a schedule of volunteers?  Keep me posted on the subject.  Anything I can do to help the sport out I'm all over it.

[GSPKurt]

Count me in, my wife, too. We can even do weekday rides.
Kurt

[CAOSPOP]

If it was to be 1 day of the weekend id love to do it. Im 5hrs away !!! I would apprieciate the help finding a place to stay for those days if possible.

[Hollywood]

Count me in too!  

[Ida_Mann]

I'm game.

Id@

[NPRVinson]

I'm in too. Lisa, are you with the D.O.F?

[dmljohnson]

i can do it 1 weekend a month.....if thats cool..maybe we can get ppl from miami to do it the same time..where we can come up together....i can camp out there..i dont care...but i will do it one weekend a month....

[Moose]

I would like to help also.

[bigscrub79]

Count me in. I can do 1 weekend no problem, just let us know where to sign up and figure out a schedule.

[Eworm]

If anything should be a sticky this one is it. I would do it for one day.

[dmljohnson]

Lisa if you want we can start garthering a list of names here
http://www.flaohv.com/content.asp?sid=11&id=-1


we can generate a list of names and contact info for you....

[Chuck_Norris]

 [smiley=ThumbsUp.gif] IM IN

[NPRVinson]

 

[GSPKurt]

Lisa if you want we can start garthering a list of names here
http://www.flaohv.com/content.asp?sid=11&id=-1


we can generate a list of names and contact info for you....

I responded there. I am all for this, if it keeps them from closing trails. We were at Big Scrub 2 weeks ago and the garbage we saw was sickening. We should also do a clean-up ride soon.
Kurt

[Redgrizzly660]

We did  a clean up ride  about two months ago and only 20 peoples show up.

That's kind of sad  [smiley=embarassed2.gif]

Grizz

[Ida_Mann]

I tried to show, but blew a head gasket and wouldn't do much good after that  :-/

I'd be up for another one, but from what I heard, the trail system is a definate thing and there aint no stopping it, so why should I care?

Id@

[CEC]

we should be willing to do what ever we can to protect our privilege to ride.I only go to ONF about every 2 months.I hope to start going more I'm looking for a few acres of land there, Let me know if i can help.

[CEC]

WE all need to get in this program and get involved.It might be the only shot we have of keeping ONF open, it just got 8600 acers smaller.I only go up 1 or 2 times a month but I will offer to help, just let me know

[stump66]

How about if they came up with a form or log for those of us that would be more then happy to help. We could take notes and get whatever info they want even in areas where they rarely go. We could sign it with valid id and they would get allot of usefull info. I'm almost 2hr and would love to do something to help.  

[CEC]

they need a way to check the bikes in and they give you a numbered flag or something to identify each bike.Then if something was going on that was not supposed to be it would be easy to report