CATs (Coalition of Active Trail-builders) Summer Stewardship Wednesdays

Do you ever want to take a nature break in the middle of the week? Would you like to have some physical exercise that is actually creative and positive? Would you like to share food and drink with friends? Well, you can have it all this summer with CATs . as we fix trails in Red Rock Canyon and other Open Spaces..

Starting June 30th and then every 2nd and 4th Wednesday in July, August and September, our citizen volunteer group, CATs, will do projects to help our public open spaces and maintain hiking trails. We will gather at 3:30 pm in Red Rock Canyon on the Wednesday and work for about 4 hours. Afterwards we will have an informal dinner.

We are creating an email group named "Wednesday Volunteers." Using email we will inform you about the next project and get an idea of how many people are coming. (so we can have enough tools). So send us your name, email, and phone number as soon as possible if you want to volunteer on Wednesdays. Send contact information to goddess@gardenofthegoddess.us.


GARDEN OF THE GODDESSES TRAIL
The Garden of the Goddesses Contemplative Trail is a moderately difficult trail that is 2/3 of a mile. It does connect to the Sand Canyon mulit-use trail, so you can make a loop. To find the trail go west (right as you enter) from the Red Rock Canyon Parking lot. Follow the Sand Canyon trail sighs about .2 mile to a post sign for the Contemplative Trail.

DIRECTIONS TO RED ROCK CANYON
From Colorado Springs go west on Highway 24. Get in the left lane after the 31st Street traffic light. Take the left turn lane in about a half mile and the RRC Open Space Park will be in 100 yards.

FRIENDS OF RED ROCK CANYON
This citizens advisory group for Red Rock Canyon Open Space has the overall responsibility of communicating citizen feedback to the City. Their website has a wealth of information about the history, geology and trails for the whole Open Space Park. The website has maps of all the trails. http://www.redrockcanyonopenspace.org/

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SACRED   LAND


Directly south of Garden of  the Gods lies a very special canyon. It is blessed by the presence of numerous rounded, graceful sandstone formations. These formations were created by the same geologic uplift as Garden of the Gods, yet this quieter, gentler place provides a more nurturing home for many of our fellow creatures. Herds of female and immature deer reside here visited seasonally by their male counterparts. Foxes raise their families and skunks set up their abodes in the thick scrub-brush. In the fall mother and baby black bears feed on the abundance of the scrub oak acorns growing amongst the formations.

GARDEN OF THE GODDESSES CLUB

Our Club is composed of nature lovers from all walks of life committed to honoring the Earth. We also honor the balance, equality and harmony of the sacred feminine and masculine found in Nature. We plan to do service projects to help Mother Earth followed by light-hearted social gatherings. We have no fees and communicate mostly online. If you want to be a member and be informed about coming events and projects.Click here!:

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Current Events

GARDEN OF THE GODDESS SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

On Sunday, June 20 we will have our 3rd annual social and sacred drum circle. You are invited to bring your friends and family to our Honoring of Mother Earth and our human community. As always our event will be at the base of Sand Canyon (West side of Red Rock Canyon open Space). Years ago we created a 32 foot medicine wheel of crystals and Rocks. The community conducted a ritual to empower and sanctify the circle. We then partially buried it . Each year we create the medicine wheel by placing rocks on top of this sacred ground.

After we do our summer solstice ceremony and drum circle we will disperse the stones and the land will go back to its natural state. (By the way this medicine wheel is available to all who honor the earth and balance of male and female. We only ask you disperse the stone and leave the land natural.

The social party is a potluck community gathering that starts at 1:30pm. Bring chairs and food and drink to share. The solstice ceremony will start at 3:30. The ritual will be nature based and non-denominational, so all we be welcome! The ceremony will naturally flow into a community drum circle led by Red Mountain Drum. You can and go as you want.


COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE

On Sunday, June 20 after the solstice ceremony we will have an open drumming at the Garden of the Goddess medicine wheel. We really appreciate Doris and Lee of Red Mountain Drum leading us again in this annual event. Bring your drums, rattles and flutes. The ceremony and drum will start about 3:30pm.

ANNUAL TRAIL MAINTENANCE

For you would like to get some easy exercise and give back to the Earth we encourage you to help with maintaining our trail. We will meet at the base of San Canyon (West side of Red Rock Canyon) at 8:30am. We will be doing corridor clearing and beautification. We will work for about 4 hours. Just show up ready to work. Bring sturdy shoes, gloves, hat, snack, sun screen and lots of water.

GARDEN OF THE GODDESSES CONTEMPLATIVE TRAIL

The Garden of the Goddesses Contemplative Trail was completed last year. Over 153 volunteer days were given to build the Trail. We contributed over 1080 hours of volunteer labor. The City of Colorado Springs saved $16,200 because of Garden of the Goddesses Club efforts. It is a great route in and out of the ponderosa pines and up close and personal with the red rock goddesses. Thank you to all who contributed time, effort and money to make the Garden of the Goddesses a reality!

The Goddess name is important. Already the media is calling it the Garden of the Goddesses Trail. The Parks and Recreation Department has put up signs that identify the trail as the Contempletive Trail built by the Garden of the Goddesses Club. The sign posts also state that bicycles, horses, and loud music are not allowed on the trail. If you do see a bicyclist on the trail, please help them to understand the purpose of the trail and ask them to walk their bike.

We are donating benches for meditation with plaques stating that they were donated by the Garden of the Goddesses Club. This name creates a playful association and balance with Garden of the Gods. The name establishes a feminine tone to the trail, promoting diversity and an awareness of the sacredness in nature.

It is important to protect the land for future generations and to remember that people from all beliefs and cultures need spaces in Nature to meditate and find peace.     We believe we can honor the sacred feminine in a universal way so individuals from all walks of life and beliefs will feel comfortable utilizing The Garden of the Goddesses Contemplative Trail.

TRAIL BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES

For more trail building opportunities in the Pikes Peak Region, please visit these websites:

Friends of the Peak - www.fotp.com.
Intemann Trail Committee - www.intemann-trail.com

For more information, questions or comments
goddess@gardenofthegoddesses.us or call 719-634-1810
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