Conserving Keyhole State Park

Absaroka District Interpretive Ranger Linley Mayer welcomed guests to the Summer Kickoff at Keyhole last weekend.

Among the interactive and fun learning activities available at the Tatonka Shelter, there was one that immediately caught one’s attention with a bucket of clay, a bag of potting soil and a sack of wildflower seeds. Mayer explained how to make and use these “seed bombs”.

“We mix together clay, dirt and seeds with some water and when they dry (usually in about 24 hours), you can just throw them where you want and it’s all kinds of good wildflowers that are good for pollenating,” Mayer said.

This opening event was designed to teach people how to help the bees. According to Mayer, “We have partnered with STIHL [Inc] for ‘Wings Over Wyoming’, they gave us a grant in order to make some pollinator gardens and for pollination education.”

The ranger admitted their garden is not complete as of yet: “We’re working with the Bureau of Reclamation and going through all the processes that are with that; they’ve been real good about working with us, it just takes a bit to get it all approved.”

STIHL Inc may sound familiar as a manufacturer of chainsaws, trimmers and so on. This company recently implemented an initiative called Hearts of STIHL and has granted $20,000 to assist the nation’s six state park regions with preserving the parks for the future.

While the group is waiting for the approval for the gardens, they are moving forward with the education part of the project.

“At the moment,” Mayer opined, “It looks like [that’s] going to be next season.”

This first garden site is planned for the area near the Coulter Bay shelters, close to water’s edge.

Mayer was pleased with the event, “It was really nice, [guests] kind of came in a few at a time, so we could really focus, talking and doing all the activities.”

This was the second annual summer kickoff and Mayer shared the overall purpose of this new yearly effort.

“The idea was to let the towns know that we’re doing the interpretive educational programs. Other state parks have typically done a lot of programs…but Wyoming state parks are just at the beginning of doing a lot of that,” she said.

“Recently, we’ve gotten into interpretation and are really working to engage the visitors… as well as teach how to best protect the park and work together for conservation into the future.”

Mayer was the first interpretive ranger in Wyoming when she was hired three years ago and there are now two others holding this position statewide. In previous years, these types of interrelationships with conserving park habitat were guided by the level of park superintendents.

“Now, they’ve given a specific position for it. We’re slowly building the program up,” she says. She is proud to interpret nature for those who have not learned the language and want to do so for the betterment of both.

“Everything we have going on here is part of our Living on the Edge series – Pollinators, Edge of Extinction; AIS, Edge of Invasion; and we’re going to be hiking and paddling along the cliffs,” Mayer explained the theme running through the programs of the season.

Absaroka District Manager Misty Moore commended Mayer’s efforts and the future she hopes these events will initiate:

“Linley is doing an excellent job connecting our visitors with our resource, really helping people understand what a valuable resource [the park] is and how they can be part of the team in stewarding our resources. It’s our job to improve communities and enrich lives and that includes Moorcroft, Pine Haven and Gillette – we want to welcome people to be part of the team to really take care of Keyhole State Park.”

People are invited to next week’s events, starting with Fishing Day Fun on Saturday, June 3, 9-11 a.m. Guests will enjoy fishing, an obstacle course and a beautiful day at the lake at Pat’s Point.

The Learn to Paddle program, on Saturday, June 10, will be held at Rocky Point from 8 a.m. until noon and will be an entertaining opportunity to learn how to have fun with kayaks. These events are free to join, however, park admission is required; and supplies including boats are dispersed on a first come first served basis.

Those interested in joining the fun are encouraged to check out all the season’s events at https://wyoparks.info/keyholeevents.