Volunteer effort by industry retailers and Timberland works!

Last summer, a gathering of retailers from around the country, as well as members of the SNEWS team alongside employees from Timberland and volunteer student workers from the Student Conservation Alliance, worked side-by-side on a hot day in June to erect snow fencing and build benches at Rotarun, a Hailey, Idaho, community ski resort desperately in need of the volunteer support.

Without the fences, the resort was unable to keep windblown snow on the ridge, meaning far fewer ski days for the areas families and youth.

It all looks a little different now than it did on that baking summer workday! With gusts of wind over 60 mph the day before the shot to the right was taken, the “snow fence engineering” has really proven itself, trapping snow on the ridge instead of losing it to the wind.

Rob Santa, owner of Sturtevants in nearby Sun Valley, Idaho, coordinated the volunteer day and sent out the following thank you to everyone involved: “More than ever before, Rotarun is a real community amenity for youth ski programs, family sledding and events such as a snowboard ‘boardercross’ race this Saturday and the second annual ‘Snowbox Derby’ scheduled for Sunday. Your outstanding efforts helped make it possible! Many thanks once again.”

SNEWS View: Another beautiful example of the industry working together to improve community services and recreation through volunteer sweat equity.