Initial Documentation

One of the very first volunteer tasks we will undertake will be the initial documentation of the existing interpretive signage and the various monuments along the Greenbelt.

We will want these resources pinned down with GPS. Ideally, we will be able to utilize a Trimble (or similar) GPS unit that offers the highest level of accuracy for each sign and monument. Some of the signs are so close together than a simple handheld GPS unit might not be as accurate as we might wish. We will investigate the availability of a professional GPS unit for this task.

Secondly, we wish to calculate and record the lineal distance between each sign and monument. For this, we will use a surveyor's measuring wheel. These types of devices are VERY accurate. This would be a great volunteer project--rolling out the distance between each sign and monument while recording the distance data in a field note book.

Third, we want to have a photo record of each sign and monument. We anticipate creating a ring binder with a hard copy photo for each site. The photos will also be posted online. A pernament archive will be created on disk.

Here are three necessary tasks that can be undertaken immediately.

The GIP Blog is Born

It's Friday, April 3 and it's snowing quite heavily outside--at least for a spring snow storm. Today was the perfect day to get GIP up and running! GIP, of course, is the Greenbelt Interpretive Project. We resisted the temptation to make the acronym "GRIP!"

This blog will be for all those who are interested in GIP and, naturally, for those volunteers who are actively working on GIP. Technically, we suppose we should be saying "The GIP." However, for the purposes of brevity on this blog, we're going to use GIP.

We will be posting quite often here on this blog so please do check back whenever you have time and the inclination to stay informed about the progress of GIP.

Thanks for visiting and THANKS for your interest in the Idaho Falls Greenbelt!