How to give back, and get dirty.
By Molly Greaney (student intern with STA)
Volunteering is one of the most important parts of Rick Retzman’s life. Since moving to Sisters six years ago, he has volunteered as a firefighter, along with volunteering at the Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters Quilt Show, and Sisters Rodeo. “Volunteering makes the world go round,” Retzman remarked, and it is this work that makes Sisters his home and community. Before moving to Central Oregon, Retzman worked in technology for the State of Oregon and as a fitness coach in an EMR program. He wanted to move to Sisters so he would be able to recreate. Retzman finds the trails surrounding Sisters to be a gift, and loves the connection between the urban part of town and the wildlife so close by. He has covered over 100 miles on the trails--mostly running--just this winter, saying he “still pinches himself” every morning he gets to wake up living here. The legacy Retzman wants to leave behind is allowing future generations to enjoy the wilderness he loves so deeply.
Rick spends a lot of time here, running and working the trails
Retzman got into trail work by accident, and has learned most of his skills as he goes. Starting out as a volunteer, he became more and more involved until he eventually took the role of the board chari of Sisters Trails Alliance (though he doesn’t like telling people this when he first meets them). Retzman likes to call himself a “trail evangelist,” talking to everybody he comes across on the trails, some from all over the world. When you find someone else on a trail, he says, you already have something in common with them: two feet on dirt. Providing connections with people and teaching them how to love the nature around them is a vital part of the Sisters area trails. Specifically, Retzman loves participating in work parties, and teaching volunteers to appreciate their community through improving it. He wants volunteers to take away more from their experience than just the work they do, and thinks volunteering can show you how beautiful your world is.
Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) creates an avenue to sustainably--not destructively--recreate. Some ways trail users and volunteers can minimize their impact is by using the “Leave No Trace” principles, and simply treading lightly and respecting the nature they encounter. Something not many people are aware of is the specific way in which trails are created. Trails are designed with their users in mind, and are meant to prevent people from wandering off and creating new paths. Reducing human impact to just one trail in an area is important in protecting the environment. Additionally, many professionals (including biologists and ecologists) are involved in choosing where and how to build trails. They are mindful of wildlife and sensitive areas, such as birthing and migration grounds. A successful trail, in Retzman’s eyes, is one that people want to use, and one that prompts people to donate and volunteer, in turn making a personal investment.
Rick making his own personal investment in our trails.
Looking to the future, Retzman wants to teach people how to do things right. This means enabling trail users to recreate without harming wildlife. This can be done through utilizing informational, low impact signage; explaining why trails are made in certain ways; and educating about waste reducing practices. Retzman also hopes to bring back guest speakers, a staple of STA before the COVID-19 pandemic, and potentially bring these talks outside to the trails. He also says we need to put stock in the next generation, and leave something that can be used for years and years to come. Spending time in nature is good for the soul, and many believe it can be used as a sort of cleansing for mental and spiritual health. The words Retzman leaves us with are to “get out and enjoy this beautiful environment we get to play in.” Nature is a gift, and with no major barrier to the mostly free trails in Central Oregon, it is available for everyone to enjoy. In the end, STA trails are on OUR public lands!
