ROCKS thanks Feigley for outstanding work on outdoor recreation

Seeley Lake ROCKS [Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports] recently honored Rachel Feigley, US Forest Service Seeley Lake District Ranger, for her outstanding contributions to outdoor recreation in the Clearwater and Blackfoot valleys. To commemorate the official recognition by ROCKS, Feigley was presented with a plaque during a recent gathering.

ROCKS' mission is "To build healthy children, strong families, and vibrant communities through outdoor recreation." ROCKS has worked with Feigley on a number of local committees and projects of mutual concern in this area since the beginning of her tenure at the Seeley Lake Ranger District.

Feigley and District employees have been a dedicated partner with ROCKS and have worked tirelessly to improve signs on local hiking trails, clear local trails, build bridges and other improvements on the trails. USFS recreation funding has been limited by budget cuts and wildfires, nonetheless Feigley has secured outside funding and worked with many local non-profit groups and businesses to improve these trails.

Feigley has also been committed to the ROCKS effort to improve the local ski trails and the ROCKS' yurt /warming hut. Her support in these initiatives has been vital to successful outcomes.

Good communication is essential to keep local citizens informed and share Ranger District work. Feigley has attended literally hundreds of local meetings to learn from local citizens and to share the goals and mission of the USFS with the local community. She has attended nearly every Seeley Lake Community Council meeting. She and her staff attended every Seeley Lake Community Trails Committee meeting for three plus years. The trails committee is Clearwater Resource Council effort to catalogue and improve trails in this valley and Ranger District involvement in that effort has demonstrated Feigley's strong commitment to local community partnership.

Feigley has always been extremely accessible. When she has worked with ROCKS on local projects, she has met with them regularly, set up meetings with USFS experts and met with outside experts to look for the best possible solutions.