PUEBLO, CO…It has been nearly two years since over one thousand volunteers descended on a charred piece of land in Teller County burned by the Hayman fire. Now the 225-acre area is looking very green and alive with new plant growth.

According to Steve Tapia, USDA-Forest Service, "What you will see is the amazing ability of nature to heal itself with help from humans. There is a thick array of plants grasses and wildflowers that add color and much-needed groundcover."

Colorado Cares 2002 was a intensive volunteer effort organized by the Governor's Office, USDA-Forest Service, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC), Colorado State Parks and CUSP. Nearly 1,200 volunteers worked for one day to scarify, seed and mulch an area they hoped would recover from the intense fire.