Hello everyone!
Here at the Chaco Culture Conservancy we are excited to welcome the spring and all that comes with it. In the parks plants and animals are flourishing, projects are starting, and visitors are enjoying their Spring Break trips. As we enter into these warmer months, the Conservancy is ramping up for a busy year as well.
In this blog post we’ll give you some insight into what to expect from us in 2025, we’ll share exciting updates, and we’ll discuss how you can support these incredible parks this year.
We are looking forward to a busy year that will bring a deep appreciation for our public lands and the communities that serve them. We hope that you’ll join us in supporting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument in 2025!
Thank you,
Olivia Thomsen, Executive Director
The Chaco Culture Conservancy is proud to join the National Park Foundation and Park Partners across the country to support The Campaign for National Parks. As a part of this collaborative effort, we are excited to bring all of you some exclusive opportunities open to NPF donors and other stakeholders. To stay in the loop, be sure to sign up for our newsletter! Upcoming events, like free webinars, will be sent to our donors and supporters via our email list.
What to expect in 2025
In these first few months of the year we’ve been hard at work to bring you amazing opportunities to support the parks and to create a stronger community. Here’s a quick look at what you can expect to see from us in 2025:
- We’ll be hosting a private tour at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Stay tuned for updates and sign up for our newsletter so that you’re the first to know when tickets go on sale!
- We are planning a second year of our online silent auction. Last year, we raised $2,139 and auctioned off some amazing gifts and experiences. Our silent auction will take place in the fall of 2025. Be sure to keep an eye on our website and social media for updates throughout the year.
- As part of our summer campaign, we’ll be hosting a webinar with the National Park Service to talk about a special project taking place in Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
- The Conservancy will be launching a brand new website in 2025! Our new site is already in the works and we can’t wait to bring you a more user friendly experience with new features, content, and design.
- We’ll be posting plenty of blog posts and social media content, so stay tuned for more engagement and connection with the Conservancy!
We’re Hiring
Are you interested in a unique opportunity to lead a park partner organization that is in its developmental years, and to contribute to the stewardship of New Mexico’s public lands?
If you have a passion for public lands, experience with non-profit work, and are local to New Mexico, then check out our job listing here!
Application period closes April 14th, 2025.
The Chaco Culture Conservancy is thrilled to welcome three new board members to our organization! Steve Corbato, Bart Wilsey, and Lisa Maurer have recently joined our board of directors. Check out their profiles here.
The Chaco Culture Conservancy Stands With Public Lands
As many of you will know, our public lands are facing uncertain times. Here at the Chaco Culture Conservancy, we remain committed to our mission of supporting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument. As public land management continues to be affected by new policy, we will monitor changes and adapt to meet the needs of the parks. To read our full statement in support of public lands, click here.
As visitors to these parks your voices have always made a difference in public land management, and now you are needed more than ever.
Act Now!
Right now, your support is crucial. Here are a few ways that you can support our work:
- Share our mission on social media.
- Check out our website and stay up-to-date with the Conservancy.
- Donate now!
Become a Friend
Did you know that we launched a brand new Friends program in 2024? With a donation of just $35 a year, you can be a Friend of the Conservancy! Check out our new giving levels and all of the perks that we now offer.
As a Friend of the Conservancy, you can become a part of our community while making a difference at Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Join Now to support your public lands!
Financial Updates
In 2024, we raised $15,372.99 in individual donations…that is DOUBLE what we brought in in 2023. These donations came from donors like YOU who gave through our website, via mail, or on social media. Donors who gave cash donations in the parks raised and additional $13,230.99. We want to thank all of our incredible donors for making this happen! But, where do those dollars go?
- In 2025, the Conservancy has approved $30,000 in project spending.
- We also have nearly $80,000 in organizational overhead for the year. From paying staff to buying stamps, the Conservancy is growing and every dollar counts!
As you can see, the funds that we need to continue supporting ourselves and the parks far exceed what we brought in last year. So, whether you give to a specific project or to our general fund, your donations are needed! Our goal is always to increase project support to these national park sites. With your continued support we can make that happen!
2025 Projects
In January of 2025, the Board of Directors voted to support 4 park projects throughout the year. The Conservancy is excited to fund these projects that will improve trails, preservation, and access in the parks. Read on to learn more about these imperative projects happening now!
- $5,200 to Support Guest Speakers at Both Parks
- This project will cover fees associated with hosting Indigenous guest speakers at both parks in 2025.
- $4,000 to Support Research at Aztec Ruins National Monument
- These funds will support a research project titled “Black Pottery at Aztec Ruins: Relating Color to Chacoan Identity, Memory, and Power.” The funds will supplement travel expenses for researchers and fund additional time for Hopi tribal member Lyle Balenquah’s services in traditional knowledge and written contributions to reports and publications.
- $5,840 to Support Trail Bench Replacement at Chaco Culture NHP
- Funds for this project will be used to replace visitor benches in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The existing benches are made of wood that is weathering in the elements. They will be replaced with stone benches, using stone sourced from a quarry inside the park. These new benches will be lower maintenance, will last longer, and will reflect the surrounding architecture.
- $10,417 to Complete LiDAR Scanning of 7 Rooms at Pueblo del Arroyo
- In a follow-up project, new rooms at great house site Pueblo del Arroyo will be scanned using LiDAR technology. For more information on this incredible preservation project, check out this blog post!
Calling All Photographers!
The Chaco Culture Conservancy is looking for professional-grade photographs to feature on our new website. Do you have some striking shots of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and/or Aztec Ruins National Monument? Would you like to be featured on the Conservancy website and/or social media?
Email contact@chacoculture.org to make an inquiry!
We are looking for all types of images but will be focusing on daytime photos of buildings and landscapes, unfamiliar views of the parks, and iconic spots! All submitted photos must have been taken on trail or with a permit.
