Trek Country News - Fall 2019

. . . e d i s n I

Letters from Leadership

News from Trek Country Fall 2019 Thoreau, NM p. 2-3

A Trip to Washington

A New Loop Completed

p. 4-5

Beautiful New Buildings

Students in Wilderness

p. 6-7

SIWI and YCC Updates

Summer 2019 Highlights

p. 8-9

Largest Summer On (Recent) Record

Enrollment Now Open!

p. 10-11

#TrekLife2020

Fun and Games

p. 12-13

Word Scrambe, Other notes!

Continued Thanks

p. 14-15

Our Programs Made Possible...By YOU!

Closing Thoughts

p. 16 ...and more!

www.cottonwoodgulch.org facebook.com/cottonwoodgulch @cottonwoodgulch

* Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy Ink

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions sponsors educational wilderness expeditions and outdoor programs in the American Southwest that promote personal growth, scientific, historic, and cultural discovery as well as a knowledgeable environmental ethic among all those who participate.

Called to Washington D.C.

BY MATT BAKER-WHITE As I boarded the plane in the late afternoon Albuquerque heat, I pondered how on earth I ended up on this mission. I got into working at the Gulch because I needed a summer job and wanted to be outside, preferably while rock climbing.

From that first summer as the Adventure Instructor, a teaching job followed, and after that, a career in education--Whilst also returning to Thoreau each summer to share in the wonder of the Southwest with kids.

Tori and I finally landed in New Mexico, in full time roles at the Gulch--and in a pinch stepped into the role of Acting Directors this past summer.

As you may know, our programs have grown in many shapes, ways, and forms over the past ten to fifteen years. One way is our connection with The Wilderness Society, which provides support for one of our larger scholarship programs for middle schools.

We’ve developed a close relationship with TWS’s staff, and they (like us) are proud of our work together getting youth outdoors.

And so, this past fall, when they were looking for a field-eductcator-turned-administrator that could provide testimony about the permitting process for organizations on federal lands, our phone rang.

After a week-long whirlwind of reading through the SOAR Act and the Recreation Not Red Tape Act, multiple phone calls and emails with board members providing feedback on our written statement, and several late nights revising language, we had a 13page document detailing the Gulch’s experience with federal permits and a five-minute oral statement to present before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on 2 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 2

National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Of course, writing such a document was a team effort--I had been out on trek for three of the most important writing days and Tori had done most of the legwork in tracking down different provisions in the bills and really understanding them.

The morning of the hearing, I woke up early, donned my new Zuni bolo tie and Dine belt buckle, and walked down to Capitol Hill. I am a decent public speaker.

I don’t have massive anxiety over it, but it’s not a job I seek out either. Nothing had really prepared me to speak before the U.S. House members. As I sat in the somewhat stiff chair that was set up for those of us on the panel, I thought back to the summer, to speaking before the whole Gulch community at Rendezvous, and about the importance of the work we do. That’s why I was here; that’s why we had been invited, to share the stories and successes of the Gulch.

The hearing was, surprisingly straightforward; each panel member was given five minutes to share a perspective on these two bills (two federal land managers, two program directors from outdoor ed programs, two industry advocates), and then each congressperson present was given five minutes to ask questions. It was an honor to have Deb Haaland, our local NM representative, preside over the hearing; the bills have overwhelming support, it seems. And probably, it will be several years before they are passed; they wont make real news, they’re small measures in the world of Washington. They would make our programs run more smoothly, and for us what an incredible opportunity to have the Gulch be represented on a national stage!

Board of Trustees Greg Barker, Chair Richard McGinnis, Co-chair Marjorie Kittle, Treasurer Tom Hyde, Secretary Friedje VanGils, Asst Secretary Jonathan Krant Dena Liebman Irene Notah Austin Troy Thierry Wilbrandt Scott Pierce Steven Sedam Honorary Board Members Larry Barker John Bloch Jameson French Tom Henio Henry Hooper Molly Madden Wenda Trevathan Administration Bonnie Chavez, Interim Executive Director Matt Baker-White, Program Director

Contract Courses Tori Baker-White, Program Director,

Open Enrollment Lezle Williams, Office Manager Austin Kessler, Associate Director

Field Operations Monica Stert, Associate Director,

SIWI and Special Projects To contact the Gulch: 505-248-0563 www.cottonwoodgulch.org info@cottonwoodgulch.org From June to mid-August: 659 HWY 612 Thoreau, New Mexico 87323 From late August to the end of May: 9223 4th St NW Albuquerque, NM 87114

Secretary’s Notes

Letter from the Board Chair

By Greg Barker

By Tom Hyde

Cottonwood Gulch will be searching for our next leader this fall. We invite you to spread the word about this opportunity and connect us with excellent leaders in your networks.

Kris Salisbury departed the Gulch this summer after 8 years as Executive Director. Our operations have doubled in size since Kris was hired, and we offer entirely new programs in conservation work, year-long study of public wilderness, and scholarship trek opportunities for low-income schools. Our updated facilities can now support new program designs and experiences. We are seeking a leader to oversee our ever more complex programming and ensure the positive impact of our work.

The Board of Directors has formed a Search Committee, and will be posting notice for this job opportunity in October. The Board has also hired Bonnie Chavez as an Interim Director to continue working on high-level organizational priorities, and to advise on our structure and our search process.

Look for an introduction to Bonnie below.

I greatly enjoyed visiting with the students from the University of Colorado-Denver’s Design-Build Architecture program who built the new cabins at Base Camp. They were camped out in March, on their spring break, as they dug and poured foundations for the cabins. They talked about the profound effect of their week outside, working hard all day and watching the stars at night. They had somehow absorbed a full Gulch experience, without hikes or Cottonwoods activities, and were energetic about it all, despite having moved 50 tons of concrete. It was inspiring to see the impact from this project, both in the beautiful cabins and the experience the students each took home with them.

Hello from our Interim Executive Director

By Bonnie Chavez

Hello Cottonwood Gulch friends, my name is Bonnie Chavez and I am the Interim Executive Director for Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions. I bring experience from the social profit sector, organizational change, compliance and Executive Director Leadership.

I am contracted on a part-time basis to assist CGE hire the permanent Executive Director and support the organization with internal operations. While I will not be a candidate to stay on permanently with CGE, I will help CGE with a number of tasks: • Assist the Board of Directors with the permanent Executive Director search • Working on the 2019-2020 Budget • Document and create processes, policies and procedures for the future permanent Executive Director • Overseeing CGE administrative duties (e.g. insurance, contracting) • Mentoring and supervising current and new staff • Assessing organizational needs and structure

When I am not doing this important work for CGE, you can find me trail running in gorgeous NM, training for my next half marathon, or falling asleep on the couch with my two rambunctious rescue dogs.

Welcome Our Newest Board Member: Stephen Sedam

Stephen joins the CGE Board as an alumni from 1968’s Group 1, as an experienced nonprofit leader, and as someone who has spent a lifetime devoted to the conservation of nature. Stephen served as the Executive Director of the Ohio Environmental Council and Vice President of the National Audubon Society; he has been involved in various capital campaigns devoted a large portion of his career to fundraising for non-profit nature related organizations. He has also been active on several other boards locally in Ohio.

He writes “My wife, Virginia, and I travel to the Southwest often as we are enthralled with the natural beauty and Native American culture found there. I look forward to serving on the Board of the Cottonwood Gulch and assisting the organization in its outreach, fundraising and strategic development efforts.

I reside with my wife and two adorable rescue dogs, Mia and Tilly, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.”

Welcome back to the Gulch, Stephen!

It was a busy summer. Staff, some Board Members, and some Base Camp visitors ended up doing more than they had

planned.

I spent a week at Base Camp in early July to help as Matt and Tori Baker-White took over the reins from Kris, but to be honest, they were fine from the beginning.

I wasn’t home two weeks before I headed out again to make preparations for the alumni work days we had been planning for some time. The purpose of the event was to help staff with tidying up and doing some minor maintenance. This was a small-scale trial run to make sure there was a job that matched each person’s skill level. Matt had the idea of listing all the jobs that needed to be done and letting each person choose, just like “under the cottonwoods” where each morning and afternoon, staff talk about the activities available, and Trekkers choose. Someone called it the Alumni Grand Horsengoggle, and the name stuck.

Lucy Kluckhohn Jones extended her Base Camp visit to work with Trekkers in the NAW, and Richard Schultz, who was there to build the new latties, found himself setting out to Carlsbad as a staff member with the Youth Conservation Corps. And board member Scott Pierce went out a week earlier than he had originally planned.

I want to give a shout out to Jamey French, who has led the way toward a fund-raising program appropriate for a non-profit like Cottonwood Gulch. Years ago at the 75th anniversary celebration, he introduced the idea of asking alumni to participate, and he has gently guided the way toward increasing funding for scholarships and operations, and building the endowment.

He helped us plan the Capital Campaign, and was always ready with advice and answers to questions during the campaign, even when he was hiking in Scotland.

Thanks, Jamey!

Join us for

Rendezvous 2020 First Rendezvous: July 4th Second Rendezvous: July 25th As always, our Rendezvous celebrations are open to all former trekkers, staff, and their friends and family. Send us a note if you can make it and we’ll make sure there is an SS cup and a spoon ready for your arrival.

enrollment@cottonwoodgulch.org FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 3

The TT Cabins: An Appropriate Legacy for 85 Years of TT

BY ANDREW CLINKSCALES After years of fundraising, we’ve

finally been able pay homage to the legendary TT Trek which began in 1934!

With the help of our donors and the Colorado Building Workshop (CBW) of CU Denver, this vision has now become a reality. The partnership with CBW was supposed to happen in 2021 or 2022, but luck would have it that their initial 2019 project was canceled and they were able to turn their focus to Cottonwood Gulch much sooner than anyone expected.

Comprised of men and women from 7 different countries, the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the 27 students added something special throughout the process. After months of conversation and intentional planning to meet the needs we anticipated for these cabins, the students and their teachers came out for a site visit in January 2019, taping off proposed locations for each cabin while focusing on integration with the natural landscape. In March, they returned with tools in tow and built forms for the concrete footings that the cabins are constructed on top of. In just a few days, the students moved over 50 tons of concrete in wheelbarrows from a cement mixer truck through the woods to the cabin sites. With the concrete forms ready for construction, they returned in late May to complete the final product… 6 cabins and an outdoor kitchen.

Through sub-par weather, blood, sweat, and tears these students were able to complete their semester project and deliver a product more beautiful and intentional than we could have imagined or realized from the drawings alone.

The cabins are elevated above ground level giving a degree of separation from the small fauna of Base Camp.

Inside, bunks float above the floor, suspended from the ceiling by steel rods.

4 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 4

“These cabins extend our program season by at least a month in the spring and fall, giving us an opportunity to get more youth outdoors.”

-Matt Baker-White, Program Director

“The students worked incredibly hard on really trying to understand what a kid at summer camp wants to do.”

-Rick Sommerfeld, CBW Professor

“The students really worked hard to integrate the cabins into the existing architecture of Base Camp, but updating it in a more contemporary way.”

-Rick Sommerfeld, CBW Professor

“It’s clear that the students working on them thought very intentionally about the spaces and the way the cabins would be used.”

-Tori Baker-White, Program Director

This removes all interior vertical surfaces and provides clear sight lines into corners, leaving no space for rodents to hide or nest. The floating exterior porches are constructed with bar grate to make them visually transparent and facilitate the catch and relocation of rattlesnakes.

Each cabin’s bunk beds are designed to offer trekkers and guests control of how they occupy the space. The traditional rigid bunk beds are replaced with floating platforms designed with more space than required for a single mattress. This gives each individual the ability to choose whether they engage a window, find an introspective moment of solitude, sleep close to a friend, utilize negative space for benches, or find their own creative way to make the cabin their own.

Trekkers, staff, and visitors, were welcomed to stay in the cabins this summer and reviews confirmed the hard work of fundraising, planning, designing, and building the cabins and kitchen paid off.

The entire TT Cabin loop is not only honoring an important long standing and recurring summer trek, it also honors the woman behind the Turquoise Trail Expedition - Elizabeth Howie. There is a future plan to recognize Elizabeth with a plaque mounted in the outdoor kitchen at the TT Cabin Loop.

as w p oo L bin a C T T pa c r The u o f rt o a p l a n i the r the f o f n g i pa ital cam y thanks to an M . h c l u G ted! a n o d o all wh FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 5

Students in Wilderness Initiative (SIWI)

BY MONICA STERT My 2019-2020 school year has been a chorus of “Heeeey fabulous 8th graders,” followed by, “Heeeey Monica.” In theory, the whole classroom of 8th graders is supposed to zip their lips after answering the call. In reality, students giggle at each other, munch their hot cheetos and takis, and excitedly turn to friends to share their thoughts on our conversations.

In my first year of SIWI, I would have been a bit flustered. In my second year, I recognize that in each moment we decide what battles to fight, and I opt to feel joy at the color that students bring to the classroom.

This fall, we began our second year of (SIWI), and the acronym is starting to take hold with students, teachers, and community members. In returning schools, many students already know how to correctly pronounce “Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah” before I even enter the classroom, thanks to last year’s 8th grade pioneers who braved the pilot year of this program. This goes to show how impactful word of mouth is today, and lends to the positive momentum SIWI has this year.

Last year, we worked with 3 schools and 165 students; this year, we are working with 5 schools, including our returners from last year (South Valley Prep, South Valley Academy, and Van Buren), and 2 additional schools (Albuquerque’s Mountain Mahogany Community School and Santa Fe’s Monte del Sol Charter School) for a total of 269 students. To increase expedition attendance, we restructured our model to do a one day trip in the fall before their three day expedition. This has not only helped build positive momentum with students-it has allowed our fall staff team the opportunity to be on several trips with the same students and build relationship with them. We believe that this relationship is essential to guiding students through new learning and challenging experiences (for example, many students have never been tent camping before). This fall staff team has brought an incredible amount of knowledge and skill to these curriculurized expeditions, including New Mexico-specific 6 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 6

Classrooms Get Outdoors A program providing scholarships to Title 1 classrooms in New Mexico. wildclass@cottonwoodgulch.org

geology, creative thinking/writing activities, and statistical data collection through solitude monitoring. You know your trek has been informative, engaging, and fun when an 8th grader hops out of the van at school and says, “Dude, this trip was lowkey lit.”

While we are busy creating more SIWI stories this fall, which we’ll share with you in the spring, here is one of our favorite stories about a student from last year, who we featured in our final report to The Wilderness Society. Victor, an 8th grader from South Valley Academy 2018-2019, joined us for all our expeditions in SIWI’s first year and thrived in an outdoor classroom setting, which his humanities teacher, Ms. Chavez-Miller, reflects on below.

“Victor is often bored in the classroom. He knows how to get things done, but derives very little joy, meaning, or relevance from traditional academic learning.

He is a social adolescent, using his sharp humor to be a leader among peers. This same sharpness sometimes gets Victor in trouble with teachers, too, most often with those teachers who don’t encourage, inspire and expect Victor to be a leader in the classroom.

“Victor is one of the few students who has previous experience in nature and in wilderness as he and his father hunt, fish, and camp across New Mexico and Montana.

Victor is a naturalist, an explorer, a marksman, and adventurer. He has profound respect and awe for the natural world.

“The SIWI program truly engaged Victor, I think, because he saw himself reflected in the values of being in the wild.

Though the 9 days in wilderness areas, Victor was at home and happy as a kid. He was also a leader who was generous, positive, and encouraging with his time and expertise to support his peers physically, emotionally, and socially. The sharp edges that often define Victor in the classroom were gone.”

Keep your eyes peeled for more SIWI stories through our website, blog, Instagram and Facebook.

Summer Youth Conservation Corps

Occupation Wild is a job board for the outdoor, adventure, and travel industry! Fueled by a passion to help people redefine how they see their careers, Occupation Wild was founded on the belief that if it’s just for a season or for a lifetime, there is nothing more rewarding than working in the outdoors. Their recently launched podcast, The Occupation Wild Podcast on Apple and Spotify, showcases trip leaders, guides, travelers, nomads, and anyone else who left the traditional for a life beyond 9 to 5. Cottonwood Gulch is partnering with Occupation Wild to find more excellent educators and to share stories about the incredible expeditions we run throughout the American Southwest.

“Y.C.C established a routine in the field that set them up for successful days on the trail. Wake up early, swallow breakfast, pack lunch, grab the tools and march to the worksite. Some days, depending on yesterday’s work effort Y.C.C would hike 2-3 miles to start where they left off and kept pushing forward until it was time to walk back and start cooking dinner. Throughout the Y.C.C work schedule valuable lessons about working in alpine environments under a southwest sun, applying the correct space between each other working with trail tools, navigating terrain off trail to access viewpoints for planning, and also learning how to manage their own resources throughout a day in the mountains making sure hydration and nutrition still took precedent.” --YCC Log

“Spending this summer on YCC was the most amazing summer of my life. This was my fourth and final year at Cottonwood Gulch, and I could not have asked for a more incredible experience. Within the first few days, it was clear to me that our crew was a special one. And even as our numbers changed, our group got along so well. We did two kinds of work throughout the summer: building latrines at Base Camp, and 2019’s YCC Crew in the White Mountain Wilderness of Southern New Mexico! Our crew cut near- trail maintenance in the Lincoln and Cibola ly 300 downed trees in a previously burnt area of the Lincoln National Forest. WOW! National Forests. Though the work was very rewarding, and the views we had doing trail maintenance were spectacular, our jobs were sometimes very hard, and even stressful. But having such an amazing crew led by such wonderful leaders made everything worth it. I am so proud of everything we accomEvery Sunday, 12-5pm plished this summer, from building beautiful February-December tongue-and-groove walls, to sawing almost 300 downed trees, to waking up at five every Hands-on learning for kids and parents morning to make breakfast, to learning just Park-based hiking guides and activities what to do in case of a medical emergency Bring a picnic in the wilderness. This crew was the most Get Outdoors hardworking, dedicated, kind, and hilarious Activities led by Cottonwood Gulch staff group I have ever met and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to work with the A partnership of Bernalillo County and Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions YCC.” --Leah, YCC Crew Member

Albuquerque Families: Sunday Family Fun at Bachechi Open Space

! s U Join

FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 7

Highlights From Tomorrow I actually have to go biking, not excited but kinda. Andrew seems really cool so whatevs. Adios. –Sofi, ACT

Jimmy, Jack, Guillaume, and I woke up on the summit as the sun rose over Mt. Tuk. We slid down the small snowbank to start breakfast. On top of the mountain the water situation was grim. We had to boil snow for all of our water.

–Ben, PT

I had a cottonwood where I grounded up corn into a sand-type form and tried to make tortillas but we failed somehow so we fried them and put honey on them to make them taste better.

–Rowan, Outfit Expeditions, 2nd Session

Memorable Quotes From Paleo Trek:

Words for Smores: a collective list from the participants of Family Trek Sweet, Yummy, Slushy, Flaming, Gooey, Hot, Quick, Fun, Warming, Messy

“Once you start clapping you never stop, the moments between claps just increase.” –Max “When you laugh, it reminds me of a small onion.” –Yanis to Naina “Texas boys don’t feel the heat.” –Ryan “Compost your dirt or we’re going to have a discussion” –Dave “MY RHODOPSIN!” –Rhyka Dinosaur Fact: Giganotosaurus, found in Argentina/South America is a theropod that is actually larger than T-Rex, Giganoto should be the real king of the dinosaurs. –Kyle, Paleo Trek Once we arrived at the trailhead the girls began backpacking up the hill. Me, the boys and Kendall waited and talked about video games with Tommy. We began the very scenic and picturesque trail. My backpack gave me some trouble so Kendall helped me readjust it. We set up tarps and then had some rehydrated noodles.

We then had a smokey campfire with some hot cocoa and went to sleep.

–Drake, WCT, Session 1

8 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 8

Summer 2019 When we woke up today Audrey made a funny joke and made me and Skyler laugh so hard we couldn’t stop laughing. Then we went to Mount Taylor and we woke up and saw the sunrise.

– Mykeia, Outfit Expeditions, Session 1

Juan’s Very Good Spice

Ingredients:

• Black Pepper

• Oregano

• Orange Zest

• Spanish Paprika

• Lemon Pepper

• Garlic Powder

• (Opt.) Crushed Hot Cheetos

• Salt Directions:

1. Mix together

2. Taste

Hiking up to slot was really hot and sweaty. But it also made me feel pretty free. The view and the breeze were calming. For lunch, all, ALL of TT had PB and Js. Delicious :) – Kahlily, TT

So I don’t really remember much about today, but what I do remember is we got to pie town and went to this lady Nita’s house. Once we got there we made pies and put them to cook.

After that we ate chicken and then we ate pies.

–Alex, WCT, Session 2

What we did was put our backs on one side of the canyon and our feet on the other.

Once everyone was out, we hiked back to the vans and saw the gorgeous cliffs once more before leaving. –GO Trek FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 9

Get Ready for Summer2020!

What will y ou discov er?

Outfit Expedition June 20 - July 6; July 11 - July 27

Climb Mount Taylor for a southwest sunrise; Explore lava tubes ; Raft the San Juan River; Overnight backpack in the Cibola National Forest

Wild Country Trek June 20 - July 11; July 6 - July 27; July 16 - Aug 6

Choose from three unique sessions; 2 backpacking trips in the Four Corners; Experience farming in the desert; Explore a pueblo

Turquoise Trail June 22 - July 27

Experience the grandeur of Keet Seel and Monument Valley; Backpack Mount Tukuhnikivatz; Soak in the beautiful view at Muley Point

Prairie Trek June 22 - July 27

Overnight rafting trip; Goosenecks of the San Juan; Explore Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah’s mushroom rocks; Grand Staircase-Escalante backpack

Mountain Desert Trek June 22 - Aug 6

Guadelupe Mountains backpack; Zion backpack; Spelunk in Carlsbad Caverns; Explore White Sands National Monument

Art & Music Trek July 16 - Aug 6

Enjoy music and art from local artisans; Meet incredible artists from the southwest; Find inspiration from pristine natural areas.

Adventure Conservation Trek June 20 - July 11

Experience desert mountain biking; Climb in Northern NM; Moonlight hike of Zuni-Acoma Trail; Give back to local communities

Paleontology Trek June 20 - July 6

Learn excavation techniques from Paleontologists; visit sites with geologic significance; Earn college credit for your adventure

Get Outdoors (GO)Trek June 20 - June 26; July 11-July 17

Base Camp-based trek; mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, hiking, art, and science

Family Trek TBD

Engage in new experiences with your family; Reconnect with nature;

Gain confidence traveling outdoors; Sleep under a blanket of stars; Bask in the glow of a campfire

10 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 10

FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 11

Adults, the Southwest awaits you too....

Archaeo-Astronomy

Flocks & Rocks

Gaze at the same stars as the people of centuries ago, in the lands and places many of them lived. Spend time taking in the sites and sounds of ancient (and current) desert life in Canyon de Chelly. Spend your evenings under star-filled skies gazing into telescopes and learning more about the relationship of the night skies and the early people of this area. Against the poetic backdrop of the red rock mesas, mountain vistas and pinon deserts of American Southwest, you will find yourself immersed in ancient culture, relaxed by days of living and sleeping outdoors, and inspired by the resilience and intellect of a people who have called this rugged landscape, “home.�

Join geologist Jack Oviatt and ornithologist Arch McCallum for a fusion of their disciplines as we explore the incomparable Mesozoic and Cenozoic geology of New Mexico. We focus on flocks (birds) and rocks (geology) as an entry point to the entire ecosystem. In the process, our two leaders introduce us to geomorphology, geochemistry, biogeography, and ecology, all at comfortable level of detail. There is something for every naturalist on this expedition. Expect lots of good stories, laughter and great food, too!

Dates: TBD (21+)

Dates: June 5-June 13 (21+)

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Cottonwood Gulch Word Jumble Un-jumble the four words-the circled letters in each of these answers become the jumbled letters to answer the clue. Submit a copy of your solved clue to be entered to win a Cottonwood Gulch beanie!

NILAAVEJ _____ _

We Need You!

Volunteers Wanted Making the Gulch great is a community endeavor. We need you!

ETKHNIC RPATY ____ __ ___ OESRVGOR _______ ISHLIL IWHOE ___ _ __ CLUE: Name of recently-designated Wilderness in north-western New Mexico ___________

We would like to thank Todd and Dena Rakoff for establishing the Jan David Rakoff endowed scholarship. This will assist future trekkers with being able to attend the Gulch!

Website Designer/Developer Contractor/Builders Cabinet Maker Bunks Builder Stone Mason Welder Plumber/Electrician Base Camp Handyperson Fundraising Grantwriting Board Members Others skills to offer?

Contact our team if you can lend your skills! director@cottonwoodgulch.org

Cottonwood Gulch

Outdoor Training Center

Introducing GOLD: Gulchers Of the Last Decade A new society for staff and trekkers Of the 10 past years of Trek CONTACT DEVELOPMENT@COTOTNWOODGULCH.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

For those of you who spend much of your lives outdoors--or those who want to spend more time outdoors--these courses will give you skills and confidence to live safely in the wilderness. We make sure our staff are trained to industry standards in many areas. This is our way to bring these courses to NM for others to have access.

Courses in Albuquerque, NM Wilderness First Responder March 13-22, 2020 WFR Recertification May 23-25, 2020 Courses in Thoreau, NM Wilderness First Aid June 11-12, 2020 AMGA SPI Climbing Course May 22-24, 2020 AMGA SPI Climbing Test May 25-26, 2020 BCIP L1/L2 Mtn Biking Certification May 22-29, 2020

FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 13

Thanks for your support!

The following donors have contributed between Oct 1, 2018 - Sept 31, 2019.

If we have missed your acknowledgment, please let us know and we will be sure to get you in the next issue.

Pacesetters ($5000+) Barker, Laurence Barker, Greg Barker Foundation Berman, Martin Bloch, John French, Jameson and Priscilla Fortune, Peter and Joan Golodetz, Amy and Gregory Leech Hooper, Henry and Tracy Howie, Hillis and Margaret Shaklee Klaff, Harry and Mary “In memory of Eleanor Lawrence Hooper” Kluckhohn, Bruce Leibman, Maya and Robert Gross Lesney, Alice Lienhard, John and Theresa Kavanaugh Mayer, John and Teresa McGinnis, Richard and Judy National Geographic Pierce, Scott and Stephanie Rakoff, Dena & Todd “To establish the Jan David Rakoff Scholarship Fund” Spragg, Carolin Trevathan, Earl and Ruth Wenzel, Jane

Benefactors ($1000-4999)

Baker-White, Matt and Tori Borden, Jennifer Brock, Andrew and Laurie Cloud, Walter Enterprise Rent-A-Car Erwin, Douglas Farnham, Lee and Ann Fleisher Weiss, Jane Fortune Davidson, Michele Franklin Conklin Foundation Gehlbach, Fred and Nancy Grayson, Mathew Hooper Foundation Howe, Margery Jones Family Charitable Foundation Kittle, Marjorie and David Williams Kluckhohn Jones, Lucy Kohn, Jonathan Korol, Deborah and Bill Kresberg, James Kresberg, Robert Kwasnick, Susan

Leibman, Dena Leupp, Harold and Carol “In Memory of Lori Lorenz” Lister, Frank Macneale, Neil and Ellen Madden, Molly & Rick Mark, Richard and Maura Harway Meditch, Andrea Merrell, Katharine Nathan, Michael Overgaard, Jorgen and Lynn Pugh, Gordon Relkin, Ellen and Alan Rojer Robin Torrence Family Gift Fund Salisbury, Kris and Paul Meeker Schultz, Richard and G. Lee Harper Trevathan, Wenda and Gregg Henry Troy, Austin Uihlein, Ted Vonnegut-Frieling, Anna and Christopher Wehmiller, John Zemsky, Ann and Robert Zemsky, Courtney and Jeff

Donors ($500-999)

ABQ Ax Blatt, Jonathan & Gina Elkinton, Tom & Ellie Fowler, James M. French, Lucy , Gearhart, Martha Grassroots Garden Grant Grossman, Richard Herbst, Toby Hooper, Lawrence Johnson, Scott Klee, Howard Langenberg, Roy Levine, David Love, Chris Macneale, Margaret and Gary Cohen Oder, Danila Pratt, Geoff Preston, Douglas & Christine Robinson, Diane Rose, Jonathan Uihlein, Ted Vangils, Friedje Waldstein, Louise

Donors ($99-499) Abrons, Peter Adams, Ben Alschuler, William Anagnostopoulos, Paul Anonymous Barthel, Margaret Baumstein, Olivia Belash, Rachel Binder, Debra Blicker, Brian Boyce, Linda Buchsbaum, Susan Burns-Schrader Family Fund Bushra, Annabella Camitta, Hugh Chase, Sara Chase Jr., Theodore Chipotle Christensen, Jon Cleveland, Thomas Davison, Lesley Deklyen, John Ehrlich, Peter Eisner, Kenneth Evans, David and Daniel Ma

Evans-Cato, Nicholas Exstein, Michael Forer-Dehrey, Susan Fox, Maggie Gebauer, Adam Goodkind Family Goolsbee Family Gordon, Leslie Greenberg, David & Gail Gross, Walter “In memory of Boris Meditch” Grossbard, Michael Hagstrum, Jonathan and Catherine Paddock Hays, Michael Hennington, Donald Hess, Mary Anne and Daniel Freedman Houlette, Shannon Juterbock, Eric Kaiser, Dale Kayes, Matthew Korrick, Susan & Tom Hecht Kovacs, Shirley Krant, Jonathan Kubie, Liz & Jim Kubit, Chet Lacey, Trammell

14 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 14

Larronde, Nita Lathrop, Kent Lazarus, William Levine, Sara Lidz, Jerry Link, Peggy Lord, Charlie Macvicar, Jill Mann, Ted McKee Foundation McKee Norris, Grace Messenger, John Microsoft Milius, Bill Miller, Anne & Gary Mirza, GM and Trudy Neustadt, Jeff Oviatt, Susan and Jack Owen, Thomas “In Memory of Boris Meditch” Paddock, Kate Martin, Patricia & Richard Peacock-Young, Holly Pearson, Mary Lou Price, Jonathan Ramage, Nancy Rethman, Roger Robinson, Ben Robinson III, Rob Rock, Edward and Andrea Rosenblum, Bruce Salmanson, Michael Salmanson, David Salomon, Kealy Schmaltz, Joseph Schrader, Thomas Smith, David “In Memory of John Van Sickle” Steinert Jr., Alan Stogel, Susan Swartz, Deborah Synatzske, Diana Thompson, Bryson Tidmore, Samantha Troy, Brigitta Ullman, John Van Ligten, Linda & Greg Wood Van Noppen, Julia & Mark Van Winkle, Betsy G. Watkins, Timothy

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Nosanchuk, Sara Patterson, Wade Patulski, Cynthia Paypal Giving Fund Perelman, Jenna Phillips, Stephen Racer, Brandon Rakoff, Jed Rojas, Natalie Roney, Milton & Lisa Russell, Mercy Shackelford, Gail Sloan, Samuel Strubbe, Kim Tovey, Roberta & David Marks Towner, Colin & Sally Trix, Herbert Udall, Mark + Maggie Fox Van Stone, David Welman, Thomas Wiebe, Aaron Wood, Nicola Zapack, Bonnie In-kind: Baker-White, Matt and Tori Bloch, John Calhoun, Sam and Diane Day, Joe and Janice Donald, Bill Henio Family House, Carrie Larronde, Nita Lomatewama, Ramson Madden, Rick and Molly Mitchell, Matt Peter, Fred and Family Peterson, Eric Red Eagle Challenge Red Willow Farm Richardson’s Trading Post Salisbury, Kris and Paul Meeker Salisbury, Mike and Rebecca Spragg, Carolin Trevathan, Wenda and Gregg Henry U of Colorado Denver

We are grateful and appreciative!

FALL 2019 News from Trek Country 15

Thanks for your continued support!

Lezle Williams

In our next Edition: Details on the Mess Hall Extension!

When and Where? www.cottonwoodgulch.org

9223 4th St NW ~ Albuquerque, NM ~ 87114 505-248-0563 16 News from Trek Country FALL 2019 16