Activity Report Explorer

Aldos Silver City • Entered by Marcia Stout on September 30, 2023

Aldo’s Broadband 9th Annual Retreat

September 18, 2023 – September 20, 2023

Key Issue: Multiple apply
Activity Type: Social Events (gatherings, potlucks, plain ol’ fun)
Key Partners: Heart of the Gila Organization; Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument
Landscape/area: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (533 acres)

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (26 letters/postcards)
Outcome 2: Invasives removed (400 plants)
Outcome 3: Event Attendees (15 people)[/if 1231]

Short Description of Activity

We held our 9th annual retreat near the Gila River at the Hot Springs Ranch not far from Gila Cliff Dwellings Natl. Monument. Participants enjoyed gathering while engaging in informative discussions and sharing ideas on relevant issues, advocacy, a service project, a hike, and of course camaraderie. Some members camped in tents, others in their vehicles, and some were accommodated in the Red Barn, an indoor space set up like efficiency apartments. We were not able to engage an outside speaker this year, so four of the steering committee members presented on relevant public lands issues, including grazing monitoring, the recent GOBW Rendezvous and NEPA, the Fotofauna project one of our members is participating in via Sky Island Alliance, and the latest on the border wall (remediation and the proposed new wall in Texas). This initiated interesting discussions and provided a good opportunity for participants to ask questions over the course of the retreat. Our service project this year focused on removing invasive plants along the West Fork and a tributary near the Gila Cliff Dwellings Natl. Monument trailhead in cliff dwellers canyon. For this service project we volunteered with the nonprofit organization, Heart of the Gila, and the Natl. Park Service. We also wrote postcards to public officials regarding public land advocacy issues, along with President Biden requesting that he declare a Climate Emergency. Some of the participants enjoyed a beautiful afternoon hike up a riparian canyon nearby. Social gatherings included more relevant discussions, snacks to share, and star gazing.

Reflection/Evaluation

This social gathering combined advocacy and stewardship in a fun and rewarding fashion. We had a number of new folks attending in addition to returning members, including a couple of Broads from Las Cruces and a new transplant to Silver City who has been wanting to join us for at least a year. They had very relevant questions and experiences to share. The new overnight / gathering location worked well and received positive feedback from attendees in that it met the needs of all the group. We also honored two previous Broadband leaders with gifts and a certificate of appreciation for their past efforts in organizing and implementation of past retreats (one was there to receive the gifts while the other will be honored at our next steering committee meeting). Our service project with Heart of the Gila and Gila Cliff Dwelling Natl. Monument staff was particularly rewarding this year as we removed nonnative plants in the river and arroyo corridors as well as the picnic area to enhance the monument’s educational value as a thriving native plants community. The Executive Director of Heart of the Gila provided valuable information on the botany of the canyon. In addition, it was very satisfying to see the beautifully maintained picnic area behind the Cliff Dwelling bookstore and contact station that we helped clear as a service project several years ago. We have participant interest lists to follow-up on, including border wall remediation advocacy. Feedback to the retreat experience was very positive.

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

1. Orientation for careful removal (and light footprint!) of invasive plants at Gila Cliff Dwelling Natl. Monument near the trailhead for the cliff dwellings and the West Fork of the Gila River. Several of the National Monument staff worked along with us.
2. Executive Director with Heart of the Gila organization addressing botany of this very special canyon within the national monument.
3. While gathering, members of our steering committee spoke on our projects or other topics, allowing for engaging conversation and questions.
4. The happy campers – Retreat attendees.