Gulch Blog
Whispering to myself, “Red in the shed and follow Fred,” I’m standing in a narrow strip of woods as a middle school student trying to master the art and science of using a compass. I remember thinking 1. This is impossible and 2. What will I possibly use this for? Turns out that as an…
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We want to know what you think! We’re working on a strategic planning process and are looking for input. You may have already completed a survey or had a phone call with us and if so, thank you! If not, we would really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. We have a number of different surveys…
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We invested energy and time helping our local community to build meaningful relationships with neighbors. A few examples: We partnered with the Navajo & Hopi Families COVID Relief group to turn our Mess Hall into a food distribution center. A combination of Gulch staff and community volunteers sorted, packaged, and delivered enough food to feed…
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The QM building design harkens back to the historic Mess Hall look while providing space for logistics, winter lodging, and storage. It’s been a long time coming, and because of that, we are so happy to announce the completion of our recent building project! The building and expansion on the Mess Hall that was envisioned…
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A double rainbow over the Bachechi Open Space Environmental Education Building reminds us all that COVID pass. In the meantime, we can celebrate our own resilience, adaptability, and the luck we have in enjoying natural spaces close to home. Bachechi in the Time of COVID Since we’ve entered into the Era of COVID- our work…
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Fall 2020 Youth Conservation Corps Pajarito Mountain, NM 10/8/20 – I was called to the field to replace staffer Donna for a few days with the YCC crew. I headed up to Española, hopped on the bus, and drove right up the mountain. The crew onboard assured me they were into rocks and music –…
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In 1933, just seven years after Hillis Howie took to the road with his first Trek, the Civilian Conservation Corps was started in an effort to put young people back to work after the Great Depression. With a lack of jobs, and a need to stimulate the economy, the program put young men to work…
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In Garret’s era, trekkers convened in St. Louis and began the expedition by driving to the Southwest. He was immediately impressed that everyone adhered to Mr. Howie’s goal that everyone should help everyone else – it was an adventure in communal living and being considerate of others. When his group first arrived in Thoreau, they…
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Mia Jespersen-Chavez was introduced to the Gulch through day trips with her elementary school before trekking on the Outfit in 2014 and the Wild Country Trek in 2016. Now a senior in high school, she volunteers at the Bachechi Center in Albuquerque’s North Valley where she develops curriculums for young kids that will give them…
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SIWI (the Students in Wilderness Initiative) is a year-long program that combines classroom sessions with field experiences to teach students about public lands, particularly wilderness. In this course, students connect a wide variety of topics in relationship to wilderness: the structure of public land management, the history of federal lands, how the experience of native…
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