Square Tower House

We invite you to rediscover Mesa Verde by taking a special hiking tour with us this summer! The Mesa Verde Institute (an educational program of the Mesa Verde Museum Association) is partnering with the National Park Service to offer exciting new visitor experiences for a modest fee. From May 29 through September 5 this year, two-hour ranger-led hikes into Oak Tree House and Fire Temple will be offered for a fee; from September 1 through October 15, two-hour ranger-led hikes into Square Tower House as well as an all-day trek to Spring House will be offered for a fee. In addition, four free tours of Yucca House National Monument just south of Cortez. Hike dates, fees, and program details are posted on www.mesaverdeinstitute.org and registration is now open. We expect these hikes to fill, and you must register online in advance to participate. We hope you'll take advantage of these rare opportunities to visit spectacular Mesa Verde archeological sites which are normally closed to the public.

 

Learn more and register today for our special hikes by clicking here.

Perhaps you can picture yourself saying one of the following:

 

  

  "Do you already know which tour would fit your family and your time frame? If not, may I answer any questions for you?"

 

    "Yes, we're volunteers. We're just helping to clear this area of weeds and other invasive plants. Any questions I can answer about the plants?"

 

    "What am I doing? I'm removing graffiti from this rock. Let me show you the technique we use here in the park; it's time intensive, but well worth it."

 

     "It's pretty hot and dry down in Cliff Palace. The rangers strongly recommend that you carry water on your tour."

 

     "Actually those are feral horses. The park tries to protect its ecosystems by fencing them out, but they always seem to find their way back."

 

If so, volunteering in the park may be for you.

 

The summer of 2011 will be the seventh season for Mesa Verde's award-winning community volunteer program. Volunteers will be in the park every day this summer, greeting park visitors at the visitor center, partnering with MVMA to staff the Cliff Palace water kiosk, assisting with educational programs, working with park maintenance and research staffs, accompanying the Mesa Verde Institute backcountry hikes, and supporting park special events. The activities that volunteers do are limited primarily by the number and interests of the volunteers themselves; potential opportunities are practically limitless.

 

The program will be changing this year, with a new structure and expanded activities, and there's a role for nearly everyone. Of the 70 or so regular volunteers, some work as often as twice a week, others are able to help only once or twice a season. Some work behind the scenes, while others enjoy doing visitor services, helping visitors safely enjoy the park. If this interests you, please check out the possibilities by visiting the website www.mesaverdevolunteers.org 

or contacting the coordinators, Cheryl and Chuck Carson, directly at cccarson@aol.com.

 

A potluck will be held this Friday evening, March 18, to kick off the 2011 volunteer program season. Don't fret if you can't make it to the potluck, as orientation and training will be held later this spring. Contact the Carsons today to learn more about this outstanding program!

Mesa Verde National Park will have a booth at the Four States Ag Expo, March 17 - 20 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. Stop by and learn about what's new at the park. While you're at our booth, enter the free drawing to win fabulous prizes including an annual park pass, a lodging and tour package, a tour and dining package, or Mesa Verde Institute hiking tour package, courtesy of the National Park Service, ARAMARK, and MVMA. We hope to see you there!

 

Learn more about the Ag Expo here.

We're back in business! Following the January 21 Colorado Welcome Center (CWC) sewer line back up and the February 2 Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum fire suppression system pipes rupture, our retail stores in both locations were impacted for a month while damages were repaired. We are very grateful to the National Park Service for overhauling the museum store space so quickly. A special thank-you goes out to Steve Hill of Four Corners Refinishing in Dolores for performing $4,100 in restoration work on our museum store fixtures in just one week. We also appreciate the City of Cortez and C.A.R.E. Restoration for promptly repairing the Colorado Welcome Center. The MVMA staff all worked very hard to reconstruct our stores, and oh my, they're looking good! Stop in soon to see for yourself. The Museum store is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CWC store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 928 East Main Street in Cortez.

The Mesa Verde Foundation (MVF), located in Denver, Colorado, is currently accepting resumes for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the fundraising activities, day-to-day operations, financial systems and reporting, and staffing of the MVF, in accordance with the policy guidance and fiscal controls established by the Board of Directors. This position requires working closely and in harmony with the Superintendent, National Park Service (NPS) and partners staff of Mesa Verde National Park, and Native American Tribes and Pueblos culturally affiliated with Mesa Verde primarily through the Tribal Consultation process as established by the NPS. The Executive Director also has a particular responsibility to develop and execute a successful fundraising plan for the Foundation in coordination with the Board of Directors and in cooperation with the park superintendent and his staff.

 

For more information, please click here.

This Windows and Macintosh compatible CDROM allows you to virtually explore back rooms and alcoves of Cliff Palace not accessible to the general public as well as the most popular sites of Mesa Verde such as Balcony House, Long House, and Spruce Tree House. This virtual tour of Mesa Verde National Park features over 35 full spherical 360 degree panoramic views complete with trail maps and site histories. The product comes in a rugged steel case, making it great for gift-giving or direct mailing, and also includes a new bonus interactive 360 degree interactive screensaver. $16.99. Click here to order yours today.

 

As always, Mesa Verde Association members receive a 20% discount on all purchases when you order by phone or shop in our stores. Place your order today at 800-305-6053 or 970-529-4445. Not a member yet? It's easy to join! Just click here or call us.