Los Amigos de Valles Caldera
Grants Awarded
This not-for-profit project aims to enhance visitor experience and safety at Valles Caldera National Preserve by installing interpretive signage at over 20 trailheads and perimeter entry points. Providing directional aid and valuable information about trail maps, regulations, and relevant interpretive messaging on the park area, these orientations signs will pave the way for an accessible, safe, and enriching outdoor recreational experience for all visitors. By giving detailed guidance during their park visit, the project will solve current issues of lack of clear landmarks and hard-to-find park trailheads, improving overall visitor satisfaction and safety.
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in September, 2006, is the non-profit partner of Valles Caldera National Preserve and we work closely with preserve management to ensure a strong future for the preserve. We have run our organization with dedicated volunteers and without the assistance of paid staff so that all funds benefit the preserve. Our mission is to support the preserve for present and future generations through outreach, education, restoration, and collaboration. Over several years, we applied for and received $1.6M in grants to complete eleven wetlands restoration projects on the preserve. Our work helped to get Jaramillo Creek delisted for temperature from the New Mexico’s Surface Water Quality Standards impairment list. We also ran a variety of educational tours and events, developed educational materials on the preserve’s Historic Cabin District, helped to maintain miles of trails, supported Valles Caldera’s Night Sky Program, the Artist In Residence program and much more. In addition to being the official Friends Group for the preserve, we signed a Cooperating Association Agreement with the National Park Service in 2016 that allowed us to open the Valle Grande Bookstore on November 28, 2016. The store sells books, apparel, collectibles and outdoor items that support the preserve themes of geology, ecology, cultural continuity, heritage and sensory experience. Because the preserve is somewhat remote, snacks and safety items are also available. Earnings from bookstore sales are used to enrich the visitor experience.