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Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance fosters awareness and appreciation of the landscape and cultural heritage of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument through collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management.
Dear Friends,
As summer comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank each of you who supported our 25th Anniversary fundraising effort. Because of your generosity, we not only met our $2,500 goal—we went above and beyond it! Every gift makes a difference, and your support ensures that we can continue protecting the cultural and natural heritage of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. We are deeply grateful.
Looking ahead, we hope you’ll join us for National Public Lands Day on September 27 at Big Point, where we’ll be cleaning up unauthorized fire rings to help protect this special landscape. There’s still time to register, and we’d love to see you there.
We also need your voice: The Department of the Interior recently announced its intent to repeal the Public Lands Rule, which ensures conservation is prioritized alongside industry on 245 million acres of public lands. Repealing it would roll back protections for wildlife, cultural resources, and outdoor recreation. We have less than 60 days to make our voices heard—please submit your comment today and urge the Bureau of Land Management to keep conservation as a priority.
And please save the date for our annual Luminaria Night on December 5! This cherished community tradition will light up the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. Once again, we’re adding a silent auction to support SCCA, and we welcome donations--especially items that reflect the cultural heritage of our region. If you or someone you know would like to contribute, please reach out. Click here for the Donation Form.
Together, we are making a difference for the lands, stories, and communities we all care about. Thank you for standing with us.
With gratitude,
Markleigh Swanson Executive Director Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance
Wow, I didn’t know the power of the local BLM staff and the employees of SCCA, but they sure managed to leverage their energies and change the weather from cloudy and kinda dreary, to an almost cloudless sky for the Star Party last Friday. Yes, with over 100 people attending, and the Milky Way in full display, much of our solar system, and even the Andromeda Galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth, was visible. Thanks to the many individuals, organizations and agencies for their help to put on a great event.
This month the Board of Directors continues to be a big focus of my messages. There have been recent changes and we do need your interest and talents to help us fill out the Board.
Marcie Ryan, one of the original SCCA Board members, had to resign due to health problems. Marcie gave so much, even serving as the Treasurer and Secretary at the same time for almost a year and a half. Marcie, we are sending positive energies to hopefully expedite your recovery.
We are looking for potential Board members, in particular, people that have an interest in budgeting and/or just familiarity with spreadsheets. The Treasurer position should be an easier task than in the past because, Markleigh will be populating the spreadsheet with data from Onward!, our fiscal agent. Please contact Markleigh or myself if you have an interest in serving our Board in any capacity.
I also want to introduce Carolyn Roan, who recently joined the Board and immediately stepped forward and took on duties for the Secretary position. Thank you, Carolyn.
She and husband Tom moved here from Conifer, Colorado in 2022, after many visits beginning way back in college. She has developed a strong appreciation for the beauty and history of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and hiked the monument many times to visit Ancient Puebloan sites. She has recently begun to explore more remote areas of the monument as a Wilderness Study Area monitoring volunteer with SCCA and the BLM.
Carolyn graduated in geology with a focus on landscape formation; particularly by water and wind, and earned a master’s degree in watershed science, with emphasis in fluvial geomorphology. The monument is a perfect place to explore and experience those forces of nature. Carolyn has worked in federal, state and local jobs in positions related to civil engineering, focusing on stream stability, restoration and stormwater, wastewater and floodplain engineering. Her varied background in science and engineering, and in private and public practice, gives her a comprehensive knowledge that could help SCCA address the management challenges at special places like the CANM. She hopes to work with other agencies, members of the Board, and members and volunteers of SCCA to help manage, educate, and preserve this landscape and its treasures.
Looking for a meaningful gift or a way to support SCCA? Check out our online store, where you’ll find unique items that celebrate the beauty and heritage of CANM, including the 25th Anniversary T-shirt. Proceeds from your purchases directly support our programs.
Consider making a lasting impact on the preservation of the Canyons of the Ancients by including Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance in your will or estate planning. Your bequest, whether large or small, will help protect these treasured landscapes and their cultural heritage for future generations.
If you haven’t created a will or are thinking of updating it, now is a great time to consult with your attorney or financial advisor to ensure your wishes are clearly expressed.
If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out.
Follow the directions on the page and select Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance either by name or use this code, WM546;
Don’t have a City Market loyalty card? No worries. New Users can easily create an account! This just requires some basic information, a valid email address and a loyalty card number or phone number.
REMEMBER, you must scan your registered City Market loyalty card or use the phone number that is related to your registered City Market loyalty card when you checkout for each purchase to count. Thank-you!
Help Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance Raise Much-Needed Funds for free!
Every time you shop at any of the 1,800+ online stores in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend benefits Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance. It’s a free service, and you’ll never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. To get started, just create your free iGive account.
Looking for another way to give? Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is proud to partner with ShopRaise. From groceries and apparel to technology and travel – a percentage of almost everything you buy using the ShopRaise app goes to support our cause. Click to download and start supporting us with every purchase: https://ShopRaise.com/support/swcocanyons
Thank you for supporting Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument!
Thank you for your support!*
Thank you to our members and supporters who donated between July 1 and July 31, 2025.
We appreciate your support!
Zelda Cherry City Market Community Rewards Jeanne Freed April Gray Susan Lowry Jaye Smith…in memory of Eldon Smith and William Lawrence William Stroop Rich and Janet Wheeler
Deep Gratitude to our Sustaining Members
Thank you for providing SCCA with a steady stream of support!
Steve Barker Melissa Blackwell Ken Boucher Caroline Brown & Tom Ferrell Chris & Lou Burkett Tris & Bruce Downer Terri Helm Erik Hendrickson Don & Nancy Hoffheins Diane McBride Dan Miller Vincent Miller Gregory Munson Carolyn Roan Marcie Ryan Cynthia Sadler Michael Stillman Markleigh Swanson Carol Taylor & Cliff Giffen John Thyfault David & KD Umbarger
Thank You to our current Corporate Sponsors and Grant Funders!
Sincere thanks to all our supporters!
*SCCA processed contributions from new and renewing annual and sustaining members and donors named in this newsletter between July 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025. Corporate support and grants listed in this newsletter were given between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025. Please accept our sincerest apologies if your name or company is not listed here or if we have not yet processed your donation.
Visit Canyons of the Ancients National Monument For more information about visiting CANM go to this link.
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