Three groups of fourth-grade students from Deming, along with their teachers, have scheduled a day of multi-station outdoor museum classrooms at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site for Friday, March 6, 2020. The GCAS provides volunteer guides for these field trips, coordinated by our very own Marilyn Markel. This visit is a special one because this is the first time we will be welcoming students and teachers from Deming to our area. We are asking GCAS members to help Marilyn in showing these young students some of their region's rich heritage.

No experience is necessary for any of these classroom stations; Marilyn will quickly get you up to speed. For hours and other details please contact Marilyn ASAP by telephone at 575-536-9337, or via email. Thank you, one and all!

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A significant aspect of the GCAS's mission is to preserve and protect archaeological resources through education. School is in session and three groups of fourth-grade students from Deming, along with their teachers, have scheduled a day of multi-station outdoor museum classrooms at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site for Friday, March 6, 2020.

The GCAS traditionally provides volunteer guides for these field trips, coordinated by our very own Marilyn Markel. This visit is a special one because this is the first time a large number of students and teachers will travel from Deming to our area. So please, GCAS members: take time to assist Marilyn in welcoming these young students to our backyard and showing them some of their region's rich heritage.

No experience is necessary for any of these classroom stations; Marilyn will quickly get you up to speed. For hours and other details please contact Marilyn ASAP by telephone at 575-536-9337, or via email. Thank you, one and all!

/s/ webmaster

One of our core missions is to preserve and protect archaeological resources through education. Large groups of local students and their teachers are taking field trips to the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site. We of the GCAS provide volunteer guides for these field trips, coordinated by our very own Marilyn Markel.

Many students from two schools are planning field trips between the date of this post and November 22, 2019. Please take time to assist Marilyn in showing these young visitors their rich heritage. No experience is necessary for any of these field trips; Marilyn will quickly get you up to speed. Please help with one or both:

The 2019 Hummingbird Festival, hosted by the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site, was a happening thing the weekend of July 27 through 28. Over 29 artisanal vendors participated and the GCAS was happy to be in the action by providing an informational booth, lecture programs, hands-on demonstrations of ancient tools, and site tours. The public turnout was outstanding - parking opportunities expanded outward and further outward around the MCHS, and not one frowny face was in sight.

This here website has already introduced everyone to two up and coming members of the Aldo Leopold Charter School Youth Conservation Corps Archaeology Crew. These high school students learn eco-monitoring of sensitive sites as part of New Mexico's Junior SiteWatch program, work on trail crews, build gardens of heritage vegetables, and more. Some, like Serena Floyd and Isaiah Padilla, do all of that plus regularly teach groups of younger students about aspects of archaeology that range from hands-on experimental activities to the proper way to monitor an archaeological site. Here are Serena (far left) and Isaiah (purple shirt, center) in April, 2019, comfortably guiding a group of fifth grade students from Hurley Elementary School through a day's curriculum at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site. Mentor Marilyn Markel (white shirt, center) can relax with these two in control.

We may not yet know what career path(s) Serena or Isaiah will take, but like their classmates they already demonstrate a commitment to public service and have acquired a number of skills that will be valuable to them in anything they put their minds to. Thanks, Serena and Isaiah!

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On April 26, 2019, Aldo Leopold Charter School Youth Conservation Corps Archaeology Crew Students presented a poster and gave a presentation at the Archaeological Society of New Mexico’s annual state meeting hosted by the Grant County Archaeological Society (GCAS). Over a hundred archaeologists and members of archaeological societies around New Mexico attended the meeting held in downtown Silver City, at the Murray Hotel. ALCS students, Will Scott (on the far right in the photo) and Serena Floyd (on the far left), along with their mentor, Marilyn Markel, spoke to the attendees about the importance of preserving and protecting archaeological sites like the Dragonfly Petroglyph Site on the Fort Bayard Game Refuge, Gila National Forest.

The GCAS's very own Marilyn Markel is today's Guest Photographer, bringing us some images from April 28, 2019, when she and Bill Hudson guided ten or so attendees of the 2019 ASNM annual meeting on a field trip to the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site.

Marilyn has been a devoted member of the GCAS for over 18 years but her passion for archaeology has been lifelong. She has served our group in the capacities of Vice President, President, Board member, and more. She is the backbone of our educational outreach programs, introducing the general public but especially local grade school and high school students to the history and cultural heritage of their own home towns.

The Imogen F. Wilson Foundation is hosting a walking tour of their Mimbres Culture Heritage Site this coming Saturday, March 2, 2019, from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. Come learn about the history and archaeology in your own back yard as talented tour leader Marilyn Markel guides you throughout the site. IFWF explains that this walking tour involves:

"light walking on 1/2 mile trail of the Mattocks Ruin Pre-historic archaeological site with a member of the Imogen F Wilson Educational Foundation. Learn about the ancient people who lived in the Mimbres Valley and the homesteaders living on site in the late 1800's and early 1900's. ADA restroom, museum with gift shop, plenty of parking on site. This is an opportunity to get a good insight to what life was like in the Mimbres valley from 1000 years ago, to the mid last century.

Find more details on the IFWF/MCHS Facebook page. Come and enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the Mimbres Valley with your neighbors, and support a worthwhile cause in your community. We'll see you there!

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Smokey T. Cat, GCAS mascot and official greeter, security guard, and pest exterminator at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site, cordially invites everyone to a rodent-free visit.

/s/ webmaster [photo by Marianne Smith]

The GCAS needs your help in fulfilling our mission of educational outreach. Please consider the following four opportunities occurring in late September and through October, three of which take place at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site.

Pick one! Pick them all! No experience necessary! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of Autumn in the Mimbres Valley!