During the event, volunteers will participate in a preservation workshop. You'll learn to mix mortar, learn the technique of mortar repointing, and work alongside archaeologists, stonemasons and preservation crew members to do some of this important and ongoing preservation work on the great house walls. 

The other component of the event involves working with Natural Resources staff to help remove invasive plant species from areas around the visitor trail and the Ancestral Puebloan great house. Invasive plants are plants that did not originate in North America, but were introduced from other continents by humans either intentionally or accidentally. It's important to remove them because they do so well here that they crowd out native plants or alter the ecosystem in such a way that native plants can no longer grow well.  You'll also remove dead plants from open, shrubby areas near the visitor trail (fuel removal).  A build-up of dead plants, or fuel, is a fire hazard, and fuel removal is an important part of preserving this numinous ancient site.

We'll provide a free picnic lunch for all participants after the veg project and preservation workshop, as a thank you for all your hard work.

When lunch is over, you'll have the opportunity to take a Ranger-led tour of the Aztec East great house. This is an area that is usually closed to the public to help preserve the fragile archaeological resources and cannot be visited without a ranger. 

Each event participant will receive a Fee-Free coupon in recognition of their invaluable service to our nation's public lands. Each coupon entitles the recipient and their family or vehicle companions to one Fee-Free day at any participating federal recreation or visitor site within one calendar year. 

To register for this fun and meaningful event, please call the Aztec Ruins National Monument Visitor Center at 505-334-6174.

Learn more at: www.nps.gov/azru