NMVFO plans 20+ volunteer work projects each year. Click here for a printable overview of the current project season, and check back often for additional information posted as it becomes available. To receive updates and detailed information about upcoming projects and events, be sure to sign up for the NMVFO newsletter on the Home page. Public land agencies that are interested in proposing a project should contact our Projects Team (projects@nmvfo.org) for more information and our easy-to-complete project proposal form.
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Quarai Wall Stabilization (Salinas Pueblo Missions NM)
Contact Leader(s): Ed DiBello, 505-705-2584, e.dibello@nmvfo.org; Liz Maruyama, l.maruyama@nmvfo.org with any questions.
Description: Join NMVFO and the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Staff at Quarai on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The National Monument is a complex of three pueblo and Spanish mission sites located near Mountainair, NM. The sites encompass the archaeological remains of prehistoric Native American settlements, historic remains of a pueblos that were abandoned in the 1670s, the ruins of 17th-century Spanish mission compounds, and 19th-century Spanish ranching artifacts. For this project, we will work alongside the park’s Preservation Crew, who will be stabilizing 17th-c. Convento Walls and 19th-c. Resettlement Structures at Quarai. Volunteers will learn how preservation work is carried out at the park and work alongside the park’s Facilities Division and Preservation Crew to re-point mortar on historic walls.
We will meet in the Quarai Visitor Center parking lot a little before 8:30 AM to sign in, review the planned work, and conduct a safety briefing. Volunteers must wear sturdy boots (preferred) or shoes (no sandals), long pants, eye protection, and work gloves. Long sleeve shirts are preferred. Bring a hat, sun protection, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with water, snacks, lunch, and other necessities. We plan to finish work by 4:00 pm.
Directions: From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40, exit at Tijeras (Exit 175). Proceed south on Hwy 337 (old South 14) through Chilili. At the intersection with Hwy 55, turn west and proceed on Hwy 55 through Tajique, Torreon and Manzano. Approximately 5 miles south of Manzano, just as you enter the village of Punta de Agua, turn west on County Rd B076 and proceed to the Quarai overflow parking lot (North of the Visitor Center). The estimated driving time from the Big I is approximately 1.5 hours, so plan accordingly. Please be there a little before 8:30 AM. If coming from the South (Socorro, etc.) contact the Project Leader for directions as needed.
To sign up: Click on the button below and fill out the contact information. If the project is full, you can email the project leader to be put on a wait list.
Difficulty: 
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project. On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.