
Bears Ears: Cultural Site Survey
May 12 - May 16

**It is an honor and privilege to visit these sites and support their protection. Participants must understand that this is a sacred landscape and treat sites with the utmost care and respect.**
The Landscape
With the designation of Bears Ears National Monument on December 28th, 2016, a new layer of protection was granted to some of the most spectacular places in southern Utah. Covering a vast region, Bears Ears is co-managed by the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service. Bears Ears holds a wide variety cultural sites and is still used by tribes throughout the region for medicinal plant gathering, firewood collection, and other cultural uses. This is a living, breathing, sacred landscape. In addition, efforts to document the region’s archeological sites are ongoing.
Unfortunately, the rich cultural history of Bears Ears has attracted looting and cultural site damage; in addition, much of the region was surveyed back in the 1970s and technology available to survey sites has improved. In an effort to increase protection for sensitive cultural sites, land management agencies are engaged in a process to re-inventory and monitor known sites.
The Work
This project will focus on cultural resource protection. It involves receiving training from archeologists and using acquired knowledge to survey selected cultural sites. Our work scope will focus on one or more of the following activities:
- Surveying for cultural resources along existing routes and roads not surveyed in the past;
- Site-specific monitoring and updating of known cultural sites;
- Recording of new cultural sites.
All work tools will be provided, including gloves, eye protection, and ear-protection.
Project Rating
Moderate – Ask your project lead for more details; cultural site survey projects often involve walking or hiking on uneven terrain, often off-trail and occasionally in brushy conditions. In addition, project work may include stooping, bending, and using tools such as tape measures, tablets, and maps.
All projects take place outdoors: Please consider your comfortability working in remote landscapes at varying elevations and under variable weather conditions. Our team strives to ensure that all projects provide meaningful work for volunteers of all abilities. Please reach out to the Project Lead if you have questions or concerns.
Volunteers Needed: (6)
Project Lead: Talitha McGuire
Contact: talitha@suwa.org
Itinerary
A general itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers in a Welcome Letter.
- Monday, May 12th – Friday, May 16th
Camping & Meals
Specific location of camping site(s) will be provided in the Welcome Letter sent to registered volunteers. Campsites are often remote dispersed sites with no running water or pit toilets.
SUWA provides dinners during the project dates as well as snacks and drinks during workdays. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals (breakfast, lunch) during their stay.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Participants are responsible for their own food, water and camping gear as well as transportation to and from the project site(s). Volunteers should plan to be away from camp all day each of the work days. A recommended packlist will be sent along with the project Welcome Letter (4) weeks prior to the start date. If camping gear is a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to the Project Lead to discuss options.
Registration & Acceptance Timeline
A 2025 General Volunteer Application is required for this project.
- Once we have received your application, you will receive a confirmation email within (5) working days of submission.
- We log all applications until (8) weeks prior to the project. At this point, you will first receive an email confirming whether you have been placed on the“project roster” or a “waitlist.” If you are selected for the project roster, you will then complete a Volunteer Agreement.
- At (4) weeks before the project start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive a Welcome Letter with a comprehensive itinerary, including: driving instructions, a Project Map for mobile devices (when applicable), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and any additional information pertinent to the project.
- Within (2) weeks of the project you will receive a direct call from the Project Lead to answer any additional questions you may have.
- Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted if space opens due to cancellation within (2) weeks of the project start date.
If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please do not hesitate to contact us here.