Walking Box Ranch is open every first Saturday of the month for some volunteering followed by a tour and a special guest speaker or activity! Learn more about this special place and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument while also helping to maintain and preserve this historic cattle ranch and desert home of silent film stars Rex Bell & Clara Bow. First Saturday events are free, but donations are appreciated.

This month’s special feature:

Native Plants of Avi Kwa Ame with Kim Garrison Means

This month, we'll be joined by Kim Garrison Means, director of the Searchlight Mystery Ranch Research Station, co-editor of the Searchlight Gold Beam and long time Searchlight resident who has spent decades getting up close and personal with the plants of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. She'll be sharing the ecological and cultural stories of 12 different native plant species along with plant specimens to see, smell and taste. After her presentation, our very own movie cowboy Ron Safran will give a guided tour of the ranch house.

Volunteering Details:

Volunteer activities are optional (and weather-dependent) and include groundskeeping and maintaining the gardens and house. If you enjoy gardening this is a great volunteer opportunity! We're organizing volunteer teams to engage in some simple groundskeeping from 9am until around 11am. You'll be using basic gardening tools and your own gloved hands to pull weeds around the ranch house. If you're into getting a little dirtier there are a number of weeds, shrubs, and other plants in the corral area needing removal that may require use of loppers, saws, and other tools.

At 9am we'll gather for volunteer sign-in plus an activity overview and safety briefing. Volunteers will break out into teams and take care of business for 2 hours. Come in sturdy, closed-toed shoes, clothing that protects you from the sun and potentially pointy plant life, and bring a water bottle. We'll bring gloves and other protective gear, tools, spare water, and snacks.

9:00 - Check in and briefing
9:30 - Groundskeeping activities
11:00 - Tool turn in, guest speaker and tour