DONATING TO BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF CENTRAL ARIZONA A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION Your donations are put to use in support of non-motorized trails i.e., hiking, biking & equestrians. Our goal is to raise $57,700 to build the 18 miles of trails planned in the next couple of years. In 2009 we received a $8,000 grant from the AZ American Quarter Horse Association and Tractor Supply. $3,000 of this amount was to reimburse us for funds expended building the first section of the Almosta Trail system. The remaining $5,000 is to be used to further extend the Almosta Trail System. SWECO at work on the Almosta Trail System In 2008 we received a $12,500 grant for corrals. It was enough for 12 corrals but 13 were needed to complete loops B & C. BCHCAZ donated over $1,000 to complete the project, we installed at the Groom Creek Horse Camp. In 2008/2009 we spent $3,000 for the rental of a SWECO machine which cleared 5.5 miles of trail in 10 days for the new Almosta Trail, trail number 622. To illustrate why this machine is so useful, in 2007 we built by hand the new 320 trail in the Granite Mountain Wilderness, a feat which took most of the year and countless hours, for a trail that was less than 2 miles in length.  The Forest Service another 18 miles of loop trails off of trail 622, the Almosta Trail. The cost to rent the SWECO has increased to $1,600 per day, or an estimated $58,000 for the entire trail system. If we are unable to build these trails in a timely manner, we risk losing the approval to build them at all due to changing budgets, politics and competing interests. EDUCATION One of the primary purposes of Back Country Horsemen is to educate users to Leave No Trace techniques to minimize adverse impact on our resources. We would like to expand this program making it more widely available. By educating the casual day rider, we foster better stewardship of the most heavily used trails. TRAIL ADVOCACY The Back Country Horsemen of America leaders from throughout the country represent the organization at symposiums, horse events, and in Washington, D.C. when necessary. BCHA has fostered alliances with other horsemen’s organizations to pursue our purposes of protecting recreational livestock use on public lands and of educating the public in the common sense use of those lands. There is a need for constant vigilance and push back against those who would close or limit trails use and access by equestrians. MEMBERSHIP If you share the goals and interests of our organization, we invite you to become a member. DONATE NOW     You may also make a donation to BCHCAZ by contacting Lea Detweiler at info@bchcaz.org. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4486, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. BCHCAZ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. A receipt will be sent to all donors.   Donations: You may also make a donation to BCHCAZ by contacting Lea Detweiler at info@bchcaz.org. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4486, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. BCHCAZ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. A receipt will be sent to all donors. Click here for Press Release for STEP grant.