2026 Earth Day Beautification Success!

On Wednesday, April 20th over fifty Junior-Senior High School Students, volunteers, a Village of Questa Councilor, and leaders from LEAP, Forest service, Taos County Solid Waste and Roads all gathered for a community-wide clean-up and beautification effort. The group fanned out across the Questa area, along all major roadways, Eagle Rock Lake and at Questa Park. 

Students and volunteers removed invasive plants, picked up trash, filled holes, reburried irrigation lines and pruned trees at Questa Park, guided by Claire Coté of LEAP.

At Eagle Rock Lake, mentored by Forest Service and LEAP personnel, they dug holes, installed new posts and fishing line receptacles, refinished picnic tables and other maintenance tasks.

Teams of students walked along road ways throughout Questa collecting trash, supported by Taos County Solid Waste and Roads Department. Special thanks to all the students and teachers who spent their morning beautifying our community. We appreciate you!

Students and volunteers enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Questa Youth Center catered by Rosie’s Smokehouse, sponsored by LOR Foundation, and organized by teacher and Questa Junior-senior Honor Society leader, Santana Santistevan.This year’s effort was made possible by collaborators Questa Junior-Senior High School Honor Society, LEAP (Land, Experience and Art of Place), Village of Questa, US Forest Service, Taos County Solid Waste and Roads Department, Localogy, and Community Volunteers. LEAP’s clean-up and beautification efforts at the Questa Park was funded by Chevron Grants for Good and the IMPACT Grant through Taos Community Foundation as well as individual donors.

The Earth Day clean-up was organized in solidarity with the Village of Questa Beautification Committee, spearheaded by Village Councilor Jason Gonzalez. Let’s keep the  momentum going; if you go fishing at Eagle Rock Lake, put your used or tangled fishing line in the new green receptacles around the lake; if you see trash in our community, pick it up; if you have trash to throw, find a trash can or dumpster. Together, we can prevent litter, protect wildlife and keep our community clean and beautiful.