Keep Sedona Beautiful launched a new website with a simple, powerful message for the millions who visit Red Rock Country each year: Treat Sedona Like Home.
www.PreservingTheWonder.org meets visitors at every stage of their journey. Unlike sites built to attract more tourists, this one educates visitors, encouraging them to respect and protect this landscape and the residents who call it home.
The idea came to KSB President Carla Williams while driving home from Phoenix on I-17, after spotting a billboard showing an off-road vehicle tearing through the backcountry. This billboard gave exactly the wrong message. KSB had lobbied in the 1970s and ’80s to remove unsightly billboards, so a competing billboard didn’t seem right. A website teaching responsible recreation would work better. After a year of fundraising, PreservingTheWonder.org went live.
The site’s tagline says it all: Respect, Protect and Enjoy Sedona. Hike Smart and Bike Smart pages help visitors prepare for the trails. An Adventure Responsibly section covers off-highway vehicles and backcountry recreation, while Travel Tips and Stay and Play guide thoughtful enjoyment of the area. A Cultural Sites page encourages respect for Indigenous heritage. A Dark Skies page explains why the night sky deserves care too.
The site stresses the seven Leave No Trace principles: plan ahead, stay on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife and be considerate of others. A new Micro-Trash Trail Team invites visitors to help pick up litter harming trails and wildlife.
Educating visitors is a new endeavor for KSB, which has spent 54 years protecting Sedona and the Verde Valley. Residents can help by sending the link to friends before they visit.
Explore the site at www.preservingthewonder.org and learn more at www.keepsedonabeautiful.org.