Mission: Keep Sedona Beautiful, Inc., acting through the stewardship of its members and volunteers, is committed to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area.
Results: • Litter Lifters - manages the famous corps of more than 120 volunteers who clean litter from over 65 miles of roads in our area.
• Dark Skies – named Sedona the World’s Eight International Dark-Sky Community Worldwide and 6th in the U.S. in 2014 as a result of a renewed collaboration between the City and KSB.
• Annual Native Plant Workshop - begun in 1979 has educated over 3000 thousand community members on the benefits of using native plants and low water use landscaping.
• Annual Awards Program – recognizes excellence in commercial architectural design, xeriscaping, lighting, and signage or community service.
• Preserving the Wonder ™ Speakers Series - brings experts monthly to our community to discuss their views on pertinent environmental and conservation issues.
• Noise Abatement Community- joined with the City of Sedona in a Citizens Engagement Group to address noise from the airport and specifically helicopter tours resulting in the County’s decision to take over operation of the airport.
• Coalition for the Sedona Verde Valley Red Rock National Monument – at the behest of the Sedona City Council, supported the coalition efforts to be consistent with our mission to protect our unequalled natural beauty.
• Water Sustainability – founding member of the Verde River Basin Partnership, which promotes the use of unbiased science and education in sustaining our surface water and groundwater within the Verde River Basin.
• Land Preservation Task Force - lead the effort to secure several millions of dollars in funding to purchase over 500 hundred acres of unique and sensitive lands around Sedona that are now part of the Coconino National Forest.
• Oak Creek Designated Unique Arizona Waterway – lead the effort in having the State of Arizona acknowledge the importance of this significant natural resource.
• Sign Ordinances in Yavapai County and City of Sedona – worked with local government and the business community to establish outdoor sign ordinances.
• Enforcement of Water Quality Standards on Oak Creek – lead the effort to sustain the water quality of Oak Creek getting federal and state agencies to enforce water quality standards.
• Covered Load Ordinance – wrote and championed a covered load ordinance which was adopted by the Sedona City Council in 2006 making litter resulting from an unsecured load an enforceable offense.
• Award of Merit – given to KSB in 2014 for Environmental Stewardship in Northern Arizona.
Target demographics: Protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area
Direct beneficiaries per year: Educate about native plants, water conservation, dark skies and the environment; pick up litter on over 68 miles of Sedona-area roads;
Keep Sedona Beautiful continuously strives to insure that Sedona stays that way! Through litter lifting, educational programs, communications aimed at keeping members abreast of local environmental issues, dark sky initiatives and more, KSB members actively work to protect the scenic beauty and wonder of the greater Sedona area.
Keep Sedona Beautiful has and continues to be committed to its mission to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area. Through its various programs, Litter Lifters, Speakers Series, Dark Sky, Awards of Excellence, to name a few, members are encouraged to get involved by participating in programs and events, learn about threats to our environment, and what can be done. Recent efforts by KSB to inform its members about development projects also educates members on how they can, as individuals, advocate for prudent and responsible development.
Through its programs and initiatives, Keep Sedona Beautiful, truly lives up to its mission to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the greater Sedona area. Members and volunteers are engaged in such programs as Litter Lifters, the Speakers Series, Annual Native Plant Workshop, and Annual Awards Ceremony. Initiatives include efforts around noise abatement, dark sky, water conservation and sustainability. The organization also provides wonderful opportunities for those new to Sedona to meet other residents with similar interests and to get involved with activities that can make a noticeable difference.
Keep Sedona Beautiful provides residents of the area with a wonderful opportunity to actively support and maintain the beauty of Sedona. Members. volunteers and the public can participate in KSB's many programs and events, such as Litter Lifters, Native Plant Workshop and the Speakers Series. In addition, KSB on behalf of its membership and the community advocate to "keep Sedona beautiful" through its work in the areas of zoning, noise abatement, dark skies, and signage, to name a few!
I have volunteered for KSB for years and can attest to their long term commitment to protect this special part of America and minimize the human footprint as
Development encroaches.
This organization has served the Sedona area for many years. I'm impressed with their organized roadside litter removal program. I joined and have my own one-mile section of highway and feel good about removing any litter because it detracts from the scenic view of red rocks and juniper-pine woodlands. KSB's works to minimize the human footprint in this special environment. When their is conflict, they often lead the way to find a solution that best protects this special place.
This is the top environmental organization in Arizona and has achieved the highest standing with federal land management agencies including the US Forest service as well as state and county agencies such as planning commissions and other land use services departments. For decades KSB has led the way to ensure the long term environmental considerations and ultimate protection for Sedona and its environs .
This is a great local group that does very god work keeping Sedona a beautiful place to live. I particularly appreciate ther work keeping over 60 miles of Sedona roads clear of litter and trash.
KSB is a wonderful nonprofit that is committed to protect and sustain the unique scenic beautify of the Greater Sedona Area. I appreciate their work in preserving the dark night sky and bringing more community awareness of light pollution. Thank you KSB!
Keep Sedona Beautiful has a cadre of volunteers who spend an enormous amount of time helping to secure a more beautiful Sedona. Many volunteers are professionals with skills in multiple areas, such as project management, computer science, human resources, engineering, accounting, legislation, environmental sciences and law. The organization is highly organized with superb ethics. I have never been associated with a more efficient and delightful nonprofit.
Keep Sedona Beautiful speaks for community businesses and citizens who feel strongly about protecting the natural environment. It's this environment that makes Sedona a world class destination. Over 75 volunteers pick up roadside litter to maintain scenic beauty for both residents and visitors. The organization is involved in multiple environmental topics, including sustainability and keeping skies dark for nearby observatories and everyone who appreciates seeing stars instead of bright lights. It is an organization that listens to its members and ensures they and the public are informed of local issues in a timely manner.
What I like about Keep Sedona Beautiful, Inc. is their transparency and their all volunteer board. In this day and age of paid executives, KSB holds strong in keeping this volunteer tradition. I would not have any reservations giving legacy money to this prudent, well-managed nonprofit, which has been around for years.
When I moved to Sedona, I couldn't wait to sign up as a Keep Sedona Beautiful litter lifter volunteer. I wanted every visitor to experience the beautiful scenery and not see trash along side the roadways as they entered the area. The organization has a long history of providing leadership in local environmental issues of importance to both the community and visitors. If it wasn't for Keep Sedona Beautiful, this area would not look like it does now. I am proud to be a part of this organization.
Great, established nonprofit with programs for the environment and more (e.g., they have litter lifters, a speaker series, a dark sky program, and so much more). KSB is very involved in the greater community and works to protect and sustain Sedona's beauty through education and advocacy. I sought to get involved in volunteer opportunities in Sedona when I relocated to Sedona two years ago. After some searching, I became aware of KSB and began volunteering after meeting with people and determining the best fit for my skills and interests. Continuing to volunteer has been very gratifying and the people I've met have been wonderful partners in all KSB's endeavors.
This nonprofit does great work where it really needs it. In one of the most beautiful paces on earth - Sedona AZ. The volunteers are dedicated, right down to organized litter pickups along the roads. Great staff, and very conscientious board.
KSB is a great organization that has served the Sedona area for almost 50 years. Their litter lifting program is an invaluable community service. Thanks, KSB!
Keep Sedona Beautiful continues to perform great work in the Sedona area. Most recently they were at the forefront of opposing an enormous development that would put 2,100 housing units on either side of Spring Creek. This is a completely inappropriate proposal, and I can't thank KSB enough for vigorously opposing it.
KSB is a wonderful organization that performs great services for the community. I particularly enjoy the Speaker Series, a set of lectures on environmentally related topics that are free and open to the public. I know that KSP is working diligently to find a way to reduce the noise from low-flying helicopters. Keep it up, KSB!
KSB has been an important part of our community for 45 years, doing the 'heavy lifting' picking up litter on our roads, advocating for the environment, and supporting responsible ordinances on such things as signage and covered loads.
This is a great organization. They are the key reason that our highways are so clean, as they have a large group of volunteers who pick up roadside litter regularly. Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) is very active in other ways in our community, sponsoring an annual Native Plants Workshop, hosting an educational series of lectures, working to keep noise pollution down, and being the champion of our Dark Skies initiative. Like would be poorer if it were not for Keep Sedona Beautiful.
Keep Sedona Beautiful continues to protect the beauty and environment of the Greater Sedona Area. Through their efforts and the efforts of others in the community, a horrifically inappropriate development proposal was just withdrawn.
Keep Sedona Beautiful consistently strives to act in the best interests of both the community and the environment. For nearly 50 years now we have kept roadways clean of litter, held educational speaker series events to inform members and the public on topics of concern, educated the community on the value of native plant gardening, and promoted dark skies. We support businesses and organizations who act in the best interests of the community through our annual Awards. We vigorously oppose unwise development proposals.
Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) is a singularly valuable organization in Sedona and the greater Verde Valley. It's mission is "Keep Sedona Beautiful, Inc., acting through the stewardship of its members and volunteers, is committed to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area." It fulfills that mission through programs like its' corps of litter lifters who keep some 70 miles of roadways clean. It provides education through events like the annual Native Plant Workshop and the popular Speaker Series. It was critical in raising awareness in the community of the need to preserve our dark skies. Through the efforts led by KSB, Sedona was the 8th community worldwide to receive dark sky designation from the International Dark Skies Association. KSB is a fully compliant 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates responsibly for issues that reflect its mission.
Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) is an active and responsible advocate promoting preservation of the environment surrounding Sedona Arizona for over 40 years. It focuses in educating the community on environmental and sustainability issues. KSB is responsible for litter lifting on 70+ miles of Sedona roads and highways. Finally, KSB is the champion of local initiatives, such as obtaining designation as an International Dark Sky community.
KSB was the driving force behind gaining Dark Sky designation for both the City of Sedona and for the Village of Oak Creek. KSB is engaging other communities in the Verde Valley, encouraging them to strive for Dark Sky Designation.
This is a great means of helping ensure that our skies stay as free of light pollution as possible, making the area one of the best places to view the night sky.
This group has been serving the greater Sedona area for over 25 years, providing leadership on issues ctitical to citizens, such as litter lifting, dark skies designation, noise reduction, billboard regulation, and native habitat gardening. KSB focuses nearly all its resources on programs, and has become an effective advocate for the Sedona environment.
Keep Sedona Beautiful continuing to protect and sustain the Greater Sedona area. Litter
lifters picking up trash in the Sedona area and our beautiful dark skies. Thanks to KSB's
involvement in the community Sedona is a better place to live.
Keep Sedona Beautiful continues to work on Dark Skies in and around Sedona. Last year, KSB’s Dark-Sky Committee participated in six dark-sky educational events. In February 2016 the Village of Oak Creek was designated the fourteenth International Dark-Sky Community in the world, following two years of work by KSB’s Dark Sky Committee. The Committee is now helping Camp Verde AZ and Cottonwood AZ to secure the International Dark-Sky Community designation. We are so fortunate to be able to see the Dark Skies in our community and KSB
made this happen.
I have been associated with Keep Sedona Beautiful for the last three years. There are many accomplishments that come to my mind. One in particular is the designation of Sedona as a Dark Sky city and working on the communities around Sedona to get them designated as a Dark Sky. I truly believe that the people involved with Keep Sedona Beautiful deeply care about the local community and environment.
Keep Sedona Beautiful is a community and area voice for preservation, protection and enhancement of the scenic beauty and natural environment of this area. It focuses on current issues and helps inform and mobilize the community. In addition it has ongoing programs to promote Dark Skies, quiet enjoyment of the area and education of the public on a variety of environmental issues. It's great.
Keep Sedona Beautiful is a fully compliant and dedicated non-profit. As such KSB follows all requirements necessary to maintain that status. Its mission is to preserve and protect the scenic beauty and natural environment of the greater Sedona area. As a part of fulfilling that mission KSB is fully entitled (in fact many would argue required) to take stands on issues that might be viewed as controversial or "political." KSB does that when the board determines that such a position is important and furthers the goals of the organization. Thus, individuals may disagree with the substance of the position taken by KSB. That is part of a healthy discussion of issues. But such actions by KSB are not in violation of any ethical requirements of maintaining a non-profit status. To state otherwise is wrong and misleading.
Keep Sedona Beautiful keeps the entire area aware of the need to protect the beauty of this place. By education and advocacy KSB is a force in the community and reminds the residents, visitors and businesses of the wonder of this locale and the constant need to protect it.
Keep Sedona Beautiful continues to focus on the protection of this area to ensure its continued beauty. Recently KSB worked to limit motorized vehicle traffic on off-road trails to improve the serenity and protection of the trails and the surrounding community. Good work!
I live in a city surrounded by a national forest with wonderful red rocks, hiking and camping. It is a wonder place to live and a treasured tourist destination. Keep Sedona Beautiful has been an advocate for preservation of this natural treasure since 1972. By education, speakers series, awards and advocacy it works with businesses and governmental agencies as well as the community at large to maintain a focus on preserving the beauty of this area. This role is key to the long term success of this area.
Keep Sedona Beautiful never neglects to Thank the hard working and dedicated volunteers who have created an organization that lives up to its name and mission since its founding. By targeting the basic Quality of life advocacy areas of a community such as Sedona, it’s committed members have helped maintain the experiences of visitors and residents as we all interact with our fragile environment. Respect for nature’s gifts, our clean water, air, night sky, dramatic plant, animal and geologic features is key to keeping sedona beautiful and vibrant. Keep Sedona Beautiful participates with our outlying communities in building awareness of stewardship and advocacy. Our educational programs on a broad range of topics help our community make science based choices that benefit our communities’ health and well being.
Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) continually works to bring more community awareness of light pollution and preserving Sedona’s magnificent natural resource – its dark night sky. KSB accomplishes this by participating in dark sky outreach programs which include education events and assisting other communities in pursuing the International Dark sky Community designation.
For 47 years, Keep Sedona Beautiful has been acting through the stewardship of its members and volunteers, to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area. Through KSB’s dark-sky outreach program, there is more community awareness of light pollution and preserving Sedona and Big Park/Village of Oak Creek’s magnificent natural resource—our dark night sky. KSB’s Preserving the Wonder Speaker Series hosts speakers on a variety of subjects and is free to the public. KSB is a founding member of the Sustainability Alliance. KSB achieved the Silver level certification from the Alliance. It’s an honor to serve on the KSB Board.
Keep Sedona Beautiful is a wonderful organization that works to Preserve the Wonder of Sedona's beautiful scenic natural beauty today and for the future. It's helps preserve the beauty in many ways, from litter lifting to working to preserve our magnificent dark night skies. Being a KSB Board member is a rewarding experience.
Keep Sedona Beautiful has joined the growing list of local non-profits and businesses supporting the Sedona Trail Keepers program. The Trail Keepers program allows organizations to sponsor a trail by financially committing to sustain and maintain existing trails. Keep Sedona Beautiful views this effort as a great example of local interests collaborating effectively to enhance access to our beautiful red rock country in a responsible and environmentally sensitive way.
Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) is beginning its 44th year as the environmental steward of the Greater Sedona Area. KSB has initiated many projects and programs to fulfill its mission. One that is close to my heart is protecting our dark sky. In 2013 KSB brought together Sedona businesses, residents, city officials, and various public and private organizations to figure out a way to project one of Sedona’s most treasured assets—our dark skies. After months of collaborative efforts, KSB submitted an application to the International Dark-Sky Association for their coveted Dark-Sky Community designation. This application included hundreds of letters of support and a copy of Sedona’s outdoor lighting ordinance that protects our night skies from light pollution. The IDA recognized Sedona as a steward of the night skies and awarded the designation. Sedona was the eighth city in the world to be designated as an International Dark-Sky Community.
I visit Sedona about three times a year from Alaska and I am always amazed at how clean the roads are. A big thank you to all the amazing volunteers from Keep Sedona Beautiful who pick up the roadside trash.
For some 30 years, Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) has been the leading organization providing both a voice and volunteer opportunities for the residents invested in preserving the viewshed scenery, controlling trash along our highways and local monitoring land use issues. As an increasingly popular tourist destination hosting millions of visitors to our community of 10,000 residents, KSB is an integral community partner in promoting sustainable tourism for the industry whose welfare is dependent on tourists.
Keep Sedona Beautiful does just that: with nearly 100 litter lifters cleaning up over 70 miles of Sedona roads, the town stays looking beautiful. It also hosts the Speaker Series, a monthly presentation covering various topics from night sky photography to wildflowers of the Southwest (the second Wednesday of the month from September thru May). And it's free and open to the public! They also sponsor the Native Plant Workshop (to be held on April 6 this year) which educates the public on a variety of topics designed to reduce water, utilize native plants and create beautiful landscapes.
KSB offers the Speaker Series with interesting and informative speakers from various backgrounds. It sponsors the Annual Native Plant Workshop which encourages the public to consider water usage and native plants in their own landscaping. It has 100 litter lifters monitoring 70 miles of roads within Sedona. KSB was instrumental in Sedona becoming the 6th International Dark-Sky Community in the US and the 8th world-wide! They co-sponsor Trail Work Days. In other words, they unite and work hard to "Keep Sedona Beautiful"!
KSB has dedicated board members, staff and volunteers that care deeply about Sedona. Their desire to protect the environment (Litter Lifters, Dark Skies) and promote education through the Speaker Series (free to the public!) and Native Plant Workshop (coming up April 1, 2017 for the 38th year!) is truly remarkable. They also support the Sedona Community Food Bank, host environmental workshops and sponsor a Litter Prevention Poster Competition in the local elementary schools. A worthy organization that deserves community support!
Keep Sedona Beautiful violated ethics, transparency and its nonprofit charter recently when it took a political stance on a controversial local ballot initiative on Sedona's August 2018 election. KSB denied it was taking a stance as an organization, but two officers submitted statements of support for the initiative in their official capacity as KSB board members that were published in the Voter Info Guide for the election. KSB also disseminated this side's propaganda to members and refused to be accountable for the false and misleading info therein. After being notified the information was inaccurate, the president claimed KSB was not taking a position and had merely disseminated to its members the information provided (without verifying the accuracy). After this reply and after being notified of the specific and important inaccuracies, KSB did it again, sending a second message to members. Again the president claimed KSB was not taking a side and stated in light of claims that the info was not accurate, KSB would not provide any other comments on the matter... thus not allowing advocates of the other side of the initiative equal opportunity to promote its version to members or at least clarify the innacurate and false information. KSB never issued a correction to members. KSB clearly took a stand as an organization and supported the political initiative. This is a gross breach of ethics. I will not be renewing my membership.
KSB notes that nonprofits can in fact take a stance on an issue of local interest. We have done so in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.
However, in keeping with our status as a 401(c)(3), we have not and will not support or oppose any candidate for public office.
KSB Litter Lifters are out every week picking up roadside litter-trash-.. What a dedicated group of volunteers.. I hear KSB has been doing this work for 45 years. WOW. KSB also supports and has helped preserve our dark night skies through responsible lighting initiatives and community cooperation. Our family strongly agrees with KSB's long standing preservation work.
Keep Sedona Beautiful has been a community treasure since the 1970’s, which is well before Sedona was even an incorporated city. The quality of life for Sedona residents and the national and world-wide reputation Sedona enjoys as one of the most beautiful places on earth are due, in large part, to the efforts of this amazing organization. I’m proud to have served as a KSB Litter Lifter for over 10 years and I do whatever I can to support the work of KSB.
I believe in this organization 100%. I have moved to another state but still remain on the board. They truly meet their purpose in keeping Sedona beautiful. For the good of the community and beyond.
I attend the Native Plant Workshop every year. I really enjoy it. I always learn something new. I think it helps populate the Sedona area with native plants and results in more sustainability.
Keep Sedona Beautiful is an excellent organization that keeps itself and the community informed about issues and opportunities that help preserve the natural beauty and environment of the greater Sedona area. I have volunteered with them on several projects and have not only enjoyed the work and interaction, but was proud of the goals that KSB was trying to achieve.
Keep Sedona Beautiful has been environmental stewards since 1972, that is 45 years of preserving the wonder! KSB's mission is to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona Area and that is what they have been doing for 45 years. KSB educates and advocates on behalf of its membership and the community on zoning, lighting and signage issues, community plans, Forest Service plans, environmental impact studies and regional government issues. If we didn't have KSB, there would be be no one doing this!
KSB continues to do wonderful things, such as co- founding the Sustainability Alliance., which has noe certified more than 30 businesses as to their sustainability practices.
We retired to a place of dreams, a place of extraordinary beauty, that we enjoy every day. We are constantly reminded that we are among the most fortunate to live here, amidst this unique scenery that so many others may only visit for a few days at a time.
We recognize that through the forty plus years of KSB’s dedicated work by thousands of volunteers, we are able to enjoy this place even more, through Dark Sky nights, litter-free roads and highways, a heightened consciousness to the value of native plants, a preservation of Red Rock Scenery, and a natural beauty so quiet we can hear hummingbirds’ wings and the birds sing.
If it were not for the work of KSB, things would be different. There is no other organization dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of that which we have come here to treasure. We recognize that our membership fees and donations are truly one of the very best investments we can make, as they help to leverage the 10,000+ hours of cost-free volunteer time working on our behalf.
Please join us in investing in KSB to ensure that those who come later may enjoy what we enjoy today.
I have been a member of Keep Sedona Beautiful for about six years. It is the only organization I know of that works to protect our environment, to ensure litter free roads in the region, to educate on matters of environmental interest, and to provide speakers on various subjects.
This organization has served the Sedona area for many years. I'm impressed with their organized roadside litter removal program. I joined and have my own one-mile section of highway and feel good about removing any litter because it detracts from the scenic view of red rocks and juniper-pine woodlands. KSB works to minimize the human footprint in this special environment. When there is conflict, they often lead the way to find a solution that best protects this special place.
Having worked for the mission of KSB for about 19 years, it is hard to find another organization with a better vision. Continue to do the work you have done.
For 37 years, KSB has been sponsoring the Native Plant Workshop, an annual all day event designed to educate the public on selecting and identifying native plants, use of natives for bees, birds and butterflies as well as beautifying one's landscape, invasive plants and pests as well as water usage.
They also offer a monthly Speaker's Series on a full range of topics from astro-photography to Arizona wines to sustainability. Their litter lifters patrol over 60 miles of Sedona highways in an effort to keep Sedona beautiful. And they hold an Annual Awards Luncheon to honor those who have made great efforts in supporting those ideals.
KeepSedonaBeautiful 08/21/2019
KSB notes that nonprofits can in fact take a stance on an issue of local interest. We have done so in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. However, in keeping with our status as a 401(c)(3), we have not and will not support or oppose any candidate for public office.