STEMarts Lab

AstroTrail: Connecting Land, Sky, and Space is a youth-led SciArt program in partnership with the BLM Taos Field Office and El Valle Astronomers. Serving youth from Taos County and surrounding rural and tribal communities, it prioritizes participation through school and community partnerships. The program engages 300+ New Mexico youth annually, including 55 youth leaders, in hands-on learning that blends astronomy, environmental science, cultural storytelling, creative coding, and augmented reality. Centered at the Cascabel Trailhead—a BLM-managed site in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument—AstroTrail introduces the first Temporary AR Exhibit on public lands, delivering immersive, site-based learning experiences. It is implemented through the STEMarts AstroYouth program, a STEAM-focused workforce development initiative offering classroom activities, field research, and paid internships. Program Deliverables: • AstroTrail Activity w/QR codes & Space for Earth Design Challenge: Teachers receive SciArt activities, Design Challenge, and AR Trail Map for self-guided field trips to Cascabel Trailhead. • AstroTrail [AR] Project: Students code and create digital art overlays that reflect scientific and cultural interpretations of star configurations. • Star Parties: Paid ambassadors guide the public through AR night sky experiences alongside scientists, artists, and cultural specialists. • Western + Indigenous Knowledge: Events feature voices like Taos Pueblo elder Henrietta Gomez, sharing traditional knowledge about land and sky. • AstroTrail App: Student-created constellations are integrated into the WebAR paltform - adding new student work every year. • Citizen Science Lab: Interns assist BLM and Dark Sky NM in monitoring light pollution for Dark Sky certification. • Podcast + Radio Show: Interns produce the Space on Earth podcast and KNCE radio segments, guided by NASA Solar System Ambassador Arwen Hubbard. Outdoor Equity Funds Will Support • Instructor and mentor fees • Intern and ambassador stipends for public engagement • Content development for Temporary AR Exhibit • Design and distribution of classroom activities • Speaker fees for Star Parties Program Goals • Engage rural youth in outdoor STEAM learning that links space science to land-based exploration • Build confidence, creativity, and career pathways in science, technology, and art • Support BLM’s Dark Sky certification with student-led monitoring • Create a replicable model for tech-enhanced trail engagement through AR and youth-led programming • Build cross-cultural connections through shared sky knowledge and storytelling • Promote sustainable futures and access to outdoor learning through multi-year SciArt and AR programming • Develop student voice and science communication skills through podcasting and radio—empowering youth as advocates for public lands and night skies Outdoor Activities • Field trips to Cascabel Trailhead and related sites • Day/Night AR experiences via QR codes • Public [AR] AstroTour Star Parties with telescope viewing and storytelling • Trail-based AR testing by interns • Light pollution data collection using Sky Quality Meters and satellite tools with BLM/Dark Sky NM AstroTrail inspires deep connections between land, sky, and space—showing youth how awe for the cosmos can drive environmental care and stewardship.of New Mexico’s night sky resource and public lands. They won’t just explore public lands—they’ll shape how they’re understood, valued, and protected.