National Audubon Society
Grants Awarded
Audubon’s Outdoor Field Science program engages Santa Fe Public School students and teachers in hands-on outdoor science experiences that foster a connection to local wildlife and conservation. By offering standards-aligned field trips, school programs, virtual lessons, and distance materials, the program aims to enhance students' understanding of their environment, benefiting both participants and the broader community through increased environmental awareness and stewardship.
The funding will enable the incorporation of bilingual and accessible interpretive signage at the Randall Davey Audubon Center (RDAC) and Nature Discovery Area (NDA), enhancing visitor engagement with local ecology and promoting outdoor activities, such as bird watching. The signs, part of the center's commitment to foster inclusive access to outdoor experiences, will illuminate topics like climate change and river conservation, safe outdoor recreation practices, and the cultural history of local indigenous communities. Ultimately, the project is aimed at enriching visitor interaction with nature, thereby increasing visitation rates and fostering environmental care in the community.
As a regional field office of The National Audubon Society, our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. The Randall Davey Audubon Center & Wildlife Sanctuary (RDAC) encompasses 135 acres of striking landscapes just a few miles outside Santa Fe. Bounded by thousands of acres of National Forest and Santa Fe River Watershed property, it provides a peaceful sanctuary for birds, plants, animals, and visitors. Ranging from common to rare, approximately 190 species of birds can be found in or over the various ecosystems of this sanctuary. It is free and open to the public six days a week, year-round. As a designated Important Bird Area, the Sanctuary is primarily Piñon-Juniper Woodland, with adjacent riparian vegetation zones. Piñon-Juniper Woodlands face a variety of threats, such as climate change, encroaching development, and prolonged drought. Field trips to RDAC offer some of the best opportunities for students and visitors to learn about the characteristics, wildlife, and conservation strategies associated with these habitats. Audubon has been a leader in providing engaging and educational programs to Santa Fe youth for over 35 years. As part of the Outdoor Field Science program, students investigate and collect observations out in the Piñon-Juniper habitat, as well as get hands-on experience with introductory birding techniques and surveys. Annually, Audubon educators serve >1500 students from Santa Fe Public Schools, (primarily Title 1). An estimated 10,000 students have visited the Randall Davey Audubon Center in the last 15 years through our Outdoor Field Science program. Audubon is also a founding member of the Santa Fe Outdoor Education Collaborative- a partnership of teachers and conservation non-profits providing 3 sequential years of outdoor education. This is a joint project between Audubon Southwest (ASW), the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, and the Santa Fe Watershed Association.