Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC)
Grants Awarded
The New Mexico Outdoor Pass (NMOP) program, developed by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center and Los Luceros Historic Site, provides engaging environmental education for youth aged 6-16 and their families in northern New Mexico. Participants will explore important themes related to nature and culture while developing outdoor skills, fostering a love for the environment, and creating lasting family memories, all of which contribute to a more informed and committed local community regarding conservation and outdoor activities.
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) Outdoor Field Science (OFS) programs aim to enhance underserved students' education in the Española Valley through nature, heritage arts, and science. The programs include school field trips for place-based science learning, the Weekend Horseback Outdoor Adventure (WHOA) which provides horseback riding, camping, and hiking experiences, and week-long summer camps conducted in collaboration with the Los Luceros Historic Site (LLHS). These initiatives empower students with skills, knowledge, and connections to their environment, enhancing their academic success, social skills, confidence, and community ties while sparking interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) careers.
We collaborated with students and teachers at Kha’p’o Community School (KCS) to create a Kids Animal Guide with an English-language version on PEEC’s website and a Tewa version for the school. Our Passport to the Pajarito Plateau now runs to three volumes and has inspired 14,592 hikes and 490 passport finishers. PEEC and Los Luceros Historic Site (LLHS) integrated outdoor recreation and education into LLHS Curriculum in response to Rio Arriba Public Health Council identifying community needs.