Public Lands Interpretive Association
Grants Awarded
The Whiptail Trails Club is a three-part program designed to empower underserved seventh-graders in the greater Las Cruces area by educating them about southern New Mexico's public lands. Participants will gain essential outdoor skills, leadership abilities, and an understanding of conservation career opportunities, ultimately fostering self-reliance and responsible stewardship of natural resources. The program culminates in a recognition ceremony for students and their families, celebrating their accomplishments and encouraging continued outdoor engagement within the community.
The Whiptail Trails Club empowers 7th and 8th grade students from Title-1 schools in Las Cruces and nearby rural areas to explore New Mexico's public lands and develop stewardship skills. By engaging over 200 students through in-class visits, field trips, and a weeklong camping experience for 10 girls, the program fosters outdoor skills such as map reading, backpacking, and adherence to Leave No Trace Principles, benefiting both participants and the local community.
PLIA’s Mobile Visitor Center (MVC) program aims to enhance outdoor recreation access for families in 10 rural New Mexico communities by providing essential resources like brochures, maps, guides, and recreation passes. From September to October 2024, the MVC staff will conduct pop-up events, presentations, and guided hikes, empowering local residents to engage with and learn about the public lands available in their area, ultimately fostering a greater appreciation for outdoor spaces within the community.
The Valley of Fires Trail Project will enhance access to the Valley of Fires Recreation Area in Carrizozo by constructing a new trail to a unique kipuka lava rock formation, resulting in a 1.5-mile round-trip hiking experience. With the addition of interpretive signage and rest areas, participants will gain knowledge about the natural landscape while fostering a deeper connection to the community and the environment.
Founded in 1981, the Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) has served to educate and inspire the public about the natural and cultural heritage resources on America’s public lands. As a nonprofit, we work closely with the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service to provide interpretive and educational assistance in the Southwest. With locations in New Mexico and Arizona, our bookstores and visitor centers on public lands provide essential knowledge through maps and books for sale, unique souvenirs to enhance the visitor experience, and staff members and volunteers who can answer specific visitor questions. Our New Mexico Public Lands Information Center (NMPLIC), which operates within the Bureau of Land Management state office in Santa Fe, provides a ”one-stop shop” for information about public lands and outdoor recreation in New Mexico. PLIA’s education and outreach programs also seek to engage people with public lands. Throughout the year, PLIA staff provide in-class presentations and field trips for middle-schoolers, create events to celebrate lesser-known public lands, and give presentations about map resources and contacts for land management agencies. For example, our award-winning Caver Quest Academy program developed an in-class program (and a video game!) for schools in southern New Mexico to teach students about cave science and etiquette, while preparing them for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition into Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave! For more than forty years, PLIA has developed high-quality publications for sale and for free distribution through the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. These include maps and guidebooks, trail and pocket guides, and interpretive signage and displays. Finally, we also provide interpretive and personnel support to three campgrounds in Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest.