Sandia Mountain Natural History Center

06/04/2026

This school year, we taught 8 Traveling Ecology Field Programs for 370 students at 5 locations- Ghost Ranch, Bluewater Lake State Park, Gila National Forest, Navajo Lake State Park, and Coyote Creek State Park.

New Mexico 5th grade teachers outside the Albuquerque area, would you like to take your students on a free outdoor Ecology Field Program at a natural area near you during the 2026-’27 school year?

The program is free, and you can request NM Outdoor Recreation Division Outdoor Equity grant funds for bus cost reimbursement.

Request a program via our registration form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcUMCIsk0zpqhndGBfoUd0C8Rbe9pUYLJ4WLL63cukIj_RCg/viewform

Select from available dates:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i60qoEsHxcbvoQsk3O35lBBB7y7HPTzHnt3i0Ta2W4w/edit?gid=0 =0

Email [email protected] with questions.

06/02/2026

The 5th New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs coloring and activity book "Unearth New Mexico" features New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science Director of Education taking kids on a tour back through time of dinosaurs and more.

There is a temporary exhibit now open at the museum with graphics from this book, and you can color your own page to be on display. There is also a QR code to print your own copy.

Unearth New Mexico will soon be available at public libraries across our state.

https://dcaeducates.nmculture.org/dca-activity-books/

To celebrate the fifth installment in our series of coloring and activity books, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science has built an interactive exhibit, 'Unearth New Mexico, showcasing these designs and letting visitors create and share their own colorful displays of life in the Land of Enchantment!

On your next visit, explore where in the museum you can learn about each time period, find hidden details, and make your own mark on New Mexico’s geologic history. Learn more at https://nmnaturalhistory.org/exhibits/temporary-exhibits/unearth-new-mexico

06/01/2026

This school year, we taught on-site Ecology Field Programs for 25 schools with 1,292 students that are not part of Albuquerque Public Schools!

Are you or do you know any 5th grade teachers that would like to schedule to bring students here next year?

Fill out this form to request a 5th grade program:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCAqfd7gvUTwhlWl4f44J78UjZ2crMIzbNtS-u_AEn88rqrQ/viewform

Select preferred dates from this spreadsheet:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oFH4DUwlaxjDpmuxz40T0cAPAOfYMT0hwVtLxx9uH08/edit?usp=sharing

Email [email protected] for more information or if you have questions. Let her know if you're interested in bus cost reimbursement.

05/30/2026

Our second New Mexico Arts Artist in Residence, Anthony Corraro, will share and demonstrate his artistic process tomorrow, Sunday, at 2pm!

Event is here at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, 60 Columbine Ln. in Cedar Crest. Please drive slowly on Columbine Lane.

05/27/2026

We've reached the end of the 2025-'26 school year here at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center!

Through teaching our 5th grade Ecology Field Program, 3rd grade Los Padillas Wildlife Sanctuary program, and other special programs, we have:
Taught 187 schools (which includes 2x per APS school)
Guided 552 classes.
Taught 13,400 students and teachers/chaperones.
Hiked 688 miles.
Went to 7 NM counties.

The SMNHC is a partnership between New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science and Albuquerque Public Schools.

APS Education Foundation

05/26/2026

Our second New Mexico Arts Artist in Residence, Anthony Corraro, will share about developments in his artistic practice in the Sandias and demonstrate his process of transforming rock dust into art this Sunday from 2-3pm.

Event is here at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, 60 Columbine Ln. in Cedar Crest. Please drive slowly on Columbine Lane.

05/25/2026

Another highlight of our connections with Albuquerque Public Schools art teachers are these winter landscape paintings that Alamosa Elementary's art teacher Kimberly Humphries had her 5th grade students create based on their Ecology Field Program in the fall.

They learned about the aspen tree, as well as bird and lichen species that grow in US Forest Service - Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands.

Great job to the students!

05/20/2026

We are happy to announce that we again have been awarded an Outdoor Equity Fund grant from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division, providing state funding for youth outdoor programming.

For us, this funding will cover reimbursement to schools for their bus transportation costs to travel to our program sites during next school year, fund a contract educator position, and provide travel money for our staff to do programs around the state.

https://nmoutside.com/fy26-round-2-outdoor-equity-fund-recipients/

https://nmoutside.com/grant_recipients/sandia-mountain-natural-history-center/

05/18/2026

Environmental Education of New Mexico - EENM is now accepting applications for the 2026 NM Youth Outdoors Grant! These micro grants ($3,000-$5,000) are non-recurring and will be allocated to New Mexico nonprofits, schools, Pueblos, and Tribes that advance outdoor equity by implementing outdoor programs for youth who may not otherwise have the chance to learn, play, and grow outside.

Apply by June 10th:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE1n1gl49c1KVcELOxxTMjWABEKPM8Ac3ViON8vSymQ0xu2g/viewform