Environmental Education of New Mexico - EENM

While you’re picking up your sustainable, local, and yummy groceries at La Montañita Coop this April, remember to round up to support EENM!

Your change supports:
- Statewide advocacy to promote outdoor learning
- A thriving community of practice for educators
- More opportunities for NM youth to get outside and learn from the land!

April is National Garden Month and School Garden Month! At EENM, we’re digging into the magic that teachers, students, and communities create when they grow campus gardens together. 🌱

Ready to grow your own success? Join us April 22, 2:30–3:30pm via Zoom for our School Garden Success panel. Get the inside scoop from educators who’ve turned school gardens into thriving green havens, packed with tips, tricks, and real talk on overcoming garden hurdles. Bring your questions and let’s cultivate inspiration!

Register here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ouJ2hmAQLxMF1AuYHbonbg

To help connect passionate people with purposeful work, EENM has curated a growing list of seasonal internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities in environmental and outdoor education.

Whether you're hiring or hoping to get your foot in the door, our updated directory is your first step toward a summer of learning, leading, and lasting impact. To submit an opportunity, send job details to [email protected].

Check it out—and let the season of possibility begin: https://eenm.org/summer-2026-internships-apprenticeships-and-seasonal-employment/

The NM Legislature is currently in session!

Legislators across the state are discussing several key issues related to youth and outdoor learning.

You can make your voice heard by contacting your representatives, and by attending scheduled events at the Roundhouse during the legislative session, including:

Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Day at the Capitol with the Outdoor Recreation Department: January 26th from 10:30 am-1:00 pm

Environment Day at the Roundhouse with the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club: February 5th from 8:30 am - 2 pm

To learn more about proposed legislation and how to contact your legislators, check out our January Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/7eda004210b7/eenmfebruary23newsletter-14205243

Thanks to The Santa Fe New Mexican for covering recent updates in the movement for outdoor learning! Check out the article to learn more and hear from our board chair, Amanda Keith.

Outdoor learning picks up steam in New Mexico amid mental health, tech concerns “There's so much in nature that they can learn,” said Chris Smaby, the founder of a soon-to-open outdoor charter school.

2025 was a big year for EENM! Thanks to all who made this year's success possible. Comment below with your favorite 2025 EENM memory!

Organization: Global Warming Express The Global Warming Express/Global Warming Emergency

Mission: To educate children in the areas of science, climate science, regenerative solutions, arts, outdoors, civics, mindfulness, advocacy and action, and to create opportunities for them to feel the interconnection between the natural world and their inner world, empowering them to mobilize a human world to support all beings.

This year’s accomplishments: In 2025, for the 13th year, Global Warming Express volunteer mentors conducted free, year-long, once-a week after school programs in elementary schools across New Mexico, engaging students in science, climate science, climate solutions, mindfulness training, arts, civic engagement, advocacy and action.

In 2025, students around NM created their group “Big” and “Small” goals and were successful in achieving them. These included:

In Santa Fe, students were successful in having all plastic removed from their cafeteria- replacing plastic cutlery with metal cutlery, and partnering with a neighbor school to facilitate the dishwashing of the cutlery.
In Raton, 4th graders started a school recycling program, meeting and presenting to their local Rotary Group and receiving funding for the recycling containers, then meeting with the local landfill staff, who agreed to pick up the school’s weekly recycling, despite the fact that there is no pickup in any other part of town.
Other students studied and analyzed a Senate Legislativebill focused on clean air. Then, they wrote, memorized and, during public comment time, delivered speeches about their support of the bill, receiving a standing ovation from the members of the public and the Senators on the committee.
At one school, 4th and 5th graders studied and analyzed how to create a water garden on their campus and met with local professionals to help to craft a plan for water harvesting and retention on their campus.
What does your gift go towards? Creating a new, short film about the Global W.E. program, to use for educational and promotional purposes. Our last film was made in 2018.

How can I give?

Donate online here: https://eenm.org/tis-the-season-give-back-to-these-eenm-member-organizations-to-support-outdoor-education/
Mail checks to: 2300 West Alameda, B1, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Organization: Celebrate Planet Earth

Mission: We grow children who love & protect the Earth, our home.

This year’s accomplishments: This year alone, more than 251,500 children experienced the joy of raising live Painted Lady caterpillars, planting sunflower seeds, and watching life unfold right before their eyes. These simple but profound experiences spark curiosity, nurture stewardship, and give students a sense of connection to the planet they call home.

What does your gift go towards? Here in New Mexico, our commitment to outdoor learning continues to grow. Through the Exploradores Outdoor Classroom, we brought 3,960 students outside to learn about native trees, wildlife, and the ecosystems that make our state extraordinary. For many, it was their first time studying science under the open sky.

How can you give? Find donation link at https://eenm.org/tis-the-season-give-back-to-these-eenm-member-organizations-to-support-outdoor-education/.

Mail checks to: Celebrate Planet Earth, PO Box 1536, Santa Fe, NM 87504

Photos courtesy of Jon Weaver.

Organization: New Mexico Wildlife Center

Mission: Our mission is to protect New Mexico’s wildlife through rehabilitation, conservation, education, and public engagement.

This year’s accomplishments:

- The Center’s wildlife hospital has treated 1,050 animals and counting representing 160 different species in 2025.
- NMWC established a partnership with New Mexico Department of Game & Fish and US Fish and Wildlife Service on the Boreal Toad reintroduction program.
- NMWC is member of the State Wildlife Action Plan implementation committee for Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
- Our Education Team have presented 467 wildlife education programs to over 10,000 learners of all ages in the first 10 months of 2025.
- A new aquatic species, pre-release, rehab enclosure is being built to enhance the rehab care of these uniquely adapted species of birds, mammals and reptiles. It will be ready to accept patients in early 2026.

What does your gift go towards?

New Mexico Wildlife Center is collaborating with US Fish and Wildlife Service on the education component of the Black-Footed Ferret recovery and reintroduction program. As part of that program NMWC is poised to be the first organization in the state to exhibit Black-footed Ferrets. In order to prepare to house this extremely rare keystone species and undertake education programming about their role in western prairie ecosystems, including a large portion of New Mexico, NMWC is in need of securing $10,000 to construct a suitable enclosure.

How can I give?

Online donations at https://eenm.org/tis-the-season-give-back-to-these-eenm-member-organizations-to-support-outdoor-education/

Checks can be mailed to: New Mexico Wildlife Center, 19 Wheat St, Española, NM 87532

Photos courtesy of Dawn Wright

Congratulations to Mara Flores, this year's recipient of the Dr. Richard W. Becker Award for Excellence in Environmental Education! To learn more about Mara and her work, check out the newest post on our website.

Mara Flores Named 2025 Becker Awardee for her Work Supporting Spanish-speaking Families Learning to Grow Food - Environmental Education of New Mexico Traducción al español del artículo disponible aquí November 17, 2025 Albuquerque, New Mexico Mara Flores of Earthcare’s La Milpa Comunitaria has been named the 2025 Dr. Richard W. Becker awardee Continue Reading →