Asombro Institute for Science Education

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Las Cruces, NM
Asombro Institute for Science Education

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The Asombro Institute for Science Education's mission is to increase natural science literacy. Please email [email protected] to learn more.

The Asombro Institute for Science Education’s mission is to increase natural science literacy through engaging, place-based education. Asombro provides innovative science programs to over 22,000 K-12 students annually in classrooms, schoolyards, and at their outdoor classroom, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park. Asombro also hosts teacher workshops throughout the year to provide teachers with the knowledge, lesson plans, and tools to engage their students in data-driven lessons focused on the southwestern United States. The Asombro Institute also owns the 935-acre gem, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, which they use for field trips and public events. The park is open to the public free of charge year-round Tuesday through Sunday, 7am to 5pm. Three dog-friendly loop hiking trails (one of which is paved and ADA accessible), native flora and fauna, and a stunning view of the Organ and Doña Ana Mountains ensures that your family will have a blast. Bring a picnic, plenty of water, and enjoy all the Chihuahuan Desert has to offer at the Nature Park. Interested in volunteering with Asombro at the park or in the classroom? The Asombro Institute for Science Education is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

10/14/2026

Don’t be fooled into thinking the desert is empty of life! Many desert creatures are nocturnal, meaning they’re most active between sunset and sunrise. Being active at night helps them escape the desert’s daytime heat.
To capture the abundance of nighttime activity, Asombro’s staff have hidden motion-activated camera traps throughout the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park. Whenever a critter wanders near one of these cameras, it snaps a picture! These images help tell the nighttime story of our park—a story that often goes unseen because the park closes by 5:00 p.m. during the winter months.
Luckily, this coming Friday, October 16, the park will stay open late for our public event, “Night Life of the Desert!” This special family-friendly event will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature plenty of activities highlighting the park’s nighttime critters. It’s a unique opportunity for the public to explore the park after hours, when the desert comes alive with creatures that are rarely seen during the day.
The event is free, but donations are welcome and appreciated to support Asombro’s educational programs and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park.
Come discover the wild side of the desert after dark. We hope to see you there!

10/06/2026

Thinking ahead for dinner this week? Make it a meal that gives back! 🍗

Join us this Saturday, October 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cane’s on Telshor and support Asombro!

Cane’s will donate 15% of net sales during the fundraiser to Asombro. So grab some chicken, bring your friends and family, and help support our work in the community!

We hope to see you there! 🌿

09/30/2026

Save the date!
Join us October 16 for Nightlife of the Desert at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park!🌙

Come explore the amazing nocturnal animals that live all around us, often unseen.
🦉 Meet a raptor
🔭 View the moon through a telescope
🦇 Create a bat mask
✨ And much more!

The event is free! Donations are welcome and appreciated to support Asombro’s education programs and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park.
We hope to see you there!

09/24/2026

Asombro had a lovely time at the Bureau of Land Management- New Mexico’s Public Lands Palooza last Saturday.
Visitors met our hognose snake Zorra and learned about some of the misperceptions surrounding our native rattlesnakes. For many folks it was their first time touching a snake!
We also chatted about our amazing Chihuahuan Desert and showed off some of the natural “artifacts” you are likely to find on creosote and mesquite. This included “girdles” on mesquite branches made by the Mesquite Girdler Beetle, galls on creosote made by tiny flies which are used as nests for their larvae, and oothecas or egg cases laid by mantises.
You can go look for these yourself at Asombro’s beautiful Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, which is free to visit and open Tuesday – Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

09/23/2026

Due to heavy rains and impassable roads, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park is closed until further notice.
Check out our weather station at the park to see near-real-time weather and look at the data from the last several years. Link below.
Keep dry! 🌧

09/16/2026

The Creosote bush, also called Gobernadora, can cover almost 40% of the total land area of the Chihuahuan Desert. Did you know that Creosote can treat over 50 different ailments? The resin that covers the creosote leaves contains 19 flavonoid aglycones that contribute strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Not only can it help humans, but kangaroo rats, jackrabbits, and many, many insects rely on the bush for food or shelter. Next time you go hiking in the desert, look at the creosote closely as you might see a walking stick, katydid, or gall that has been living off it. 🌿

09/09/2026

As supporters of Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM) Asombro had the opportunity to present at their amazing summit last fall. It was a wonderful experience connecting with other Environmental Educators throughout the state. Unfortunately, our team won’t be at the summit this year on Saturday, September 12th. Despite that, we highly recommend this wonderful summit for anyone interested in learning more about outdoor learning.

08/26/2026

We are very excited to be back in the classroom this school year! Right now, 8th graders around Las Cruces are learning about magnets, magnetic fields, and how animals use them to navigate. 🧲🧭🐦
In this lesson, students visit two stations to explore how birds may use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate.
At one station, students act as Black chinned hummingbirds migrating towards Mexico in the fall. These tiny birds have crystals of magnetite in their beaks and scientists think that these structures may help them detect Earth’s magnetic field. Students used large magnets to explore magnetic forces and ‘feel’ their way to Puerto Vallarta.
At the second station, students act as Sandhill Cranes migrating from Canada to Mexico. These birds have special proteins, called cryptochromes, in the retinas of their eye. These cryptochromes are sensitive to light, and scientist think they may alter what a bird sees in response to magnetic fields. At this station students use bird vision masks to ‘see’ the way.
More learning, more questions, and more science fun ahead!

08/12/2026

August 14th is World Lizard Day!🦎
Did you know that our Chihuahuan Desert has the highest diversity of lizards of any North American desert? Over 90 species of lizards have been documented in our desert, and our Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park is a great place to go observe many of our native lizards in their natural habitat.
Whether spotting a whiptail lizard dashing across the trails, or rock camouflaged horned lizards, or a spectacular earless lizards basking on a rock that rivals the beautiful desert blooms, you will normally have a good chance of spotting lizards while enjoying our hiking trails.
Check out the link in the comments to view all the local lizard photos from observers at our iNaturalist project within our nature park so far.
Here are a few those photos you can enjoy and share the wonder of our reptilian neighbors with others.

08/06/2026

We are excited to be awarded a STEM Action Grant from Society for Science.
This grant will support Asombro by funding 40 lessons in the classroom this school year.
The STEM Action Grants program supports innovative mission-driven nonprofit organizations working to enhance scientific understanding by creating opportunities for their communities to engage in STEM.
We're looking forward to another school year filled with curiosity, discovery and hands-on learning!

Address

E College Street
Las Cruces, NM
88005

Telephone

+15755243334

Website

http://www.asombro.org/

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