Each Spring, educators at the Randall Davey Audubon Center teach over 500 students, hitting the trail to learn about local wildlife and ecosystems. With this year’s stay-at-home order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, all Spring field trips and summer programming were cancelled for the health and safety of our community and staff. Despite the challenge, our team of educators quickly pivoted to adapt.
Supporting Teachers and Students:
After hearing the needs of local teachers, the education team developed two bilingual workbooks adapting our springtime field trips. These included self-guided science activities and outdoor investigations that students could do in their homes, backyards, or neighborhoods. Our educators distributed digital copies to Santa Fe teachers, and handed out over 2300 printed workbooks through food distribution sites, mainly to low-income Santa Fe families with limited access to the internet.
Free Online Education materials can be found HERE
Sally Maxwell, Education Specialist, also worked with a local videographer on a guided habitat exploration video to accompany the workbooks!
Backyard Habitat Explorer: Outdoor Fun with Audubon Educators
New Summer Programs:
Curious Critter Story Time, Thursdays through July, 10:00-10:45am, on Zoom,
for ages 4-8
Each week, join Camp Director, Sally Maxwell, for stories and hands-on activities. Some highlights have included a wing-flapping contest, camouflage scavenger hunt, and a visit from our staff’s reptilian pets, including Sunflower the Ball Python, Spike the Ornate Box Turtle, and Ukiyo the Crested Gecko.
Learn more and register online here.
Upcoming programs:
June 25th, 10am- Insects
July 2nd, 10:00am- Owls
July 9th, 10:00am- Hummingbirds
Summer Santa Fe
For the third year, ANM has partnered with the City of Santa Fe’s Youth Summer Program to provide equitable access to high-quality summer programming. This summer, Audubon educators developed take-home activities and kits distributed by City employees at the lunch pickup sites. Check out our New Mexico Wildlife workbook, and other free kids activities online.
Find Free Online Activities HERE
Coming In July: Audubon Adventure Camp In A Box!
These boxes will include activity guides and materials for at-home hands-on fun. Kits will be available for pick up at the Randall Davey Audubon Center (pre-order and fee required). We are still working out details, so stay tuned for more information!
Support and funding for these projects were provided by: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish- Share with Wildlife Program, the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Santa Fe Community Educators Network, and the City of Santa Fe’s Children and Youth Commission.
