On September 14 and 28 from 9:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., about 140 7th grade students from La Plata School participated in a project sponsored by the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site (MCHS) and Grant County Archaeological Society (GCAS). The goal was to introduce the students to the prehistory, history and natural features of the Mimbres Valley.

Throughout each day, small groups of students visited eight stations where they participated in hands-on presentations on the following topics: Mimbres archaeology, pottery, and tools; the Mattocks Ruin Archaeological Site and artifact documentation; the MCHS Museum; Apache history; rock art; and the Mimbres River riparian ecosystem and endangered species. Stations were located near the two historic Territorial adobe houses, at the Mattocks pithouse/pueblo ruin, and at the Mimbres River.

Project Director, Marilyn Markel (MCHS volunteer education coordinator), organized the presentations given by GCAS members, MCHS volunteers, and Aldo Leopold Charter School YCC students. Transportation was funded by a Grant County Community Foundation grant and a donation from the GCAS education fund.

On October 12, about seventy 4th graders from Stout Elementary came for a similar presentation. Although the rainy weather drove everyone indoors, the children all visited several stations on the grounds where they learned about the rich culture of the Mimbres Valley. This field day is an experience enjoyed by children of all ages as well as the educators and chaperons, as it provides important concepts of preservation education and contexts for the remarkable area we live in.