Story by Dr. Wiebke J. Boeing, NMSU

Mimbres, NM, June 26, 2019 — Exploring the majestic beauty of the Gila Wilderness on a backpacking/camping adventure while learning science became reality for twelve female high school students from the southern New Mexico and western Texas area. The high school students are participating in a program known as GALS: Girls on Outdoor Adventures for Leadership and Science. Four trip leaders from the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University (NMSU), USDA Jornada Experimental Range, and the University Program in Ecology at Duke University guided students who are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. 

The high school students learned from Wilderness District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton about careers in Natural Resource fields and visited the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. They played games, took on leadership challenges, learned about science, and conducted group science projects. Students backpacked up to 5 miles, navigating difficult terrain to camp at the Middle Fork and hiked to - and enjoyed - Jordan Hot Springs. Additionally, students were taught backpacking skills like how to purify water and cook on camp stoves. Cold mashed potatoes with clumpy gravy and burned brownies have never tasted so good and dinners progressed to perfectly baked deep-dish pizza.

Upon return to Las Cruces, students analyzed their data and prepared presentations for professors, family, and friends. GALS is sponsored by NMSU, local businesses, and the community at large and is free for participants. It aims at empowering young women and providing them with the self-confidence and support system to pursue STEM careers.

For more information about GALS visit our website https://aces.nmsu.edu/gals/ or contact Dr. Boeing wboeing@nmsu.edu.  For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GilaNForest/ or follow us on Twitter @GilaNForest.