Earth Day Activities at New Mexico State Parks

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 17 April 2017 17 April 2017

Santa Fe, NM - Join NM State Parks on Saturday, April 22nd to celebrate Earth Day. There will be educational and fun activities in six of our parks throughout the day and night. Explore the parks where interactive, kid-friendly activities and demonstrations allow you to experience how the park and its partners are protecting our natural resources.

Become a Junior Ranger while visiting a state park. The Junior Ranger motto "Explore, Learn, and Protect!" is recited by children around the country, each taking an oath of their own to protect the park's plants and animals, to continue to learn about parks, and to share their own ranger story with friends and family. On Earth Day, take the pledge to follow the rules at the park to stay safe and to protect your favorite park! Inquire at the Visitor Center on how you can become a Junior Ranger.

The following State Parks have activities planned on Earth Day:

Cerrillos Hills State Park, will host Raptors of New Mexico from 11a.m.-1p.m. Scientists study raptors to get important clues about environmental health. Guest presenter, Laura McCann will bring a Great Horned Owl, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Turkey Vulture and help you learn all about them. Meet at the main parking lot just past the park entrance, 1/2 mile north of Cerrillos village on County Road 59. Contact Cerrillos Hills State Park at 505-474-0196 for more information. Regular park fees apply.

Eagle Nest Lake State Park features its Trout Program. Visitors can learn the habitat species and life of Trout. The program lasts one hour from 10 a.m. - 11a.m. hosted by NM State Parks Interpretive Ranger, Roy Sinclair. Meet at the Eagle Nest Lake Group Shelter, just north of the Visitor Center. Contact Eagle Nest Lake State Park at 575-377-1594 for more information. Regular park fees apply.

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park will host their annual Earth Day Festival from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Visitor Center. There will be Party for the Planet children's activities including crafts and face painting. In addition, the Carlsbad Horticulture Society will be hosting A Taste of the Living Desert, featuring a variety of New Mexico foods available in the gift shop. While at the Park, purchase native landscaping plants for your garden. New Mexico authors will be there to sell and sign their books and local artists will sell hand-made crafts. Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a unique prize! The vendors will be there through Sunday, April 23. Contact Kathryn Law at 575-887-5516 for more information. Park fees will be waived for this event.

Rockhound State Park will host a star party from 8:45 p.m. - 10 p.m. Orion is low in the west, and Jupiter is high in the east. The presenter will be John Gilkison, National Public Observatory. Contact Robert Apodaca at 575-546-6182 for more information. Regular park fees apply.

Ute Lake State Park presents a 3-D Archery Shoot at the Roger's Park area hosted by the Friends of Ute Lake from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. There is a $15 fee for the first shoot and $5 for each shoot thereafter. Contact Rodney Paris at 575-403-7044 for more information. Regular park fees apply.

Hyde Memorial State Park needs volunteers for an Earth Day Clean Up! Come enjoy the park and pitch in to make it a cleaner place in honor of Earth Day from 10 a.m. - 12 noon. Meet the Friends of Hyde Memorial State Park who are sponsoring the event, and find out about upcoming park events. Free lunch for all participants. Contact Jeff Valdez at 505-699-4713 for more information. Fees are waived for volunteers of the park clean-up!

While visiting a state park for an outing or a special event, state park officials remind you to always make safety your number one priority. If you are boating, please be prepared on the water and wear your lifejackets. State Parks offers FREE boating safety classes around the state and on-line throughout the year so you can get your boating safety card and you'll be all set for the boating season! For more information regarding boating in New Mexico, log on to www.boatnm.com or for general information on YOUR state parks, visit www.nmparks.com.

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