Field Trips
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are being offered as follows. Sign up for field trips when you register for the conference. While it’s best to book the trips you want when you register for the conference, if you’re not sure, you can return to your registration and add optional events (social or field trips) at a later date, pending availability.
Tuesday October 17th Two half day field trips to local venues, for those not attending the board meeting.
Wednesday October 18th Three full day field trips, two half day field trips to local venues.
Valles Caldera National Preserve – Full Day
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Wednesday)
Cost: $ 70, box lunch $10
People: Limited to 14 First come, first served
Description: About 1.25 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created the 13-mile wide circular depression now known as the Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich human history. Dr. Robert Parmenter, Division Chief, Science & Resource Stewardship, will guide our tour throughout the caldera.
Bandelier National Monument – Full Day
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Wednesday)
Cost: $ 70
People: Limited to 14 Café and store on site. First come, first served
Description: Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa country as well as evidence of a human presence here going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. Walk the short loop trails, which pass along many ruins, visit the waterfalls, or climb ladders 140 ft up to the Alcove House for a spectacular view of Frijoles Canyon.
Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Santa Fe – Full Day
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Wednesday)
Cost: $ 70, Box lunch $10
People: Limited to 14 First come, first served
Located just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary encompasses 135 acres of striking landscapes and wildlife. Bounded by thousands of acres of National Forest and Santa Fe River Watershed land, the Center’s striking landscape provides a peaceful sanctuary for plants, animals and our visitors. Ranging from common to rare, approximately 190 species of birds can be found in the various ecosystems of this sanctuary. Several trails lead through several different habitats and plant zones ranging from meadows to Ponderosa Pine forests.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park – Half Day
7:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Cost: $30
People: Limited to 14 each day First come, first served
Description: Located on the Rio Grande flyway, the park offers excellent birdwatching opportunities throughout the year. There are indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing areas overlooking ponds, a native plant garden, and pollinator garden, as well as trails to the Rio Grande and Bosque. The Visitor Center offers informative displays and a unique Nature Shop.
Old Town Albuquerque – Half Day
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Wednesday)
Cost: $25
People: Limited to 20 First come, first served
Description: Come and explore a town where the buildings are sculpted of mud brick (adobe) with roofs suspended by large beams of pine (vigas). Where seeds from distinct crops grew into a culinary tradition stretching back half a millenia and artisanal traditions have been passed down by generations. With a truly unique culture that has influenced art, language, and culture, Old Town Albuquerque is truly the Hart of the Southwest. A national designated historic site founded in 1706, Old Town Albuquerque is home to more than 150 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside world-class museums and historic lodging, making it an unforgettable getaway.
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge – Half Day
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Tuesday)
Cost: $25
People: Limited to 20 First come, first served
Description: Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge acknowledges that it occupies over 570 acres of ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Tiwa People. The Tiwa people have stewarded these lands for generations, and in the case of the Refuge continue to play a vital role in its protection, restoration, and prosperity. Just a few miles south of Albuquerque, Valle de Oro works with community partners to reconnect people, especially young people, to the natural world, and as such, is a designated Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Long-term plans are to make the refuge into a mosaic of native Middle Rio Grande Valley habitats and an oasis for both wildlife and people. Habitats already provide a crucial stopping point for birds migrating along the Rio Grande flyway.
