The Sandia Mountain Natural History Center serves all 5th graders in Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS), as well as other nearby schools, with an Ecology Field Program (EFP). The program teaches the inter-connectedness of the ecosystem and its abiotic and biotic components. Students venture on a 2-3 hour hike where they observe the natural world, experience science in action, and conduct hands-on activities. In addition, we offer the Travelling Ecology Field Program for 5th grade classes all over New Mexico to attend a natural area near them and receive a very similar program. In January and February, we teach the EFP to 5th graders from the Los Lunas area at Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area. In the winter, we also offer an Animal Investigations classroom program to Albuquerque-area 2nd graders, a one-hour program with interactive stations for the students to investigate. In addition, we attend public events throughout the year and offer educational resources (kits, online courses, wildlife pictures, scientific data) to the teachers and students of New Mexico. SMNHC programs are aligned to NM State and Next Generation Science Standards. Programs are taught by APS and NM Museum of Natural History and Science educators.
The mission of the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center is to work within New Mexico communities to develop an ecologically literate citizenry. The Center is a joint partnership between Albuquerque Public Schools and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science.
60 Columbine Lane