“Let’s Grow Outside” – Enjoy live music, a celebration of outdoor education

Whether you are looking to learn more about outdoor education or are in the mood for live music and raffles, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy at this weekend’s “Let’s Grow Outside” celebration.

The event, which will be held at University of New Mexico-Valencia campus, will feature a day full of hands-on outdoor activities, insightful presentations and discussions, a silent auction and raffle drawings and performances from bluegrass bands The Rift Valley Ramblers and Lincoln County.

“Let’s Grow Outside” is taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 15, and is the result of a partnership between TOTAL NM and Friends of Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area.

TOTAL NM is a recently-formed nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster and build interest in outdoor classrooms and spaces to benefit the educational experience for all learners of all abilities and backgrounds statewide.

The first portion of the event from 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m. will be led by TOTAL NM and entrance into this portion is free.

“The big purpose is to celebrate outdoor classroom initiatives and share resources statewide, so we’re going to have a bunch of different things going on to support that,” said Allison Martin, executive director of TOTAL NM. “We also want to announce who we are as Total New Mexico, and the Outdoor Educator Leadership Program we’re starting with the teachers down here.”

Martin said this includes presentations at the beginning of the day from organizations such as the New Mexico Public Education Department, Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District and H2 Academic Solutions, who will talk about their outdoor classroom recently implemented at its teen resource center.

“That’s really cool because it shows how outdoor spaces can happen at places beyond schools,” said Martin.

The TOTAL NM team will then facilitate discussions with participating attendees on barriers to creating outdoor classrooms and possible solutions.

Martin said they will then do a few hands-on practice activities with the Albuquerque Public Schools outdoor learning team and the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program to put some of what they discussed into practice, which, she said, children are welcome to attend with their families. There will also be more family-friendly activities going on throughout the morning, including making seed balls, live animal presentations, trivia and more.

“The (TOTAL NM portion) gives teachers those tools to really support their students and gives parents the tools to feel comfortable continuing the learning at home,” Martin said. “I feel like the big thing is just to equip everyone with what they need to get outdoors with their kids or their students in the ways that make sense for them.”

From 12:30-4 p.m., Friends of Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area will then host a festive bluegrass concert which will also serve as a fundraiser. FWWCA is dedicated to supporting the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area by promoting habitat restoration, education and conservation.

A ticket will be required to attend the music fundraiser, which can be purchased for $40 at friendsofwhitfield.org/donate/. There are only 78 seats available, so community members are urged to jump on the opportunity fast as they will only be available for purchase until 5 p.m., Friday, June 14.

Proceeds will directly support FWWCA and TOTAL NM outdoor education programs at the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area and programs and opportunities supporting outdoor spaces at schools.

Along with the concert, a ticket will get you either a hot dog or nacho meal prepared by H2 Academic Solutions members that also includes a dessert, drink and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a variety of nature-themed prizes.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed by music and raffle drawings from 1-3 p.m. There is also a food-only ticket available on the FWWCA website for $10.

Martin said they will be selling any remaining tickets they have at the event, but those are not guaranteed so she highly recommends buying tickets ahead of time online as seating is limited.

While this event will be sure to excite educators, FWWCA board member and TOTAL NM advisory board member Victoria Rodriguez emphasized there will be meaningful takeaways and fun for everyone.

“It’s just more about the mind set of how you can integrate the outdoors into your life, whether you’re a parent, a teacher, a social worker or even a business,” said Rodriguez.

FWWCA board member Liz Aumiller said the event is also significant because it brings exposure to something new in Valencia County and encourages more outdoor interest among youth.

“The future is our kids. We focus so much on technology and everything else, but we need to focus more on the earth and what it brings to us and what we can do to help it,” said Aumiller. “So I think Allison (Martin) is heading in the right direction to try to make that education well known throughout the state, starting with the community.”