Mark your calendars for outdoor recreation, education and conservation at Whitfield

The Starry Night National Park Calendar illuminates 12 national parks in the style of Vincent Van Gogh and provides a bright start to the New Year.

Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District hopes to brighten your 2026 calendar with events that range from starry nights at Whitfield Wildlife Conservation nature park to sunrise and sunset walks through Whitfield’s winding paths.

Valencia SWCD started the year with a gold-star win, after Whitfield was named Best Outdoor Park and Recreation Area by readers of the Valencia County News-Bulletin, for the second year in a row! Look for extended hours during the hot summer months and on holidays to enajoy early morning and late afternoon walks along Whitfield’s trails and over to the banks of the Rio Grande.

January marks the return of school field trips to Whitfield for hand-on outdoor science learning and fun, where every child can experience an adventure. These educational visits are at no cost to the school districts, as bus transportation is underwritten by the Friends of Whitfield. Teachers who want to schedule a visit should call Valencia SWCD’s Environmental Education team at 505-864-8914 or 505-402-8134 or by writing to JeffSanders@valenciaswcd-nm.gov.

Jan. 15 also marked the administration of the oath of office at Whitfield by Magistrate John Chavez to newly re-elected, elected and appointed Valencia SWCD board members Teresa Smith de Cherif, Sharon Hagaman and Blane Sanchez.

On Feb. 16, district board and staff members will travel to the Round House in Santa Fe to participate in the annual Soil and Water Conservation Day during the legislative session. Valencia SWCD will join New Mexico’s 46 other SWCDs for the opportunity to communicate directly with legislators about natural resource conservation concerns and to interact with other state and federal partners.

During last year’s session, Valencia SWCD was able to stop the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) from closing its field office in Los Lunas after speaking directly with the NRCS director in New Mexico, offering office space for NRCS at Whitfield. Following that face-to-face encounter, NRCS staff from the Los Lunas team began holding office hours at Whitfield three days per week.

This year, Valencia SWCD hopes to engage with all legislators within the District, which serves five counties and two Pueblos. In this manner, Valencia SWCD hopes to secure funding for infrastructure needed to sustain Whitfield operations and to improve the uplands area that was eroded by flash flooding during repeated and heavy rainfall this past summer.

On Feb. 21, Whitfield will be the site of a field day on biochar production, using the district’s Ring of Fire kiln, which was obtained through a Land of Enchantment grant. Folks interested in improving their soil’s architecture and microbiologic diversity will have the opportunity to learn biochar’s role in that process.

One month later, on March 21, the public is invited to celebrate spring’s arrival outside, at Whitfield. At the Spring Celebration, individuals can learn about transforming backyards into wildlife refuges, on how to become water wise and about composting. Afterward, folks can walk about the park to see the signs of spring, including leaves budding on majestic cottonwoods and desert willows.

On April 24-25, Earth Day will be celebrated all day and into the night with the theme of Earth, Water and Sky. Astrophotographer Sarah McIntyre will teach visitors how to photograph the night sky, even with a cell phone. She will speak about the importance of dark skies to wildlife and agriculture.

Ms. McIntyre is a member of the New Mexico Dark Sky State Council and returns to Whitfield by popular demand, following her recent presentations at Whitfield under the Stars and about the Aurora Borealis for the Master Naturalist course at Whitfield. Ms. McIntyre and staff from the National Park Service will help the district offer guided star gazing as Earth Day becomes Earth Night.

Given the extremes of heat of recent summers, Valencia SWCD may offer its week-long youth conservation camp earlier in the year — either during Spring break, from March 16-20, or during the week following the last day of the school year, May 25-29. Please write us at public-input@valenciaswcd-nm.gov to voice your preference.

In early autumn, on Oct. 3, the Pollinator and Desert Willow Festival will take place at Whitfield. Nov. 6 will be the annual Whitfield Under the Stars evening. Dec. 5 will usher in the festive season at Whitfield’s Birthday Party, where there will be homemade cake for all who attend.

Please mark your calendar with these scheduled events and watch this space for more details and announcements of additional programming at Whitfield.

Finally, for updated information about Valencia SWCD’s position that property tax bills still must be corrected, please call 505-402-8134.

(Teresa Smith de Cherif, board chairwoman of Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District, thanks Board Treasurer Pam Cordova for the Starry Night National Park Service Calendar.)