Earth Week is a big one for the Taos Land Trust’s Rio Fernando Park!
With events planned all week culminating in “Our Land and Trails Exploration Day” on Sunday, April 28, 2019.
I met with Juniper Manley recently who transitions to her new post as Director at The Harwood Museum of Art in mid-May (more about Juniper next week), and she filled me in on all the exciting (and ongoing), events happening at Rio Fernando Park, where she has been the Associate Director since vacating her former position (at the Harwood.)
Her lifelong passion for New Mexico and the land, prompted her to join the Land Trust, switching from a twenty year career in the Arts. In her time here, Juniper has managed all fundraising activities and grant stewardship. For the Rio Fernando Park project, Juniper has headed up Project Management, coordinating staff and contractors.
For this post she put me in touch with Jim O’Donnell, writer, (The Taos Land Trust’s official blogger), and photographer extraordinaire. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I have reposted Jim’s original post regarding the Land Trust’s Earth Week activities at Rio Fernando Park and beyond!
Monday, April 22, 2019.
EARTH DAY YOUTH LAND EXPLORATION: Taos schools will be invited to sign up for field trips to explore Rio Fernando Park with hands-on activities led by Field Institute of Taos. Field Institute of Taos will engage students in exciting ecology and pollinator focused hands-on learning curricula to open their eyes to the natural world around them! YOU CAN HELP: Sponsor a field trip $250, Sponsor a class $100, or Sponsor a Student $10.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 12:00pm.
TAKE A WALK IN RIO FERNANDO PARK: Join Taos Land Trust Executive Director Kristina Ortez for a walk around Rio Fernando Park via the new Rio Fernando Park trail. Get to know the park and see the impressive restoration work we have done over the past 18 months.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 8:00am.
BIRD WALK AT RIO FERNANDO WETLAND: Join Robert Templeton for a bird walk, beginning at Fred Baca Park and culminating at Rio Fernando Park with tea and scones. Space is limited, please RSVP to reserve your spot – 575-751-3138 or info@taoslandtrust.org. Bring binoculars and walking attire.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 12:00pm.
TAKE A WALK IN RIO FERNANDO PARK: Join Taos Land Trust Communications Coordinator Jim O’Donnell for a walk around Rio Fernando Park via the new Rio Fernando Park trail. Get to know the park and see the impressive restoration work we have done over the past 18 months.
Thursday, April 25, 2019, 12:00pm.
TAKE A WALK IN RIO FERNANDO PARK: Join Taos Land Trust Executive Director Kristina Ortez for a walk around Rio Fernando Park via the new Rio Fernando Park trail. Get to know the park and see the impressive restoration work we have done over the past 18 months.
Friday, April 26th, 2019, 2:00 – 5:00 pm.
TAOS PLAZA ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION: Join us on the plaza for a Taos community celebration of National Arbor Day. Lots of activities including tree giveaways!
Friday, April 26th, 2019, 6:00pm.
SPRING FARM-TO-TABLE @ MANZANITA MARKET: A TAOS LAND TRUST FUNDRAISING CELEBRATION Enjoy a seasonally inspired menu sourced from local farmers celebrating the tastes and traditions of Northern New Mexico. Join friends who want to protect the land that feeds us for a beautiful meal and silent auction. BUY TICKETS NOW! Call 575-751-3138 for more information. Purchase tickets at www.taoslandtrust.org/farmtotable . BE A RECOGNIZED SPONSOR: Land Lover Ticket $150 (admits 2) or General $45.
Sunday, April 28, 2019 12:00 -1:30pm
SAFE ROUTES TO PARKS WALKABILITY TOUR: Join Safe Routes to Parks for a walkability audit from the Taos High School to Rio Fernando Park. Meet at Starbuck’s in Albertson’s at 12pm. A debrief will be held at Rio Fernando Park and then you can join the festivities of the Land and Trails Exploration Day.
Sunday, April 28, 2019 1:00pm-4:00pm
RIO FERNANDO PARK LAND AND TRAILS EXPLORATION DAY: This FREE community event will include iNaturalist hunts for kids, water quality testing training, tree planting demonstrations, pollinator seed giveaways, medicinal plant walk, pollinator house building, Taos Alive prescription take back, and a visit from some raptors and snakes from New Mexico Wildlife Center. Perhaps best of all, there will be a taco truck on hand and ice cream! There will be an opportunity to help sponsor our park and trails, and we will be hosting a really super awesome generous raffle during the day’s events where you can win:
- Taos Ski Valley Blake Summer Package
- Sunrise Springs Package
- Meow Wolf Tickets!
- Hydroflasks
- Taos Gold Apricot Tree
- Dryland Wilds Gift Basket
- Aldo’s Arbor Gift Certificate
- PBJ Tree Gift Certificate
- Farmhouse Cafe Gift Certificate
- Coffee Apothecary Gift Certificate
- Health Packages!
For more about The Taos Land Trust’s Earth Week events, please visit their site linked below this post.
All images (and info), thanks to Jim O’Donnell