Nature Niños Amplifies Youth Voices to Policymakers at the Outdoor Economics Conference
Thanks to the incredible support of our local business partners, we've secured $4,000 in matching funds for our Giving Tuesday campaign! Now it's up to YOU to help us meet that match and double the impact for New Mexico's youth. Every dollar you give will be matched, meaning your contribution goes twice as far in providing outdoor experiences and opportunities for kids. No amount is too small—together, we can hit $4,000 and unlock those matching donations. Let's make it happen! Can you give $10? $20? Every little bit counts!
What is Nature Niños?
When a child catches their first trout, or sees an eagle take flight, or explores a backcountry trail, they light up, they learn something new, they connect. But it's not always easy to get outside-it might seem far, unfamiliar, or there's just not enough time in the day. That's where Nature Niños comes in! We are here to be your outdoor learning team. We take the guesswork out of getting outside so families-across generations-can access and explore the outdoors alongside a family-focused, professional team.
Nature Niños was created in 2019 and in 2024, after a tremendous amount of growth and expansion across the state we officially have 501(c)(3) status as a standalone organization. Nature Niños is an entry point to the outdoors for all those that find themselves with "nature nerves." We expand access to the outdoors, share all it has to offer, and invite youth and families who might not readily access the outdoors into a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community where we build skills and grow the next generation of conservationists, land stewards, and recreationalists. We spend time introducing youth to their eco-identity through the visual arts, music, theater, spoken word and other mediums while encouraging their creativity and personal expression.
Please visits our Programs Page to see all the amazing opportunities that Nature Niños is offering for our New Mexico youth from PreK thru High School.
News
New Mexico MomCast Interview
10/26/2024
In this episode of New Mexico Momcast, we explore the growing disconnect between kids and the natural world with Sarah Candelaria, founder and executive director of Nature Niños. Sarah sheds light on the alarming trend of children spending less time outside and the profound effects this is having on their well-being.
We are Officially a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
09/28/2024
**Exciting News from Nature Niños!**
We are excited to announce our 2024 fall registration date! Embark on an exciting adventure with Nature Ninos! Join us for a semester of thrilling outdoor programming, where you'll dive into the wonders of environmental education and explore the majestic great outdoors. Imagine uncovering hidden trails, discovering fascinating wildlife, and...
Thank you, PNM!
06/25/2024
Thank you to PNM for awarding Nature Ninos with their Non-traditional Education Pathway grant for 2024! These types of funding are critical to the development and involvement of Nature Ninos in our community. We are able to serve more Tile 1 Charter Schools for the 2024-2025 with these funds!
Mi Tierra Salvaje Project Resources & Recap
The goal of this project was to identify the best practices to effectively engage youth and their families in hunting and angling - focusing on communities not historically involved in these activities. Our team compiled the leading strategies in youth engagement utilizing a mixed-methods approach. This included identifying educational frameworks from the leading organizations in outdoor education, conducting a literature review to understand what peer-reviewed research existed, and hosting three listening sessions with partner organizations within, and beyond, our AFWA region that are either implementing hunting and angling programming or other outdoor programming. Many barriers were identified throughout our research including cost, transportation, adult supervision, and the community perception of hunting and angling.
Click HERE to read the full report.
Click HERE to access the How-to-Guide
NMWF implemented potential solutions to many of the identified barriers to create positive social-cultural experiences for participants, such as presenting an array of interests to provide various access points to outdoor activity, creating strong community partnerships, communicating safety guidelines clearly within our programs, and marketing our programs directly in and for the communities we are serving. The Nature Ninos program utilized these findings to release the research report "Engaging Marginalized Youth in Hunting and Angling: Identified Best Practices and Opportunities," the action guide "Breaking the Barriers to Nature: A How to Guide for Engaging Marginalized Youth in Outdoor Programming," and host the "Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp" to serve over 300 youth during the summer of 2022. This camp invited youth typically not engaged in the outdoors to meet community mentors in conservation who introduced them to activities such as angling, archery, pellet gun shooting, bird dogs, wilderness first aid, foraging, field-to-table cooking, water conservation, nature photography, nature journaling, and so much more!
