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The Asombro Institute for Science Education (AISE) is seeking volunteers to help the nonprofit get ready for its Desert Discovery Day Event, which includes the grand opening of its Gateway to the Desert Trail.
“We have a small team of four regular volunteers (called the “Trail Keepers”) and have been able to obtain a few folks from Boy Scout Troop 68 to also help on some weekends, but we really need more help from the community if we are going to accomplish all of the work needed to make our deadline for the Desert Discover Day event,” AISE Communications and Operations Coordinator Amy Tront.
The institute has three volunteer trail days coming up, each is 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on a Saturday at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park (AISE’s outdoor classroom), 56501 N. Jornada Road, east of Las Cruces: Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 and 19.
Desert Discovery Day
The event will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the nature park.
There is no cost to attend.
The event includes the grand opening of AISE’s newest trail, the Gateway to the Desert Trail, which allows those who are uncomfortable exploring the desert to connect to the nature park, AISE said. The new trail includes a 0.6-mile loop trail, a half-mile trail connecting the loop to the rest of the trail system at the nature park, an entrance kiosk, interpretive signs, benches and a parking area.
During Desert Discovery Day, visitors can walk the new trail, visit hands-on activity stations to learn more about weather, desert animals and tools to help identify plants and animals. Visitors will also be welcome to participate in a crowd-sourced, timelapse photo project to monitor a desert restoration project and a scavenger hunt and earn free prizes.
Funding for Desert Discovery Day comes from El Paso Electric. Funding for the trail comes from the New Mexico Economic Development Department Outdoor Recreation Division’s Trails+ grant Both are also supported by AISE donors.
Contact Tront at 575-524-3334.
