Walk for the Wild, Call for Volunteers, Fall Calendar and Moore
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🎃 October News 🦇
Walk for the Wild, Call for Volunteers, Fall Calendar and More!
Ways To Get Involved
Participate in Walk for the Wild - Oct 12-19th
Walk for the Wild occurs during National Wildlife Refuge Week in October every year. This event gets folks outside onto refuges to walk, run, or move, 5k. Walk for the Wild is also an opportunity to support the Friends groups that keep refuges running! There are two ways you can register to complete the 5K Challenge with us this year:
Join Friends, our Service partners, and members of our community at the Valle de Oro Visitor Center on Saturday, October 12, between 9am and 12:00 pm MT. We will have route maps and refreshments!
Come to the Refuge Visitor Center when it is convenient for you between October 12 and 19, pick up a map we've created with 5K routes, and start your Walk for the Wild!
Looking for a way to be more involved in your community? Would you like to learn more about how nonprofits or wildlife refuges work? You’re in luck! We are recruiting dedicated folks with experience in: Fundraising, Membership Recruitment, Communications, Managing Finances, and Technology.
Did you know that the Friends support habitat restoration, art, and education on the refuge? The Refuge Development Committee works to support Valle de Oro projects including trail development, habitat restoration, the construction of a Nature Play Area, Outdoor Classroom, extending the bus line to improve access on the refuge, and so much more! For more information contact: Forest Graber at president@friendsofvalledeoro.org
Join our Education Committee
Our Education Committee focuses on providing free programming for the community including every single student from Mountain View Elementary School! For more information contact: Joan Morrison at joan@friendsofvalledeoro.org
Get involved with Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice Air Monitoring Network (EJ Air) is a community-led atmospheric monitoring program developing an accessible high-quality picture of pollution impacting those who live, work, play, pray, go to school, and learn throughout the environmental justice communities of the Mountain View Neighborhood, the broader South Valley in Bernalillo County, New Mexico and the Pueblo of Isleta. Do you want to provide input for air pollution monitoring in Mountain View, the South Valley, and Pueblo of Isleta? Fill out the short surveys below!
Fri. October 4 -Nature Tots Children ages 3-6 and an adult are invited to explore nature with a Refuge Ranger. 10:00am to 11:30am
Fri. October 4 -Sunset Mural Loop Walk Join Ranger Dakota for an easy 1-mile walk to observe Valle de Oro's 5 murals and learn how they show our dreams for ecological restoration. 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Sat. October 12- Saturday at the Refuge Join us for a ranger-led activity, arts and crafts, and fun for the whole Family! Free food will be provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro. 11:00am to 1:00pm
Sat. October 12 -Walk for the Wild
Support for the Friends supports youth education, refuge conservation projects, and local youth employment! For more details, see the flyer above.
Sat. October 19 -Writing to Heal the Land A creative writing workshop led by local author, Anthony Fleg. All ages are welcome! The author will be signing his book, "Writing to Heal: A Pandemic Journey to Healing". 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Sat. October 26 -Wild at Night and Star Party Join this Halloween themed fun with a costume contest, nocturnal wildlife tour, family activities and a star viewing party with The Albuquerque Astronomical Society. 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Fri. November 1- Nature Tots Children ages 3-6 and an adult are invited to explore nature with a Refuge Ranger. 10:00am to 11:30am
Sat. November 9- Saturday at the Refuge: Birds are Real! Join us in learning about the birds of VdO followed by a linoleum printing workshop. Free food provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro. Fun for the whole family! 11:00am to 1:00pm
Sat. November 9- Paper Making Fundraiser with the Friends
The Albuquerque Backyard Refuge Program is seeking volunteers! Are you interested in assisting with providing the community with plant giveaways and other important habitat building resources? Reach out to Laurel Ladwig at laurel@friendsofvalledeoro.org
The refuge needs your help with managing invasive plants and planting native species. Help us continue to transform our wonderful urban refuge. Many hands make light work! For more information on how to volunteer contact our Volunteer and Youth Employment
The Nature Store is powered by volunteers. Interested in helping out? Contact Kathleen at naturestore@friendsofvalledeoro.orgor sign up online here. Don't worry- we'll provide all the training you need.