Nature Kids Children ages 7-10 and an adult are invited to explore nature with a refuge volunteer! 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Saturday, April 12
Saturday at the RefugeJoin us for a ranger-led activity, arts and crafts, and fun for the whole Family! Free refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro. 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday, April 19
Junior Duck Stamp Award Ceremony Students and families are invited to participate in the announcement of 2025 NM Junior Duck Stamp winners! 11:00 am to 12:00 noon
Friday, April 25
City Nature ChallengeCome learn how you can take part in a global citizen science project happening throughout the weekend! Ranger Dakota will give a talk about the refuge, educators from the Institute for Applied Ecology will go over using the iNaturalist app to participate in the City Nature Challenge, and we’ll practice identifications on a tour of a monarch butterfly recovery habitat at Valle de Oro! Register by sending an email to: dakota_dominguez@fws.gov 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday, April 26
Community Earth DayJoin us and our community partners for family-fun activities to celebrate Earth Day.
Free food will be provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro NWR.
The scholarship program is funded solely by donations. If you wish to support this program and the wonderful work done by these undergraduates, please click below.
Check out a few of our newer items, and our latest sale, at theNature Store Pageon the Friends website.
Volunteer at the Nature Store!
Refuge Bird Survey
Refuge/Friends Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed for a variety of upcoming programs and activities at Valle de Oro. Mountain View Field Day is scheduled for early May, watch for details. At that event, volunteers typically work with the students and help with their associated activities. Other needs are for weeding around the Visitor Center, helping with irrigation, helping with Earth Day on April 26, tumbleweed management, helping with regular refuge programs, for example, Nature Tots, Nature Kids, Saturdays at the Refuge, etc. If interested in volunteering please contact the Friends' President, Forest Graber, at President@friendsofvalledeoro.org.
Meet the Board
This month's Board Member is Clay Meredith.
Clay is an Ecologist with the Southwest Office of the Institute of Applied Ecology, where he coordinates rare plant conservation strategy and assists partners in the development of planning tools for restoration projects.Prior to joining IAE, he led plant conservation projects at the ABQ BioPark on behalf of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and conducted rare plant collections for long term seed storage. Outside the office, he can be found gardening, hiking, and cooking.
