Exploring the pond (photo: Janice Tucker)

Santa Fe Botanical Garden uses the environment as a classroom.  During our school programs we introduce students to the wonders of nature through interactive learning experiences.  By fostering an appreciation of nature in the young, we hope to encourage life-long interest in science and in the natural world.  Our programs are designed to support and augment the New Mexico Science Standards: Strand I and Strand II.

Strand I: Scientific Thinking and Practice

Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of
observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.

Strand 2: Content of Science

Standard II (Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the
interdependence of living things and their environments.

A sampling of past Santa Fe Botanical Garden environmental science education programs:

• Plant Presses: Become a botanist by collecting and preserving plants for future study.

• Wetland Wonders: Discover what makes a wetland and why wetlands are important to the environment.

• The Rotten Log Hotel: Uncover the secrets of a rotten log.

• Pond Life: Look closely at water creatures and the four pond life habitats.

• Terrific Trees: Determine a tree’s age, find out how it makes food, why leaves change colors and how to identify tree species from leaves, fruit and bark.

• Nature Detective: Follow clues to uncover facts about plants, insects, birds and other wildlife that live at the Preserve.

• Treasure Walk: Hunt for the treasure at the end of a nature walk while learning facts about plants and animals along the way.

• Bird Walks: Experience the world of birds. Pretend to be a migrating bird, find out where they live, and receive hands-on bird-watching tips.

• Parts of a Plant: Examine a plant from the inside out.

Educators interested in scheduling a Field Experience should feel free to call the office or email education@santafebotanicalgarden.org.

To learn more about the location, visit the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve page and for directions please see Visit Us.