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Teens learn natural resource skills from elders, technology, art in summer workshops

As the school year sunset, the Conservation Science Center’s summer programming for 17 high school aged students kicked off with the four-day Summer Field Experience, June 1-4, which focused on using technology in wildlife research, soil science, traditional ecological knowledge, visualizing sound waves through art, robotics & circuitry, coding and a nature hike grounded in the region’s geology and ecology. The program, in partnership with NM MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement), marks the final year of programming funded by USDA’s Hispanic Serving Institution grant.  

On June 9, CSC partnered with ARMAS (Achieving in Research, Math and Science) for the STEAM day during the Summer Bridge Academy, a multi-disciplinary culturally immersive week-long program that combines the sciences with indigenous education, social studies, digital media, writing, astronomy, and leadership cultivation.  

The weeklong Summer Bridge Academy integrated a multi-generational component with an elder providing youth mentorship throughout the weeklong program. Students assessed the health of the Gallinas River by collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates, important bioindicators of riparian ecosystems. Photo by Shantini Ramakrishnan
High school students learned how falcon-like drones are used in wildlife research during the Summer Field Experience. Photo credit: NM MESA
High school students fixed broken drones and prepped them for flight during the Summer Field Experience. Photo courtesy NM MESA