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Above: The Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas
 The desert springs exhibit features a diorama background image of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center Now Open Daily The recently completed El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Education Center is located within the El Paso Zoo. The center features interactive exhibits that teach pre-school through elementary school-aged children about the Chihuahuan desert and water resources. Zoo education specialists and volunteers present an assortment of animal encounter programs for school groups and other visitors. One of the newest exhibits features animals that live in and around desert springs. For more information on curriculum based programs at the center as part of a field trip learn about El Paso's Zoo Adventure Program or contact Zoo Adventure Coordinator Penny Davis at 915-521-1894. Meet Takota, our new Golden Eagle January
28, 2010. The El Paso Zoo is happy to introduce the newest
member of its education department: a four-year-old Golden Eagle named Takota.
Originally found on the ground near To ensure the quality of his long-term care, the
Elmore previously developed bird shows and training
programs at zoos and animal parks across the country. Elmore also launched
Since working with Elmore, Takota has already made
tremendous progress. The golden eagle’s rehabilitation reflects the El Paso
Zoo’s mission to develop engaging exhibits and educational programs that help
people rediscover their connection to nature and encourage behavioral changes
that promote conservation. Look for Takota the Golden Eagle this spring and
visit the other exciting animals at El Paso Zoo! About
El Paso Zoo serves as a regional center for family
fun, education, and conservation efforts for wildlife and natural resources.
Currently the Zoo is home to over 220 species of animals including mammals,
reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates from North and South America and
El Paso Zoo launches new
Adventure Program
We need you!
CDEC and member organizations are always
looking for new members and volunteers. Don't just sit there. Find
out how you can use your talents and resources to help protect and
education others about the Chihuahuan Desert. Contact member
organizations or a members of the CDEC
Board of Directors.
Many members of CDEC are available
for public speaking appearances For more information contact each speaker
individually. If you are looking for a topic not listed below contact Rick
LoBello at
lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov.
Big Bend For Teachers
Big Bend has a wealth of opportunities for teachers, scout and youth leaders. Whether you're planning a park visit for your students, looking for lesson plans or other resources to use in your classroom or home, or hoping to have a ranger visit, we've got it. Think of your National Parks as off-site classrooms! There are many ways to utilize America's treasures as teaching tools. After all, we have "the real thing," and we love to work with you to teach students the importance of the special places we all work together to preserve and protect for the future. Learn More.
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El Paso Zoo Announces: New Roar and Snore Overnight Adventures
New Nature Notes Podcast Program
GUIDED TOURS
First and
third weekend of every month at
9 am. For more information call 566-6441.
$4 per person, 12
and under free. $60 Annual Pass covers entrance to all Texas State Parks. In addition to the guided nature hikes, teachers may schedule
educational field trips for their classes. Field trips cover topics ranging from
water in the desert, animal adaptations to geology. Students will also have an
opportunity to hike and experience the Chihuahuan Desert! Contact Kelly to plan
your next field trip to Franklin Mountains State Park.
US Fish and Wildlife
Department
Endangered Species Resources for Teachers and Kids Video game takes kids outside The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is
launching a new online video game aimed to encourage kids to go outside and
learn about the environment. Designed for children ages 8 to 11 years old,
Neighborhood Explorers is accessed through the Service’s Let’s Go Outside!
website at
http://www.fws.gov/letsgooutside/. The journey through the game begins when you meet three
children – Mia, Lucy and Steve – who gather in a tree house as the school year
begins and talk about all the fun outdoor environmental activities they did over
the summer. They form a Neighborhood Explorers Club, called the NX Club, and
share information about planting gardens with native plants, backyard bird
watching and urban wildlife. By exploring the tree house with your cursor, you
can learn about endangered species, conservation heroes and threats to our
natural world. Then you can play a fun jeopardy-style trivia game that tests
your newly acquired environmental information in an entertaining and interactive
venue. Other activities include recording nature sightings in your
own back yard, a race against time to find a missing praying mantis in the midst
of an urban neighborhood, and identifying birds in a variety of habitats. When
you finish a game, you can receive a gold, silver, or bronze patch, depending on
how many points you score. Every game is a fun challenge as well as a valuable
educational experience. You can also receive patches for documenting
environmental projects and local wildlife, thus reinforcing the connection
between the virtual and natural worlds. When you’ve earned all five patches, you can receive a free
tree from the Arbor Day Foundation! (A free membership to the NX Club is
required so a record of your earned patches can be saved). After earning all
five patches, you will be directed to the Arbor Day Foundation web site, where
you can provide your name and address to get a free tree with directions for
planting. There are only 450 trees available, so you should get started winning
your patches right away! Neighborhood Explorers provides an excellent educational
opportunity for children and parents. By participating in this game, kids learn
about nature and are encouraged to spend more time outside. Steve’s summer
activity, for example, is simply exploring and observing nature. Children can
also learn about problems that the environment is facing, such as pollution and
invasive species, and discover ways to help solve these problems. Unstructured play and discovery outside is an important part
of childhood, and Neighborhood Explorers reinforces this through a medium that
kids are familiar with: a video game. This is a great opportunity to show kids
how caring about conservation and the environment can make a real-life
difference in the world. The mission of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance
fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife
conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and
natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For
more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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