Outdoor Environmental Education Programs
at the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Connecting with Nature: Making a Difference for Conservation
Welcome to the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary
At the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary, our mission is to
conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, wildlife and
habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth’s biological diversity.
Education is our primary goal, both in Santa Fe and around the state. Our
staff of environmental educators strives to promote awareness of the interrelationship between people, land, and wildlife through environmental
education.
Our outdoor environmental education programs offer hands-on, naturebased activities designed to complement your science curriculum and meet
the New Mexico Life Science Standards & Benchmarks as well as the North
American Association of Environmental Education’s Guidelines for Excellence. Our environmental educators effectively blend scientific concepts
with literacy, math, history, and inquiry to provide an educational and
inspirational experience. Each program combines discovery, investigation
and outdoor exploration.
At the Randall Davey Audubon Center, your class will explore the natural
world in the meadow, orchard, pond, canyon, and hiking trails throughout
our 135-acre wildlife sanctuary nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de
Cristo Mountains.
We look forward to seeing you!
Programs at the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Join us and discover the diverse ecology and habitats at our sanctuary. Our 135-acre
property includes pinon-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine forest, expansive lawns &
pollinator gardens.
All of our programs provide for extensive exploration of the habitats that
surround the sanctuary with scientific and experiential discovery.
Programs for 1st through 6th grades are 3 hours in length. Our Discovery Walks for
pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes are 1 1/2 hours.
We invite you to stay and enjoy lunch on the lawn after the program.
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten (1.5 hours)
Discovery Walks
Wildlife is all around us. All we have to do is observe! Using their five senses, our
youngest scientists will investigate and observe the treasures of our wildlife sanctuary.
Students explore our pollinator garden and the pinon-juniper woodlands, while also
learning to respect nature and enjoy everything that it has to offer.
1st Grade (3 hours)
Nature’s Neighborhood
What natural things share our space? Students explore our “natural neighborhood” to see
how animals and plants get food, water, shelter, space, air, and sunlight at the Randall Davey
Audubon Center. Students compare and contrast animals to determine the needs of
various organisms, including people, pets, and wildlife. Students also discover the various
non-living elements that are essential to survival!
Nature’s Cycles
How do animals, plants, and insects change through their life cycle? Students explore the life
cycles of various living things at our sanctuary. Students become familiar with metamorphosis,
as well as the gradual life stages of mammals, reptiles, birds and humans. Through
investigations and an interactive hike, students have the opportunity to see and inquire about
the various stages of many living things and understand that change occurs with growth.
2nd Grade (3 hours)
The Hunted and the Hunters
Who gets hunted and who hunts? Investigate the predators and prey and discover the contrasting characteristics of mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, cottontail rabbits, birds, and deer.
Explore the relationships between animals through an exploration of skulls, food webs,
territory, and ecological balance.
Insect Investigations
Insects are amazing! Students will discover the various life cycles of insects through
observation and exploration and become familiar with the terms metamorphosis, egg,
larva, and pupa. The various parts of insects will be discussed and compared with both
spiders and other animals. Through our process of discovery, students will recognize the
important role insects play in every habitat.
3rd Grade (3 hours)
Wildlife Detectives
Even though animals often elude us, students discover the many signs that wild animals
leave behind including tracks, feathers, nests, and burrows! Through inquiry and investigation,
students solve animal mysteries and discover how the habitat can inform us about the
animals that live there. Students will have the opportunity to create a field guide of animal
tracks to take along on the trail.
Animal Adaptations
Animals are fully adapted for survival. Every characteristic that an animal has helps it to
either find prey or avoid predators. Through the examination of many specimens, students
will discover the various fascinating adaptations that animals possess. Looking at animals
through the lens of adaptation changes the way that students see the wildlife around them
and helps them to understand their physical and behavioral characteristics.
4th Grade (3 hours)
Birds of a Feather Explore Together Part I
What makes a bird a bird? Discover the physical and behavioral adaptations birds have made
to successfully live in their environments. Students investigate bird anatomy and adaptations
by studying real beaks and skulls, nests, eggs, and study skins. Meet our feathered friends up
close as we learn to use binoculars and hike to observe and identify birds around our wildlife
sanctuary.
Birds of a Feather Explore Together Part II
We continue our discovery of birds by focusing on a deeper investigation of adaptations. This
includes discovering the flap speed and wing span of various birds; participating in a game
that simulates bird beaks; and learning how to use field guides to identify birds through
silhouettes, field marks, beak shape and size. This program includes a bird watching hike that
utilizes binoculars and all of our senses to locate birds.
5th Grade (3 hours)
Ecosystem Explorations (additional 4-day option for SFPS scholarships only)
Explore the biodiversity of various ecosystems by utilizing scientific skills to discover the
elements of habitats. We will investigate the abiotic factors and the biotic factors including
producers, consumers, and decomposers. Students gain a greater understanding of the
interrelationship of living things, including human relationship, impact, and protection of
natural resources through ecosystem explorations!
Geology of the Santa Fe Canyon
Discover the fascinating rocks, minerals, crystals, (and even fossils!) that surround the Randall
Davey Audubon Center! Take an exploratory hike through the canyon into the mountains
and uncover the geologic history embedded in the rocks. Distinguish between the processes
that created each type of rock and learn how it is possible that we have aquatic fossils in New
Mexico!
6th Grade (3 hours)
Watershed Sleuths
What is a watershed? Take an exploratory hike through various ecosystems to investigate how
water impacts the physical environment and determines what plants and animals thrive best in
specific ecosystems. Test for dissolved oxygen, phosphates and nitrates, and look for macroinvertebrates as a signs of water quality. Discuss the impact of pollution to a watershed and
how we can best protect our limited resources.
One Hour Life Science Discovery Programs in your Classroom
Audubon New Mexico is pleased to offer inquiry-based science programs all about birds.
With a full array of specimens, feathers, nests, and eggs, we will visit your classroom and introduce your students to
various adaptations of birds while weaving a message about conservation throughout the exploration.
All programs meet New Mexico Life Science Standards & Benchmarks.
Our 1-hour programs are offered in December, January and March only.
3rd to 8th Grades
K to 4th Grades
All About Birds:
Birds of Prey:
With a hands-on examination of feathers, nests,
eggs, skulls, bones, and study skins, students learn all
about what makes a bird a bird. Bird adaptations are
introduced to students through inquiry to develop an
understanding of how birds fly, eat, and build nests.
Birds of prey have specialized adaptations suited to
catching prey in the air, on land, and in the water. This
program introduces students to birds of prey through
investigation of their structure and behaviors. This
class culminates with the dissection of real owl pellets.
Includes additional materials fee ($2/per student).
3rd to 6th Grades
6th to 8th Grades
Bird Adaptations and Migration:
Birds and Conservation:
Students are introduced to the amazing adaptations
of birds. Through an inquiry-based approach to
exploring feathers, nests, eggs, skulls, bones and study
skins, students will develop an understanding of bird
behaviors, including migration. Various flyways will be
introduced with a special emphasis on the migratory
flyway through New Mexico to familiarize students
with which birds pass through our state at various
times of the year.
As an indicator species, bird behavior reflects the state
of environmental health through changes in habitat and
migratory patterns. This program introduces students
to birds through the lens of conservation and how
shifts in bird patterns and behaviors reflect climate
change, habitat loss, and pollution. Students will also be
introduced to citizen science and making contributions
to scientific data!
Program Pricing Guide
Grade Level
Programs
Program Length
Cost
Pre-K and K
Discovery Walk
1.5 hours
$100
18 or less
Grades 1st to 6th
RDAC site program
3.0 hours
$150
26 or less*
K to 8th
Classroom Visits
1.0 hour
$50**
26 or less
No. of Students
* Classes that exceeds 26 students will be charged an additional $25.00 fee.
** One-hour in class programs are $50 with the exception of the Birds of Prey class that includes an additional materials fee.
RDAC Outdoor Science Programs Scholarships: A limited number of Program Scholarships are available to classes that qualify. Qualified classes must be 50%
or greater in free and reduced lunch statistics. For application materials, please contact Dana Vackar Strang at
[email protected].
To schedule a program, please call the Education Department at
(505) 983-4609
or for more information visit http://nm.audubon.org.
Time:
Classes are offered Tuesday through Friday for the fall and spring. Most programs occur in the
morning, but other times are available. Please ask about available times when registering.
Special Requests:
Program modifications or special requests must be approved in advance by the Education Department and at the
time of your reservation booking. Please call for details if needed.
Transportation:
Teachers are responsible for scheduling their own transportation to and from the Randall Davey Audubon
Center.
Lunch:
Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn and/or explore our trails on a self-guided hike after the
program at no additional charge.
Confirmation:
Confirmation will be sent via email only and after reservations are complete. For scholarship recipents, applications must be submitted prior to receipt of a confirmation notice.
Cancellation:
Pre-payment for all programs is required. Once you receive your confirmation, you are required to send
payment and return your completed contract prior to your trip or you will forfeit your reservation. Purchase
orders, checks, or Visa or MasterCard payments are acceptable. If a cancellation is made at least one week in
advance, you will receive a full refund. Classes cancelled within one week of your scheduled date will receive full
tuition less a $25 administration fee, with the exception of classes cancelled due to inclement weather.
Directions to RDAC:
From St. Francis Drive (US84/285), take Alameda
east (towards the mountains). You will pass through
several stoplights and 4-way stops. Eventually you
will come to a light at Paseo de Peralta. Go straight,
the road turns more residential at this point, and the
Santa Fe River is on your right. You will meet 4-way
stops at Delgado St. and Palace Avenue, and then the
road will curve sharply to the right, and go over the
river. At the next 4-way stop, which is the intersection with Upper Canyon Road, turn left. Follow this
road until it ends; it dead-ends in our parking lot.
The last mile is a curvy dirt road.