New Mexico

"Outdoor experiences help children develop healthy bodies and minds. Kids need more 'green time' and less 'screen time' in order to gain a sense of ownership and responsibility for their natural environment."
-- Diane D. Denish, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico

Factsheets:

	The Nature Deficit (pdf file)
	Education (pdf file)
	Health (pdf file)

A Community Investment in our Future
Most of us can recall fond memories of growing up in the great outdoors. The Land of Enchantment offers unique opportunities to experience the wonders of nature firsthand: in the forest, atop a mountain or along a river. Regrettably, though, children today are staying inside, watching more television, playing more video games and eating more junk food than ever before. This change in our relationship with nature has profound implications for the mental, physical and spiritual health of future generations. New Mexico can, and should, lead the way to a different future with programs and legislation that reconnect children with the outdoors.

Building Bridges to the Outdoors is committed to ensuring that local communities throughout New Mexico are empowered to connect children with nature. We work with a wide range of partners including environmental educators, community-based organizations, Latino and Native American advocacy groups, faith-based communities, health organizations, state agencies and outdoor recreation groups. It is our long-term commitment to give every child in New Mexico an outdoor experience by:

• Promoting the positive benefits of outdoor experiences on children's academic achievement, especially in science and math.

• Working with a diverse set of coalition partners to showcase that outdoor experiences are critical in helping children acquire leadership skills, gain respect for themselves and the environment, and develop positive relationships with their peers and community members.

• Encouraging healthier and more active lifestyles by connecting children with the outdoors.

• Engaging public officials to provide sustainable funding for outdoor education and recreation programs.

• Providing young people with leadership and campaign skills through Environmental Leadership Trainings with the Sierra Student Coalition, in order to go back to their communities and create positive social change.

Recent studies have shown that young people, especially minorities and underserved youth, who participate in outdoor educational programs, improve their academic performance, develop leadership skills, gain respect for themselves and the environment, and develop positive relationships with their peers and community members.

What you can do:

• Organize a family outdoor outing.

• Take a walk through a local park.

• Enjoy a backyard picnic.

• Contact a decision-maker in your community and let them know that getting kids outside is an important issue to you.

• Get an organization you are involved with, your city council, and your county commission to endorse the "Resolution Supporting Leaving No New Mexico Child Inside." and join the growing statewide Coalition.

• Subscribe to our e-mail listserv and receive updates, news and action alerts. Connecting children with nature is a community investment for all of us. By working together we will leave no New Mexico child inside.

Contact Us:
Michael Casaus, New Mexico Youth Representative
Building Bridges to the Outdoors
142 Truman St. NE, Suite C-1
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 243-7767
michael.casaus@sierraclub.org

Featured Partner: Sandia Mountain Natural History Center (SMNHC)
The Sandia Mountain Natural History Center (SMNHC) has partnered with the Sierra Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors Project in an effort to get more New Mexico students in the outdoors. The Sierra Club has provided the SMNHC with a grant that not only supports our 2008 Outreach program but also gives students throughout New Mexico a chance to experience an outdoor area near where they live. The Sandia Mountain Natural History Center's goal is to get at least 2500 students into the outdoors through its Ecology Field Programs. So far, the SMNHC is well on its way towards that goal with over 1800 students either already served or scheduled to be served with this fun innovative program.

By the end of the school year, SMNHC staff will have traveled thousands of miles covering the farthest reaches of New Mexico, from Roswell to Raton and Silver City to Chama. The beauty and ecological diversity of New Mexico is a special gift that the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center and the Sierra Club hope all New Mexico students will get the chance to enjoy. The Ecology Field Program takes elementary aged students into an ecosystem near their school and introduces them to the interconnectedness of nature through a vast array of hands on activities. The program consists of a brief introduction to ecosystems, a 2.5 hour nature hike, a picnic lunch and an in depth discovery activity.

The SMNHC is run through a unique partnership between the Albuquerque Public School System (APS) and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. APS owns the 40 year old, 128 acre facility and the Natural History Museum runs all of the programming. This partnership gives almost 11,000 students a year a memorable educational, outdoor experience. With the generous support of organizations, such as the Sierra Club, the SMNHC will bring that experience to over 13,000 people this year.

More Partners:

• National Indian Youth Leadership Program
• Rivers & Birds
• Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
• Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
• Santa Fe Mountain Center

Educational Materials:

	The Nature Deficit factsheet(pdf file)
	Education factsheet (pdf file)
	Health factsheet (pdf file)

Newsroom:

The Albuquerque Journal: May 19, 2008
Outdoors Available in Rural Areas, Too

The Albuquerque Journal: January 31, 2008
Edgewood to Kids: Go, Play

Santa Fe New Mexican (From the Associated Press): January 30, 2008
Group wants gamers, couch potatoes to pay

Ruidoso News: January 29, 2008
'Leave No New Mexican Child Inside'

The Daily Aztec: January 30, 2008
Sin taxes give the market a bad rap

La Jornada (From the Associated Foreign Press): 27 de enero de 2008
Gravamen a videojuegos, para combatir obesidad

Watch! KOB-TV: January 20, 2008
Sierra Club proposes 'couch potato' tax

Listen! KUNM-FM: January 14, 2008
Environmental Alliance of New Mexico Outlines Legislative Priorities

Santa Fe New Mexican: January 14, 2008
No child left indoors: Bill aims to cut kids' TV time

Santa Fe New Mexican: December 21, 2007
Proponen que no se deje a ningún niño encerrado el bienestar de la comunidad, dicen maestros y otros expertos

New Mexico Kids Magazine: November/December 2007
No Child Left Inside

Albuquerque Journal: September 27, 2007
Back to Nature: Sandia center gives fifth-graders hands-on experience with the great outdoors

Santa Fe New Mexican: August 23, 2007
Outdoor Group Receives Grant

Press Release: August 21, 2007
Sierra Club Announces $170,000 in Funding to Reconnect New Mexico Children with the Outdoors

Press Release: April 24, 2007
State Parks Announces Major Thrust on Outdoor Classroom Initiative in NM

Albuquerque Journal: March 30, 2007
Leave No N.M. Child Inside

Press Release: February 20, 2007
Landmark Bill Introduced to Fund 'Outdoor Classrooms':
Bill Would Tax Some Electronic Equipment to Help Improve Outdoor Education for NM Children[add hyperlink]

Albuquerque Journal: November 5, 2006
Hectic Lives, Technology Deprive Kids of Outdoor Wonders

Albuquerque Journal: November 5, 2006
Author Says Don't Fear Nature

Albuquerque Journal: October 31, 2006
Governor Lays Out Plan for Lands