During the COVID pandemic, our campground was closed but we found a new opportunity that broadened our perspective. When the local school went to remote learning, many students floundered, either due to lack of internet accessibility or lack of adult supervision. To help our community, we added Wi-Fi service at the campground and offered local students the opportunity to do their computer work at the campground with the help of teaching assistants. Most of the time was spent outdoors with numerous safety precautions in place.
Even when the students moved indoors during harsh weather, we were able to keep them safely separated. Once they completed their computer work, they were free to go hiking, work with the animals and learn more about the surrounding environment. The results of this program were amazing. Not only did these students excel at their traditional class work, the social and emotional growth was astounding. Kids that were ready to drop out of school saw education in a whole new light and were excited about finding a new direction in their lives. It really opened our eyes to the potential for a new learning model.
Just as COVID was waning, Mora was hit with a new disaster in the spring of 2022. The Hermits Peak / Calf Canyon wildfire burned over 300,000 in Mora and the surrounding areas. It was a traumatic and devastating fire that consumed many homes and much of our forest. One silver lining, however, was a renewed awareness of environmental issues and how climate change and forest management played a big part in the severity of the fire damage.
In response, we partnered with Highlands University, our local school district (MISD) and the LANL Foundation to create a new environmental education program at the Ranch. Each Friday, 50 – 60 students from MISD arrive for a day of outdoor classes with instructors from throughout New Mexico. Not only are the students exposed to hands-on learning, but they also have a chance to talk about their trauma and the effect the fire has had on their life. It has been a cathartic experience for many of them and is helping them come to grips with the event.
Our goal now is to expand this program to include other nearby school districts. Beyond that, we hope to eventually create a year-round Environmental Education Center where students from throughout New Mexico can spend 3 – 5 days at the Ranch and gain a better understanding of the natural world.
