Youth / Students

This spring President Obama created the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. This weekend leaders from the Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency met with New Mexicans in Albuquerque to learn about our views of this program. This is my viewpoint on this issue.

• We should all increase our use of the world-class outdoors opportunities that exist here in New Mexico.
• The Federal government should provide new, expanded, and better protected public lands.
• Increase opportunities for youth in the Great Outdoors.
• Support local economies by investing in public lands.
• Manage all public lands to comprehend climate change.

Dr. Jim Morgan attended the Kids’ Fishing Derby sponsored by the Kiwanis Club at Lake Maloya near Raton on Saturday, June 5. Jim was representing both the Enchanted Circle Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Sierra Club. He donated 15 Sierra Club rod and reel combinations and 10 TU kids’ memberships. There was a good turnout, and many fish were caught.

The Kids’ Fishing Derby at Eagle Rock Lake on June 5 attracted about 75 children along with quite a few parents and grandparents. The youngsters won 15 Sierra Club backpacks, 14 Zebco rod and reel combinations, and a few T-shirts donated by Sierra Club. In addition, the first- and second-place winners of the 10- to 11-year-old casting competition won Sierra Club fly-fishing outfits. The fishing was not as good as at Lake Maloya, but everyone had a good time.—Eric Patterson

“I love nature.”
“I gotta work”
“I want good green jobs”

That was the rallying cry of the Sierra Club’s youth delegation at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference on May 4th – 6th. Representing dozens of communities in twenty states from across the country, 79 vibrant, green-minded young people descended upon Washington, DC demanding green jobs.

On April 24, Energy Works received the 2010 Sustainable Santa Fe Award for a Renewable Energy Project. Energy Works is collaboration between Youth Works and the Community Housing Trust, which the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club funded in 2009 in conjunction with the City of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust. This project funded eight youths to complete over 225 energy efficiency installations/audits for working class families.

The two top winners of the Pajarito Group’s Environmental Awards are going to the International Science Fair in San Jose, CA: Joe Abeyta and Nate Clements who used crayfish populations to assess water quality in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (in particular in relationship to ungulate grazing in riparian areas); and Holly and Ryan Erickson who “Beat the Heat” with an ingenious, easy-to-fabricate, and inexpensive Reversible One Way Heat Panel. Other Pajarito Group top winners at State are Daniel Ahrens, Isaac Koh, and Amanda Mercer.

Sarah is a second grader in Las Cruces who is concerned enough about the effects that climate change will have on the planet that she is taking action to do something about it. Her principal agreed to let her regularly broadcast her “Green Tip of the Week” to the school about the problem and how kids can help. We think grownups can help, too, so we are pleased to introduce Sarah’s Green Tips here:

On May 2, 13 New Mexico youth from Silver City and Taos will fly to Washington, DC, to serve as Sierra Club Youth Delegates to the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, which will be held May 4-6 in our nation’s capital.

January 20, 2010 - The Albuquerque City Council unanimously passed a resolution to Leave No Child Inside. Spearheaded by Councilor Rey Garduño, this resolution shows the City’s commitment to getting active in the children and nature movement by joining the Leave No New Mexico Child Inside coalition.