Public Lands Interpretive Association

Valley of Fires Junior Ranger Booklet and Youth Engagement Programproject Abstract:the Mission of This Project Is to Increase Opportunities for K-12 Students in Around Lincoln and Otero Counties to Learn About and Appreciate Valley of Fires Recreation Area in Carrizozo, New Mexico. This Is a Partnership Project Between the Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) and the Bureau of Land Management (blm).there Are Three Objectives for This Project Over a 3-YEAR Time Period: Develop a Junior Ranger Booklet, Designed for Students K-12, That Is Approximately 20 24 Pages in Length, and Full-color. Coordinate a Minimum of Four Events Per Year (starting in Year 2) for Families and Children to Explore Valley of Fires and for Children to Earn Their Junior Ranger Badge. Recruit and Support a Minimum of Five Volunteers to Provide Ongoing Events After This Project Is Completed.the Objectives of This Project Meet the Department of Interiors Priorities in the Following Ways: the Project Advances Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities by Identifying Opportunities for Students Located in Predominantly Underserved, Rural Counties. in Addition, Both Lincoln and Otero Counties Are More Than 30 Hispanic and Respectively 18 19 of the County Populations Are Living in Poverty. This Means That There Are Many Families Who Do Not Have the Resources to Spend Time on Public Lands, Even on Sites That Are Close to Home. This Project Connects Underserved Youth and Their Families and Helps Them Form Lifelong Connections to Public Lands in Their Backyards. This Project Also Helps Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad by Including Information About Climate Change in the Junior Ranger Booklet and in the Education Curriculum. Valley of Fires Is a Desert Landscape and, While Drinking Water Is Readily Available at the Site, Water Conservation Is Vital to Protect the Areas Unique Habitats. in the Booklet, There Will Be at Least One Page Dedicated to Climate Change and Resiliency as Well as What We Can Do to Protect Our Local Habitats. Program Curriculum Will Also Encourage Sustainable and Responsible Recreation and Teach Young People About Leave No Trace and Our Responsibility to Protect Outdoor Spaces.this Project Will Help BLM With Connecting Communities, a Priority They Have Long Been Committed to But Have Struggled With in an Area That Is Sparsely Populated. the Town of Carrizozo, for Example, Has a Declining Population and It Needs More Attention and Support to Become a Strong Gateway Community for Valley of Fires. This Project Will Prioritize Working With Local Residents in Carrizozo and Training Them as Volunteers to Support This Site in the Long-term.recently, the BLM Also Worked With Plia to Apply and Receive Funding From the New Mexico Economic Development Department for a Trails Grant to Build a New Trail at Valley of Fires Thatleads to a Unique Kipuka Formation. Additional Funding From the BLM Will Build on These Efforts to Enhance the Visitor Experience and Reach More Local Communities to Enjoy This New Trail and the Recreation Area.through This Project, the Junior Ranger Booklet Will Empower K-12 Students to Learn About the Site and the Project Estimates That a Minimum of 500 Students Will Receive the Booklet for a Chance to Become a Junior Ranger. in Addition, Quarterly Events in Year Two and Year Three Have the Potential to Reach More Than 250 People. Overall, This Project Aims to Engage 750 Local Residents in Lincoln and Otero Counties Within Three Years (total Numbers Could Increase Once the Junior Ranger Booklet Is Made Available Online). Lastly, the Project Seeks to Recruit a Minimum of Five Volunteers Who Can Commit a Few Hours Per Month for Education Programs After This Project Is Completed.