History, Science & Culture Nature

What will you discover about the Pajarito Plateau?

Visit the Los Alamos Nature Center to discover the Pajarito Plateau, talk to an expert about the diversity of the area, see a planetarium show about the stars you see in our clear mountain skies, and learn about the creatures that live in our area.

• Get out on the trails: download the Los Alamos Trails app or join Nature Center staff for a hike or outing.

• Get closer to wildlife: visit resident critters or watch some wild ones from the observation room.

• Expand your knowledge: attend talks or classes, or participate in a school program.

• Zoom through the galaxy: take in a show in the Nature Center’s state-of-the-art planetarium.

Los Alamos Nature Center

Website: losalamosnature.org

Address: 2600 Canyon Road Phone: (505) 662-0460

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm

CLOSED Tuesdays and Sundays

Admission: FREE

Ongoing Programs

Los Alamos Nature Center

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center welcomes people from all over the county, country and globe to visit the Los Alamos Nature Center and explore the Pajarito Plateau. Equipped with a full-dome planetarium, wildlife observation room, indoor and outdoor play areas, and interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Los Alamos Nature Center is a great place to orient to the region and enjoy breathtaking views of our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies.

Visit losalamosnature.org/events to see what else is coming this spring! Events are subject to change. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information.

Passport to the Pajarito Plateau

Ongoing

This is a fun program to get families outside, exploring our beautiful trails together. Los Alamos County, Bandelier, the Santa Fe National Forest, and the Valles Caldera have so many great trails, and now, thanks to support from the Delle Foundation, Clif Bar Family Foundation, Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation, and George and Helen Cowan Trust, we’re giving you an easy way to discover them. Here’s how it works:

1. As you hike the trails inside the passport, look for a wooden post or a bench with a small metal plate on it.

2. When you find the post, make a rubbing with your crayon rock.

3. Bring the passport back to the nature center after you’ve hiked 2, 5, 8, and 12 trails, and you’ll earn a prize that you can use on your next trail adventure. (On Passport III, come back after you’ve hiked 8 and 12 hikes).

4. If you complete all 16 hikes in any passport, we’ll have something extra special for you.

Passports available during regular business hours

Los Alamos Nature Center

FREE to participate

Learn more at peecnature.org/passport

Nature Playtimes

Mondays (except holidays)

Nature Playtime provides an opportunity for toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers to explore the natural world with PEEC’s educators. Each playtime features outdoor play, sensory exploration, and activities focusing on a theme in nature.

10:00-11:00am, Los Alamos Nature Center

FREE Admission - For ages 0-5

Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Mondays

Join Christa Tyson for Yoga class, in-person or via Zoom.

5:00pm Los Alamos Nature Center & via Zoom

$7/non-member, $5/PEEC member. Register in advance at peecnature.org

Planetarium Shows

Wednesdays

Join an astronomers for an open house where they will give a 15-minute sky show and then answer questions and take requests from attendees!

3:00pm, Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium

FREE, no registration required

Gentle Walks

Fridays

Gentle Friday morning hikes for which the emphasis is on discovery, not mileage gained.

9:00am, Los Alamos Nature Center

FREE, no registration required

Full-Dome Fridays

Fourth Friday

Watch a full-dome show in the planetarium!

9:00am, Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium

$6/non-member, $4/PEEC member. Register in advance at peecnature.org

Seasonal Programs & Events (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)

Mother Daughter Paddling Trips: 10 years and 125 miles of the Green River

February 28

Hear about the adventures of a mountaineer at the February Mountaineers meeting.

7:00pm, Los Alamos Nature Center

FREE, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Night Sky in March

March 3

Discover what will be visible in the night sky this month at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Join Steve Becker for an interactive tour of the heavens that will highlight the planets, star patterns and constellations that may be readily observed throughout March.

7:00pm, Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Beaver Reintroduction at Bandelier

National Monument

March 8

Biological Science Technician, Priscilla Hare, will discuss the beaver reintroduction program in the park.

6:00pm, Los Alamos Nature Center & Via Zoom

FREE, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Telescopes for Beginners

March 10

PEEC educators will lead a hands-on introduction to telescopes, using ones that have been donated to PEEC. Weather permitting, this class will be held outside to observe the planet Venus. In case of bad weather, the class will be held inside.

6:30pm, Los Alamos Nature Center

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Lessons in Tracking Wildlife

March 13

Learn about identifying the tracks and signs of northern New Mexico wildlife, putting clues together to tell a story, and what tracking wildlife can teach us about animal behavior, ecosystems, and life.

6:00pm,Via Zoom

FREE, Register in advance at peecnature.org

LAHS Astronomy Club Presentation

March 17

The high school astronomy club will present on topics of interest to them.

7:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Two Small Pieces of Glass - The Amazing Telescope

March 24

This full-dome show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

7:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Fly fishing for Recreation, Conservation, and Exploration

March 28

Hear about the adventures of a mountaineer at the March Mountaineers meeting.

7:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center

FREE, Register in advance at peecnature.org

JWST Discoveries about the Early Universe

March 31

Galen Gisler will summarize what has been learned, and what is yet to be learned about the early Universe from the data obtained by the JWST.

7:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Chronic Wasting Disease in Elk Populations

April 6

Dr. Will Janousek will lead a talk about his research to inform chronic wasting disease prevention in elk.

6:00pm,Via Zoom

FREE, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Night Sky in April

April 7

Hear and see about what you can see in the night sky during April, at the Nature Center's Planetarium.

7:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium

$6 adults/$4 children, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Family Astronomy Time (FAT!)

April 15

Come explore the cosmos with PEEC staff, followed by an "out of this world" activity. This program is for elementary-age children and their guardians.

10:00 - 11:30am,Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium

$10/Family, Register in advance at peecnature.org

Earth Day Festival

April 22

Celebrate Earth Day with PEEC! There will be fun entertainment, delicious food, and more!

10:00am - 2:00pm,Los Alamos Nature Center FREE

Night Sky in May

May 5

Discover what’s coming up in May's skies.

7:00pm, Los Alamos Nature Center

$6 for adults, $4 for children, register in advance at peecnature.org