Bringing Nature to Life: How PEEC & United Way NNM Bring More Students to STEAM Education

For many children in Northern New Mexico, the wonders of nature—snowshoeing through a quiet forest, observing birds up close, or discovering the delicate life cycle of a butterfly—are experiences they’ve never had. But thanks to the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) that is changing.

PEEC has long been a cherished part of Los Alamos, offering immersive outdoor programs that bring students closer to nature while enhancing their understanding of science, math, and the environment. Through activities like bird banding, naturalist hikes, and hands-on ecology lessons, PEEC fosters not just environmental awareness, but also critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity—all essential components of STEAM education.

One teacher, whose class participated in PEEC’s Signs of Spring ecology hike, described the profound impact:

“The entire experience was engaging from start to finish. My students came back with a better understanding of nature, and they’re now talking about being gentle with what they find outside. Pretending to be butterflies going through different life cycles made learning tangible, and it reinforced their understanding of how Spring represents rebirth in nature.”

While these programs have long been a staple for Los Alamos families, many children in neighboring counties had limited opportunities to participate. To bridge this gap, PEEC established programs for students in the region to bring hands-on nature experiences to them. This year, with funding from United Way Northern New Mexico, PEEC further expanded access by enhancing transportation support, enabling students from nine schools across the region to attend the Outdoor Field Science (OFS) program and experience the wonders of the natural world firsthand.

“The United Way grant allowed us to expand beyond Los Alamos County and welcome 450 students from 25 classrooms,” says Jillian Rubio, PEEC’s Executive Director. “This funding has helped us build new relationships with schools in Northern Santa Fe and Rio Arriba Counties, creating broader access to environmental education.”

For many of these students, the program’s Winter OFS Snowshoeing adventure was their first time experiencing deep snow, let alone hiking through it. One teacher shared:

“Students were able to connect their lessons on the water cycle to real-world experiences. They challenged themselves physically while seeing firsthand how snow and water shape our environment. This was an incredible opportunity for our students!”

The collaboration between UWNNM and PEEC shows the impact of nonprofit partnerships in expanding educational access and creating transformative learning experiences. Bringing donors and nonprofits together created an opportunity to not only teach students about the world—but immerse them in it. And that, more than anything, is how a love of science, nature, and lifelong learning begins.

Want to learn more?

Visit www.peecnature.org to learn more about PEEC services.

Visit www.unitedwaynnm.org to learn more about United Way Northern New Mexico or join the effort to strengthen many local nonprofits by donating.