Los Alamos Nature Center Grand Opening April 2015 Pajarito Environmental Education Center Established 2000 Mission: Enriching people's lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies.

Core purpose: We people with nature.

Core values: Nature, Education, Community

Vision: Los Alamos is a place where people enjoy, value, and care for nature.

The History of Pajarito Environmental Education Center

October 1999: Suggestions for a nature center submitted to Comprehensive Plan Update.

2000: Community presentation on nature centers at Fuller Lodge; Friends of the Nature Center established. First Earth Day celebration with hikes and talks. Incorporated as Pajarito Environmental Education Center [501 (c) 3].

2001: First programs for children in national parks, funded by National Park Foundation. Audubon’s Birds for a Purpose, funded by LANL Foundation. Butterfly checklist for Bandelier funded by National Park Foundation. LAHS student Tori Hansen won PEEC logo contest. First PEECnic; board elected.

2002: Field trips for Park Migratory Bird Program. First newsletter. Membership drive; www.PajaritoEEC.org came on line thanks to student Eric Black. Conceptual drawings of nature center by Keith and Jeanette Barras presented at PEECnic.

2003: Began search for a nature center site in Pueblo Canyon or elsewhere.

2004: First fee-based class on wildflowers. LAPS, County Parks and Recreation, UNMLA agree to collaborate with PEEC. 2005: LAPS voted for PEEC to lease Little Valley School in exchange for services to LAPS students. Grand Opening of PEEC’s Orange St. nature center on Earth Day; Julia Butterfly Hill spoke for fund-raiser. Young Naturalist Camp at VCNP. Created environmental and live animal exhibits (indoor and out), offered 65 programs, had over 1400 volunteer hours, and opened the Jemez Mountain Herbarium. Grants from MainStreet, LANL Foundation, NM Community Foundation, and McCune Foundation.

2006: Paid educators for programs and field trips. Established Kinnikinnick Club for children after school. Administrators hired.

2007: Program coordinator hired. Summer gardening classes for kids. Advisory Board appointed.

2008: Small Wonders for toddlers and care-givers. Backyard Wildlife Tour.

2009: Created Ponderosa Nature Trail. Hired first environmental educator. Fall Nature Fiesta at Bandelier.

2010: Creation of butterfly garden with help of Keep New Mexico Beautiful; partnered with DPU on Watt Swap for energy conservation; Nature Playtime for little ones. Asked County for Capital Improvement Program study for remodeled or new nature center.

2011: County Council approved PEEC’s CIP proposal. Catalyst Architecture held three public meetings; created plans for Orange St. and old skateboard park locations. Writing, piloting of Pajarito Plateau Field Studies for LAPS elementary school field science. Birdscape Yard Tour. Partnered with Reel Deal for first Backcountry Film Festival and environmental films.

2012: Nature Center building at 2600 Canyon Road approved for $4.3M. LAPS Local Species Project for 4th- graders; Idea Factory generated ideas for new nature center exhibits. Hired Public Ally. 2013: Quiet, Gentle Walks; PBS Science Café on Ravens; Green Hour hikes. Capital Campaign Kickoff to raise $1.2M for indoor and outdoor exhibits. New positions created: executive director, marketing manager, and volunteer coordinator.

2014: Earth Day groundbreaking for new building. Capital Campaign reached goal. New position created: director of interpretation.

2015: New building, including planetarium, completed. Professional exhibits and sculpture installed; outdoor exhibit installation by PEEC Board and volunteers. Grand Opening April 22 (County ribbon-cutting) and April 25 (Earth Day). PEEC Directors

PEEC’s board has truly been a working board, contributing countless hours of service to make the organization thrive.

PEEC Presidents Chick Keller 2008-2010 Claudia Lewis 2000-2002 Rebecca Shankland 2010-2012 Michael Smith 2002-2003 Teralene Foxx 2012-2014 Michele Altherr 2003-2005 Felicia Orth 2014- Randall Ryti 2005-2008

Founding Board John Hogan (2008-2011) Claudia Lewis (2000-2002) Marian Good (2008-2010) Michele Altherr (2000-2007, Nathan Clements (2009-2012)* 2011-) Paul Arendt (2010-2013) Tom Jervis (2000-2004) Siobhan Niklasson (2010-2013) Gordon Spingler (2000-2003) Kelly Larson (2010-2012) Sarah Gustafson (2000-2002) David Yeamans (2010-2013) Chick Keller (2000-2014) Melanie Boncella (2010-2012)* Yvonne Keller (2000-2002 but Stephen Becker (2011-2012) continued as Historian Joann Lysne (2012-2013) Michael Smith (2000-2003) Amanda Mercer (2012-2014)* Becky Shankland (2000-) Emily Pittman (2012-2014)* Further Boards Current Board Randall Ryti (2002-2008) Michele Altherr (2000-2007, Sarah Meyer (2002-2004) 2011-) Laura Burrows (2002-2003) Becky Shankland (2000-) Hedy Dunn (2002-2010) Selvi Viswanathan (2005-) Dick Opsahl (2002-2005) Robert Dryja (2005-) Janie Enter (2003-2004) Felicia Orth (2006-) McPherson (2003-2005) Jennifer Macke (2007-) Julie Pearson (2004-2005) Terry Foxx (2008-) Natali Steinberg (2005-2010) Mary Carol Williams (2008-) Robert Gibson (2005-2006) Sue Watts (2011-) Peter O’Rourke (2005-2010) Karla Sartor (2011-) Kelly Shea (2005-2006) Nancy Arendt (2012-) Kelly Gallagher (2005-2006) Robert Walker (2013-) Esta Lee Albright (2007-2008) Becky Oertel (2013-) Emily Powell (2007-2008)* Ann Shafer (2014-) Nuria Clodius (2007-2008)* Jeremy Campbell (2014-) Lindy Jacobs (2007-2008)* Talia Dreicer (2014-15)*

*student representative PEEC Staff PEEC staff are lucky enough to have some of the most fun jobs in Los Alamos. Here are some of the people who have worked with us over the years.

• Past office administrators included Jessie Ross and Diane Noveroske. • Past fund-raisers and program coordinators included Olga Schifani and Branden Willman-Kozimor. • Past environmental educators included Jennifer Moss, Margaret Blewett, Rachel Cowan, Cindy O’Hara, Diana McPherson, Stephanie Krantz, Susan Williams, Amy Roberts, Elena Gustafson, Kelly Larson, Angelique Harshman, Emma Starrett, Susie Schillaci, Aimee Slaughter, Jocelyn Warner, Emily Whitaker, and Kristine Coblentz. • Past Summer Outdoor Adventure Program educators included Michele Altherr, Sarah Gustafson, John Hogan, Tony Hinojosa, Bob Dryja, Andrea Spence, and Jessie Ross. • Our fabulous current staff is Katherine Watson, Executive Director; Jonathan Creel, Director of Interpretation; Beth Cortright, Nature Center Manager; Siobhan Niklasson, Environmental Educator; Laura Loy, Marketing Manager; and Linda Boncella, Volunteer Coordinator.

Volunteers Even from the very start, we have had amazing volunteers teaching programs, digging gardens, leading hikes, insulating the ceiling, creating exhibits, raising and donating money, and making PEEC into the nature center that was so treasured by the community that we were able to move to a new building. Our volunteers are too many to list, but you made this dream come true. The people behind the named spaces

Satch and George Cowan were long-time Los Alamos residents and quiet philanthropists who were committed to our town and our natural environment and particularly devoted to engaging children from the earliest years.

The Laboratory Director is pleased to invest in PEEC and to the new Los Alamos National Laboratory Science Learning Center. We look forward to continuing our partnership with PEEC by supporting hands-on, minds-on activities for learners of all ages.

Yes! My mother saw the turning of two centuries. She grew up on a Quaker family farm in Ohio, learning about the stars from her story-telling father. She helped found Green Acres, a progressive school near Washington, D. C., where children explored nearby farm fields for birds like the killdeer and used hand lenses to examine tiny creatures in pond water. She kept bird and plants lists in Germany, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. She Ruth Edgerton Hoge would love the new Nature Center, 1897-2001 embracing the spirit of so many nature Mother of Rebecca lovers like herself. Hoge Shankland Art was an early astrophysicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, who co-founded the Graduate Student Summer Visitation Program and mentored numerous graduate students. He introduced astrophysical studies to the then weapons laboratory, and these studies have grown over the decades in response to his initiative. He introduced computer modeling to the understanding of pulsating stars. By his multi-faceted participation in the international astrophysics community, he helped make LANL a respected organization in astrophysics. Dr. Arthur Nelson Cox 1927-2013

“Los Alamos National Bank strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and the families of our community, both today and for years to come,” states John Gulas, Chief Executive Officer of Los Alamos National Bank. “ As a community bank, we are committed to ensuring that our residents have access to resources and opportunities that help them appreciate the value of nature. We are a proud sponsor of the Mesa Exhibit at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, and we are honored to support an organization committed to promoting environmental stewardship.”

Nancy earned her B.A. in anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and was a data analyst and staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for some 33 years. In her quiet way she enjoyed the things the Nature Center is about. She ultimately succumbed to two incurable diseases after facing them for years with great courage, spirit and grace and always while looking positively to the future.

Nancy Laubach Freed 1931-1994 My father was a friend of youth, especially in teaching boy scouts. He loved nature and got me started learning wildflowers and astronomy with our small telescope. He was awarded the Boy Scouts of America’s third highest award, the Silver Beaver, for dedication to boys and for outstanding teaching, especially at summer camps. He was a member of Charles F. Keller, Sr. the Harrisburg Natural History Society, 1904-1994 who worked especially at its outdoor Father of Charles F. Pine Hill Arboretum with its wealth of "Chick” Keller, Jr. wildflowers, and he co-founded the Harrisburg Astronomical Society.

Dr. Valentin T. Jordanov & Dr. Vania K. Jordanova moved from Bulgaria to the USA in 1990 to pursue careers in science and engineering. Both hold Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan. Valentin specializes in radiation measurements and owns a consulting firm in Santa Fe. Vania works as a space physics scientist in the Space Science and Applications group at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Valentin and Vania love traveling and re-discovering the marvels of nature. They are active supporters of the Los Alamos Nature Center which reflects their passion for nature and education. Thank you to all the people who helped From those who wrote the interpretive plan that guided everything we did, to those who checked every comma and capital letter, and those who did everything in between—the exhibits truly were a community effort. Capital Campaign Interpretive Planning Exhibits Nancy Arendt Michele Altherr Paul Arendt Hedy Dunn Bob Dryja Beth Cortright Chick Keller Terry Foxx Jonathan Creel Felicia Orth Angelique Harshman Linda Deck Susan Palmer Charles Keller Bob Dryja Rebecca Shankland JoAnn Lysne Chick Keller Leslie Wallstrom Jennifer Macke Jennifer Macke Siobhan Niklasson Siobhan Niklasson Sue Watts Randall Ryti Karla Sartor Ann Shafer Judith Stauber Selvi Viswanathan Sue Watts David Yeamans Outdoor Exhibit Experts Chick Keller Exhibits Craig Allen Schon Levy Christine Randy & Melissa Balice Jen Macke Chavez Kay Beeley Craig Martin Bob Dryja Kay Birdsell Janie O'Rourke Chick Keller David Broxton Becky Oertel Rebecca Oertel Steve Cary Patrick Rowe Linnea Poretti Beth Cortright Karla Sartor Karla Sartor Leslie Dendy Becky Shankland Becky Jean Dewart Natali Steinberg Shankland June Fabryka-Martin Garth Tietjen Natali Steinberg Steve Fettig Laura Trader Cathy Strong Terry Foxx Sue Watts Selvi Fraser & Cathy Goff Mary Carol Williams Viswanathan Armand Groffman Dave Yeamans Bob Walker Leslie Hansen Sue Watts Richard Hansen Mary Carol Laural Hardin Williams Dorothy Hoard David Yeamans John Hogan Chris Judson Photographers/ Chris Korman Josh Smith Artists Stephen Lee Andy Thien Minesh Bacrania Josip Loncaric Sarah Thien James Brooks Jen Macke Diane Thurston Doug Coombs Craig Martin Brittney Van Der Werff Martin Cooper Phillip Metcalf Hari Viswanathan Beth Cortright Carolyn Mills Selvi Viswanathan Elena Giorgi Patrick Moore Bob Walker Ken Hanson Phil Noll June Wall Woods Hippensteal Jim O'Donnell Richard Wallace Chick Keller David Schiferl Skip Wecksung Yvonne Keller Becky Shankland Andy White Shari Kelley Stephen Mouser Williams Sally King Shankland Dave Yeamans

Take Wing Events Los Alamos Co+op Tom & Becky Nancy & Paul Arendt Jason Lott Shankland Steve Becker Craig Martin Philo Shelton Steve Cary Jim O'Donnell Natali Steinberg Christine Chavez Janie O'Rourke Georgia Strickfaden Kimberly DeVall Felicia Orth Jim Trout Stephen Fettig Reel Deal Theater Charles Walter Teralene & Jim Foxx Alex Rose & April Brown Scott Watson Robert Gibson Patrick Rowe Mouser Williams Fraser & Cathy Goff Randy Ryti & Wendy Nancy Meem Wirth Jeffrey Howell Swanson David & Marilyn Chick & Yvonne Karla Sartor & Brian Larsen Yeamans Keller Richard & Katie Sayre Barb Zinn Kirt Kempter Doug Scott Thank you to our donors None of this would have been possible without your generous financial contributions. This truly is YOUR nature center. Leadership Gifts: The Delle Foundation, Los Alamos National Laboratory $50,000-$20,000 Charles & Yvonne Keller Anonymous Los Alamos National Bank Arthur & Margaret Cox Rebecca & Thomas Shankland J. Arthur Freed Robert & Laurie Walker Valentin Jordanov & Vania Jordanova Dave & Marilyn Yeamans

$19,000-$10,000 Ann Carolyn & Eldon Linnebur Lewis & Margaret Agnew Don & Judy Machen Anonymous Gifts Jennifer Macke & Josip Loncaric Paul & Nancy Arendt Richard & Robin McLean Birenbaum Family Fund Felicia Orth & Evan Rose Chuck & Barbara Calef Randall Ryti & Wendy Swanson Linda Doolen Ann Shafer Charles & Teralene Foxx Natali Steinberg GE Foundation Wally & Sue Watts Richard & Leslie Hansen Paul & Margaret White Tom & Carlyn Jervis Joyce Wolff Mark & Lynn Jones $9,500-$5,000 Jerome & Catherine Morzinski Anonymous Joyce Nickols Charles & Linda Anderson Rebecca & John Oertel George Baker & Carroll Thomas Joan & Stan Primak Stephen Becker Rotary Club of Los Alamos David & Patricia Broxton Kit & John Ruminer David, Anne & Alex Chamberlin Kathleen & Richard Sayre David & Corry Clinton David & Sheila Schiferl Hedy & Skip Dunn Michael & Elaine Santantonio Schuck Steve Foltyn Maxine Schmidt & David Watkins Janet Gerwin George A. Taylor Roy Greiner Peter T. Taylor James & Janet Hall Gary & Nina Thayer Suzie & Scott Havemann Selvi & V.K.Viswanathan Donald & Dorothy Hoard Carolyn Mills & Richard Wallace Kroger Co. Foundation Sally & Ron Wilkins Los Alamos Pathways Assoc. Mary Carol Williams Craig & June Martin Zia Credit Union $4,000-$1,000 Roger Stutz & Jacqueline Krohn Elizabeth Allred & Sid Singer LAHS Students to Save Our Michele & Michael Altherr Environment 1970-1979 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Helen Lehman Karl Anderson Bruce Letellier Anonymous Gifts Los Alamos Garden Club Ben Barnhart Elizabeth Martineau & Gordon Mark & Heidi Bjorklund McDonough Rainer & Ilse Bleck Michael McKay Dennis & Karen Brandt Chris & Roy Michelotti David Brown Joel & RonalieMoss Stanley & Joan Brown Native Plant Society of New Mexico Wendee Brunish Tim & Carol Neal Howard & Joyce Cady Neptune & Company, Inc. Jeremy Campbell NM Clean Air & Water Foundation, Inc. Don Casperson New Mexico Trout Unlimited Mary Cernicek Kay & Brian Newnam Margaret Charsley Siobhan & Anders Niklasson Claude Conner Bob & Mary Nunz Judy Crocker Dick & Judy Opsahl Harold & Anne Davis Roger Peterson William C. Davis Mary Pettitt Venable Gary & Marilyn Doolen Morris & Cheryl Pongratz Robert & Susan Dryja Positive Energy, Inc. John & Jan Eklund John & Norma Puckett Paul & Alice Fehlau Darien Raistrick Ferenbaugh Family RE/MAX of Los Alamos Eric Ferm Ivy Pike & Geoffrey Reeves The Finishing Touch Peggy & Steven Reneau Joe & Sally Fitzgibbon Karla Sartor & Brian Larsen Dave & Anne Fox Jeff & Nancy Sauer Bob & Susan Fuselier Veronica Encinas & Didier Saumon Donna & Dave Gemeinhart Carolyn Mangeng & Dale Spall Robert & Lori Heimdahl Gibson Patricia Stein Sarah & John Gustafson Marion & Rae Marie Stelts Cindy & Jack Hills Gerry & Georgia Strickfaden John Hopkins Hari Viswanathan & Gowri Srinivasan Gerald K. & Virginia A. Katie & Scott Watson Hornung Family Foundation Shawn & Sandra West Jeffrey Howell & Bill Press Michael & Kyle Wheeler Mary Huff Andy & Judy White Jemez Mountain Trail Runs Charlotte & Steve Williams Kristen Kern Mahlon & Ginny Wilson Steve & Susan Knox Mahlon & Theresa Wilson $900-$400 Bob & Laura Loy Dorothy & Anthony Amsden Susan Mack Anonymous Gifts Jeff & Rose Martin John & Nancy Bartlit Bruce Masse Tim & Mary Anne Beard Marion & Terry Mitchell Jim & Linda Boncella Eric Mjolsness Larry & Carol Brown Fred & Jeanette Mortensen Chris & Margie Bruell Diane & Evan Noveroske Christine & Dan Cloyd Peter & Janie O'Rourke Beth Cortright & James Hunter Bart & ColleenOlinger Cull-Host Family Susan & Howell Palmer Alison Cook-Davis & Scott Mark & Kimberly Petersen Davis Evelyn Petschek Del Norte Credit Union Antonio & Shelby Redondo Robert & Patricia Dickerson Reel Deal Theater Mary Dugan David & Heidi Rogers Denny & Mary Lou Erickson Oscar & Janet Sander Helen & Henry Finney Maxwell Sandford II & Jana Talley- Charles & Nancy Forest Sandford Nancy Bearss & Annette Fox Kent & Becky Scarborough Ilse Biel & Reiner Friedel Jack & Beverly Shlachter Kelly Gallagher & Don Krier Jake Turin Robin Gurule Michael Steinzig & Dara McKinney Cherie & Gerry Hale Summit Garden Club Leon & Rosalie Heller Joseph & Lois Thompson Tom & Janet Hirons Allen & Judith Valentine Earl & Linda Hoffman Harry & Carole Watanabe Richard & Shari Kelley John Lilley & Alahna Weller Steve & Anne Laurent Brad & Rozelle Wright Paul & Marilyn Lisowski $400-$100 Brian & Elaine Jacobs Kevin & Elisabeth Aicher Edward & Adelaide Jacobson Esta Lee Albright Mari Jorgensen Anonymous Gifts Elizabeth Joseph Karyl Ann & Kenneth Armbruster Todd & Kathleen Kearns James & Helen Baran Ursula Krause Susan & Robert Benjamin Gloria Kwei Eva Birnbaum Janet Lamkin Eric & Kathy Bjorklund Edwina Lieb Margaret & Patrick Blewett Los Alamos Daily Post Ellen Morris Bond Jack Markin & Kathleen Hirons Martin & Patricia Bowidowicz Marianne & Hal Marshall Baird & Bodil Brandow Liddie Martinez Michael & Brigitte Brown Cas & Rod Mason J & M Buchholz Tracy L. McFarland Marie Caldwell Frances & Michael Meier Helen Carpenter Coleen Meyer Dan & Marge Cash Gerald & Linnea Ohlsen Hugh Church Israel & Tuba Owens Sue Conner Jane Phillips Kenneth & Angela Coop Michele Poling John & Geniece Courtright Ashley Pryor Rob & Nikki Cunningham Betsy Raichur Yvonne & Norm Delamater Patricia Rathbone Leslie Dendy Tom Sandford Harriet Dodder Charlotte Sartor Chuck & Judy Dudley Jane Sherwood Paul & Sue Elkins Meena Sachdeva & Khalil Bonnie & Richard Farman Spencer Jeffrey & Kandice Favorite Stephanie Sydoriak Rao, Madhavi & Sruthi Janice & David Trujillo Garimella Bill & Jean Visscher Audrey Giger Joan & Truel West Ray & Joy Green Louise White Virginia Hamilton Mary Lou & Mike Williams Grant & Jody Heiken Bob Williams & Judy Willard Hemsing Buckingham Linda & Robert Hull Janice & John Zwolshen Karen Humphrey Under $100 Anne Newins George Best Matthew & Amy Nuckols Margaret Bruell & Doug Borsom Occupational Medicine Greg & Andrea Cunningham Susan & Tim O'Leary Andrea & John Determan Nicole Ronning Sharon Dogruel Wayne & Phyllis Slattery Jim & Linda Goforth Sundaresan Srinivasan Elena Gustafson Marilyn Stevens Susan Larocque Walter & Jolanta Tuzel Susanna Marshland Paul & Kathryn Weiner Diana Martinez Julie & Justin Wilson Gretchen Mills

In-Kind Donations Oasis Landscaping Primak Builders Pajarito Greenhouses/CB Fox Pet Wild Birds Unlimited

Earl Hoffman

Honor and Memory Gifts, Charles F. Huff Capital Campaign Chick & Yvonne Keller Erin Bjorklund Claudia Lewis Rachel Bjorklund Howie Thorhauge, Mary & Tom Jerald & Ruth Ann Bower Pike, Judy Trujillo, Nancy Wolff Faye Brown Jeremy, Shannon, Natalie, Ean & Fred & Florence Bruell Norris Nickols Harold Clark Gary O. G. Greiner Martha Davis Ruth Owen Knox Mary Deal Israel Owens Ruth B. Demuth Giulia & Andrew Pope James Christian Erpenbeck Fred Roach Pete Forman Karla Sartor Terry Foxx K&B Scardova Edith Friedman Alan & Kim Smith Nilsson Ruth L. Hine Jay & Margaret Stevens Dorothy Hoard Jenny Weiss Dale M. & Molly M. Holm Tom Wootten