Upcoming Events
Luminarias
Light up the Desert
Friday, December 13th, 5:00-7:30
Luminarias are always enchanting, even more so when they are arranged throughout the desert. During Holiday Luminarias, our Desert Discovery Trail will shine bright as we ring in the holiday season with hundreds of luminarias. This holiday event, hosted by Asombro at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, is free to the public. Come out and join us for hot chocolate, sweet treats, holiday carols, and luminarias to light up the night.
December 13, 2024
5:00PM – 7:30PM
This is a free event. Donations to support Asombro’s work and future events welcome. Suggested donation $5/$10 per family.
Annual Member Meeting
Usually held on the 3rd Monday in January
Asombro members are regular donors who are invested in seeing Asombro thrive, the meeting is open to community members, not just regular donors. The annual meeting gives us a chance to connect, highlight accomplishments from the past year, get excited about upcoming projects and take care of business like electing our Board of Directors.
January 15, 2024
10:00-12:00
Asombro Office 401 E College
Wildlife Wonders at the Park
In 2024 Asombro hosted seven events at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park to teach visitors about desert wildlife through guided hikes and activities. Fun for all ages!
In 2024, Wildlife Wonders was supported in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Game and Fish Share with Wildlife Program and Carroll Petrie Foundation.
Check back in 2025 for new dates.
Wildlife Wonders are usually on Saturday mornings, 9:00-12:00
You’re invited to our first Wildlife Wonders event of the 2024! Wildlife Wonders: Mammal Madness will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, March 16 from 9 am until noon. This family-friendly event will feature exciting activities such as “Tools of the Trade” and “Conservation Heroes.” Hands-on booths will be themed around New Mexican mammals in need of conservation and awareness. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet special guest Second Chance Wildlife Rescue, see live animals, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting mammal species in need of conservation. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday March 16, 2024 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
You are invited to Wildlife Wonders: Bird Bonanza Part One! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, April 20 from 9 am until noon. The event will feature a guided bird walk at 10:00. Hands-on booths will be themed around New Mexican birds in need of conservation and awareness. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet avian experts, participate in real-time bird monitoring, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting bird species in need of conservation. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday April 20, 2024 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
10:00 Guided Bird Walk with Mesilla Valley Audubon Society
Join us for Wildlife Wonders: Radical Reptiles! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, May 18 from 9 am until noon. The event will feature live snakes and lizards! Hands-on booths will be themed around New Mexican reptiles in need of conservation and awareness. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet herpetologists, practice lizard research techniques, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting reptile species in need of conservation. Use your cards to learn the game Endless Forms, a card game all about the habitats and wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday May 18, 2024 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
See you at Wildlife Wonders: Going Batty! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, July 27 from 7 pm until 9 pm. Hands-on booths will be themed around New Mexican bats and other nocturnal animals in need of conservation and awareness. Come meet ambassador bats from RD Wildlife Management. We’ll use technology to listen for bats and learn about the species present in Las Cruces. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet field experts, go on a night hike, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting nocturnal species in need of conservation. Use your cards to learn the game Endless Forms, a card game all about the habitats and wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert.Guests should note that this event will take place during and shortly after dusk, so light will be limited. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by grants to Asombro from the Carroll Petrie Foundation and the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday July 27, 2024 7:00-9:00 PM at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Buttterfly Fluttterby is back! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, August 24 from 9 am until noon. The event will feature butterfly experts and displays, games, arts and crafts, results from the New Mexico Butterfly Monitoring Network surveys at the Nature Park, and much more. Participants will also have an opportunity to collect up to three trading cards highlighting butterfly species in need of conservation. Use your cards to learn the game Endless Forms, a card game all about the habitats and wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert.The Butterfly Flutterby is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the Carroll Petrie Foundation.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday August 24, 2024 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
It’s time for Wildlife Wonders: Bird Bonanza Part Two! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, September 28 from 9 am until noon. Hands-on booths will be themed around New Mexican birds. Join us for a guided bird walk at 9:30, dissect owl pellets, contribute to citizen-science projects, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting bird species in need of conservation. Use your cards to learn the game Endless Forms, a card game all about the habitats and wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday September 28, 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Check out what’s going on in the soil at Wildlife Wonders: Dive into the Playa! This family-friendly event will take place at Asombro’s Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on Saturday, October 19 from 9 am until noon. The event will feature exciting activities such as “Tools of the Trade” and “Conservation Heroes.” Hands-on booths will be themed around species found in the New Mexican playas in need of conservation and awareness. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet the experts that spend time studying these fascinating ecosystems, see live playa critters like tadpole shrimp up close, and collect up to three trading cards highlighting playa species in need of conservation. Use your cards to learn the game Endless Forms, a card game all about the habitats and wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert. Wildlife Wonders is supported, in part, by a grant to Asombro from the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Share with Wildlife Program.
This event is free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will be welcome.
Saturday Oct 19, 2024 9:00-12:00 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Desert Data Jam
Open House and Awards Ceremony
April 24th, 2024 6:00-7:30
The Desert Data Jam challenges middle school students to find interesting ways to present scientific data to non-scientist audiences. Learn more here.
During the competition, Asombro hosts an open house to display student Desert Data Jam projects.
April 24, 2025
6:00 PM
Wooton Hall, NMSU Campus
Volunteer Events
Asombro holds two types of volunteer work days regularly:
Join us for monthly volunteer gatherings, held on the second Tuesday of most months from 9:30AM -10:30AM at the Asombro Institute for Science Education office at 401 E College Drive, Las Cruces. This is a great opportunity to meet other volunteers and learn more about Asombro. We work on a variety of tasks such as folding newsletters, prepping for education programs, stapling, sharpening, etc.
For anyone who loves the Park, join us in keeping out outdoor classroom a beautiful place. On Saturday work days, we need help with maintenance like raking, pruning, or painting. All skill levels and abilities welcome.
Join us at the CDNP on the 2nd Saturday of even numbered months, 8:00-11:00. Contact us for more information.
Past Events
Asombro does not currently have the events below on the schedule. Stay tuned for information in the future.
Asombro held a BioBlitz at its Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on September 19, 2015. During this 15-hour BioBlitz, teams of scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members worked together to find and identify plants, animals, rocks, and soils.
A report was compiled from the species data recorded that day.
Desert Dash was a fundraiser for Asombro. Enjoying expansive views of the desert, including three rugged mountain ranges, participants ran or walked the beautiful 5K, 10K, or half marathon trail courses.