Chick Keller, PEEC Founder, describing building plans at Fall Harvest Luncheon in 2013. Photo Courtesy PEEC

2015 Grand Opening of Los Alamos Nature Center, operated by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center. Photo by Leslie Bucklin/LAC

Nature Odyssey summer camp at Valles Caldera in 2010. Photo Courtesy PEEC

BY MICHELE ALTHERR
Co-Founder
PEEC

If you go high into the Jemez Mountains in the spring, your path will traverse dry as well as muddy spots. You will hear the soft trickle of rivulets of water. As the snow melts, life-sustaining water gathers force, cascading through mountain folds, over cliffs, into canyons and finally feeding into the broad Rio Grande. Along your hike you will notice that familiar creeks, streams and rivers swell with abundant fresh water.

Just as the water flows and grows, so did the idea of PEEC. Twenty-five years ago a tiny nature organization was but a rivulet of an idea in the community’s mind, but the idea of a nature center would swell with momentum as countless individuals, groups and businesses would gather in support of a broader vision of Los Alamos as a place where nature is a part of people’s lives, where people enjoy, value, and care for nature.

Amidst the awe-inspiring creations of nearby nature, the establishment of the Pajarito Environmental Education Center and the Los Alamos Nature Center stands as a remarkable achievement. From the beginning, PEEC members held an unwavering commitment to nature, education and community. Within 15 years we progressed from offering programs without a physical space, to transforming an unused school building into a nature center, to culminating in a purpose-built award-winning nature center.

Just exactly what made PEEC so successful in a relatively short time? To answer this question I talked with PEECsters who have been through our transitions and growth. One such person was Branden Willman, who wrote, “What drew me to PEEC was the dedicated board who stayed focused on the mission to get people into nature, especially children. I believe PEEC was successful in the early years because of this shared passion and collaborative spirit.”

While PEEC supporters have expressed it in various ways, a few key ideas for its success consistently emerged: unwavering dedication and persistence, enthusiastic community involvement and a profound love for our landscape’s diverse ecosystems. Early on, at a packed public event at Fuller Lodge, which featured directors from established centers, ideas and interests were shared. The event confirmed a wellspring of enthusiasm for a nature center in Los Alamos. Inspired by this momentum, a group coalesced, and began meeting in each other’s homes. However, the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire set everyone back, forcing a pause in our progress, as the community dealt with the fire’s damage. With time the group forged ahead and developed bylaws and applied to become a 501c3. Also, we began offering expert-led hikes and making a name for ourselves through community outreach and newspaper articles.

Visiting other nature centers often led us to generate ideas for structuring the organization and developing engaging programs. Yet, our early events often drew small crowds. Despite our
enthusiasm, our first children’s programs, PEECnic membership meetings, and Earth Days were
all sparsely attended. Even when attendance was low, we saw people making real connections
to the natural world, which was our goal.

Later, when we faced the daunting tasks of designing and raising a staggering $1.2 million for exhibits, we met the challenge by dividing our efforts. One group focused on fundraising, while the other crafted the Interpretive Plan, our foundational document for PEEC and its exhibits. Though many moments tested our resolve, they also fueled our determination, teaching us that passion and perseverance were essential for PEEC’s future.

Gradually, the tide began to turn. Membership grew, grants were awarded to us, and event attendance increased. The community and the legion of enthusiastic experts and volunteers that joined us were irreplaceable to our success. Recognizing this, we made outreach a cornerstone of our efforts. We began by actively gathering community input through surveys, forums for the nature center design and Interpretive Plan, searching for locals with expertise, reaching out to organizations and businesses, and holding community celebrations.

Looking back, it’s remarkable how people with expertise always seemed to appear just when needed. One day, while I was cleaning Elf the turtle’s tank, Jenni Macke happened to stop by. She offered some invaluable advice and, step by step, took over the care of our amphibians and
reptiles. Her expertise stemmed from her lifelong love of raising similar critters. That unexpected encounter resulted in Jenni’s crucial role in establishing the Los Alamos Nature
Center’s popular live exhibits that so many people enjoy today.

From the start, we had a knack for taking ideas and making them operational. This approach
was key to unlocking the talents within our community. We discovered that many locals had passions like birding, astronomy, and butterfly identification, and they readily volunteered to share their expertise through informative hikes and talks. Beyond the community’s expertise, our first educators fueled PEEC’s mission with their passionate dedication, volunteering their
time to ignite a love of nature in young minds.

This spirit of collaboration extended to numerous organizations, including Bandelier, Valles Caldera, LANL, LAPS, Public Utilities, Los Alamos Geological Society, Greenwheels, LA Mountain Biker Club, Moms in Motion and LA Mountaineers. In many ways we built both the individual’s sense of belonging as well as a larger community around PEEC’s vision.

To live in Los Alamos is to enjoy the outdoors and to appreciate nature’s grandeur. In Los Alamos it is easy to experience a vertical mile of diversity, which means that rapid changes in elevation from the Rio Grande Valley to the volcanic peaks of the Jemez result in diverse ecosystems. Physically, we are healthier because the land pulls us towards a nearby network of trails, leading us to sheltered inner canyons or to open mesa trails and mountain tops with expansive views or night skies streaked with stars. Our landscape sharpens our ability to observe and wonder and inspires creativity Within our striking landscape PEEC has always looked for different ways to appeal to many different interests. PEEC’s programs reflect the magic of our landscape, appealing to diverse interests. We offer fun for families, small group hikes, informative nature talks, and even opportunities for solitude. From gentle walks to challenging climbs, and from general interest to specialized passions like nature photography, wildflowers, climate, or rocks—we connect you with experts and communities.

Through decades of dedicated work, we have connected tens of thousands of people with the wonders of nature. We are no longer that tiny rivulet of an idea, but a flowing stream of people who deeply value and understand our landscape. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your continuous support of PEEC over the years. You are the reason for our being. Remember to take a step outside and experience the wonders of nature!