Youth Leadership Curriculum Prepares Future Conservation Leaders in Taos

The Outdoor Academy has built a strong foundation that connects youth to outdoor experiences, field trips, and internships. However, as students progressed into internships and career exploration, program leaders recognized the need for a more structured curriculum to better prepare them with the leadership, technical, and workforce skills required for long-term success. When a staff member from Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte identified this gap, they reached out to LOR for support. LOR’s funding will help hire two to three outdoor educators to develop and deliver approximately 380 hours of instruction, mentorship, conservation education, and field-based learning. Funding will also provide aquatic ecology kits and classroom materials for 70–80 students. The new Youth Leadership Curriculum will cover environmental stewardship, aquatic ecology, water quality monitoring, public lands education, outdoor leadership, workforce readiness, and career exploration through programs at Taos High School and Taos Pueblo Day School. Students will also connect with outdoor professionals and conservation leaders through mentorship and career exploration. By strengthening the pathway from outdoor education to internships, certifications, and careers in conservation, outdoor recreation, and natural resource management, the program will provide approximately 70 youth with a more intentional path toward outdoor careers.