Above: The Franklin Mountains from Trans Mountain Road in El Paso.

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Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition
Established 2004

Mountain lions are at the top of the food chain in the Chihuahuan Desert. 
US Fish and Wildlife Photo.


The mission of CDEC is to collaborate efforts among public educators, the public and CDEC in support of programs that enhance conservation and education of the Chihuahuan Desert.  The goals of the organization include:  serving as a resource on information about the Chihuahuan Desert, encouraging life long learning about the Chihuahuan Desert and collaborating efforts among public educators, the public and CDEC to enhance conservation and education of the Chihuahuan Desert. 


Sign up to become a new CDEC member today!  Go to the
Membership link on this website or contact Virginia Galarza at virginia_galarza@yahoo.com or 915-621-2001.                          

President’s Corner
by Rick LoBello

On behalf of everyone involved with the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition (CDEC), I would like to invite all El Paso teachers to learn about and get involved with local efforts to help educate our community about both the wonders and threats to our Chihuahuan Desert.  You can learn more about our education outreach opportunities on this website or by contacting us with your special needs. 

This past year we put together a PowerPoint program on our desert that works well with grades 5 on up.  Let me know if you would like a free copy for your classroom.

Since we are new organization, we need members to help us achieve our long list of the priorities for the coming years.  If you would like to get involved in helping to protect our local flora and fauna, while improving our area’s quality of life, consider joining us as member. 

We would appreciate hearing from you with your ideas and input.  Feel free to drop us a line by email or give me a call at my office during the week or on my cell on weekends. 

Thanks for all your hard work for our youth and the future of our country.

Sincerely,
Rick LoBello

915-521-1881 or 915-474-1456 (weekend)
lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov

 

 
Education Network

The following organizations are represented in the membership of CDEC. 

Join the Chihuahuan Desert
Education Coalition Today!

CDEC Membership Application

Organizations

Audubon Society
http://www.gbarnett.com/eptpas
/eptpashome.html
Birds, birding, wildlife, the environment, and our community are the concerns of El Paso Audubon. Officially known as the El Paso/Trans Pecos Audubon Society, this is one of the largest and
most active environmental groups in the American Southwest.

Centennial Museum
(915) 747-5565
http://museum.utep.edu/

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Stephanie Bestelmeyer, Ph.D.
(505)524-3334
http://www.cdnp.org
Overview: The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park is dedicated to increasing scientific literacy by fostering an understanding of the Chihuahuan Desert. To achieve this goal, the Nature Park serves students, teachers and adults with hands-on, inquiry based educational programs. Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park staff members are trained as both scientist and educators, allowing them to provide quality programs focused on science inquiry in an age-appropriate manner.

El Paso Electric Co.
Dorothy Baca
(915)543-4122
http://www.epelctric.com
Overview: El Paso Electric provides information about electricity through a variety of safety programs and presentations. Learn how to use electricity safely with Ernie G. Watts, an animated creation suited to teach youngsters basic electrical safety. Call to schedule a safety presentation to learn the potential hazards of electricity or tour at the Rio Grande Power Plant powering El Paso since 1929.

El Paso Water Utilities
Water Conservation Department

Diane Ecklund Perez
(915)594-5615
http://www.epwu.org
Overview: The Water Conservation Department participates in community outreach programs of all ages. Willie the Water Drop mascot serves as an ambassador to help teach young children about our regional water resources and how to conserve. Other education programs include hands-on activities, model demonstrations, and water related games and information booths. There is no charge for education outreach programs.

El Paso Zoo
Rick LoBello
(915)521-1881
http://www.elpasozoo.org
Overview: The El Paso Zoo is a member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). AZA envisions a world where all people respect, value and conserve animals and nature. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and our link to helping animals in their native habitats.

Girl Scouts of the Rio
(915)566-9433
http://www.gsriogrande.org
Overview: Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande serves a diverse membership of over 5500 girls and over 2000 adults who live in an eight county area of west Texas and southwest New Mexico. Girl Scout program includes activities for a variety of focus areas including science and technology, outdoor education, diversity awareness, day and resident camps, leadership programs and community service projects.
915-521-1865
 

Las Cruces Museum of Natural History

Marcie Galbreath
(505)522-3120
http://museums.las-cruces.org
Overview: Saturday Science- hands on science program for elementary school children is guaranteed to be a combination of fun and learning; held one Sat. per month at 11:00AM. Live animal program for children ages 3-10 years. Live animals are used to teach topics of anatomy, ecology, and behavior of reptiles and amphibians; 4 week program held April, June and August. Suitcase Science kits available for teacher check-out. Call or visit the website for other programs offered.

New Mexico State Parks
(505) 525-4068
www.nmparks.com

Master Gardeners
Joe Falkner
(915) 581-1456

Master Naturalists
Sal Quintanilla
(915) 778-0274

Native Plant Society of New Mexico

Rio Bosque Wetlands Park
John Sproul

(915)747-8663
http://www.riobosque.org
Overview: Located along the Rio Grande in the Mission Valley, this 372 acre City of El Paso Park is the site of a long-term project to restore approximate examples of native river valley ecosystems. The University of Texas at El Paso manages the site under license agreement with the city. We offer educational tours of the site, classroom presentations, and presentations to community groups.

Sierra Club
Mariana Chew, Ph.D. Candidate

(915)532-0521 or (915)203-7920
http://www.sierraclub.org/beyondtheborders
/mexico/

The Sierra Club believes, that the environment can never be truly protected unless local communities are involved in the process of building public support and holding governments accountable for environmental protection. We can achieve this goal by defending, supporting, engaging and inspiring communities to take action. Toward this end, the Sierra Club has initiated a program to build grassroots support for environmental protection, “Beyond the Borders” of the United States.

Texas Parks and Wildlife
Urban Wildlife Program

(915)774-9603
Overview: presentations on individual wildlife species, classes, ecology, conservation and endangered species. Workshop on Texas wildscapes. Technical Guidance for wildlife restoration, enhancing property for landowners, and native plant identification. Wildlife trunks available for checkout.

Texas Parks and Wildlife
Franklin Mountains State Park

(915)566-6441
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Overview: Park is the largest urban wilderness park in the nation, almost 24,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert. Numerous birds, reptiles and small mammals exist, along with larger wildlife such as mule deer and an occasional mountain lion.

UTEP Environmental Sciences
Joel Gilbert

Individuals

Judy and Jaime
Ackerman

Jose Jaimes

Steve F. Elfring

Kathy Kraften

Dolores Roque

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

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