All events are FREE, open to the public, and take place at Valle de Oro's visitor center
unless noted otherwise. All times are in Mountain Time. Check websites and
our Facebook/Instagram pages for more information.

Electric Shuttle Tours
Discover your National Wildlife Refuge!
Informative tours of refuge habitats in
our open-air electric shuttle will be
available on the first Friday and Saturday
of October and November, and the last
Saturday of October. Tours are led by
volunteers, take about 45 minutes and
are available on demand by checking in
at the visitor center front desk. The
shuttle program will begin a seasonal
hiatus in November and will return in
Spring 2027!
Tour Days:
Friday October 2nd
Saturday October 3rd
Saturday October 31st
Friday November 6th
Saturday November 7th
9:30 am to 2:00 pm each day
 

Sat. September 19
Macroinvertebrates
Meet Ranger Sierra at the refuge pond to
learn about macroinvertebrates as
bioindicator species, water quality, and
pollution. This event will allow
participants to experience hands on data
collection as we look at the critters
hidden under the surface of our water.
Fun for all ages!
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Tue. September 22
Autumn Equinox Plant Walk
Join Ranger Dakota for an easy meander
around the visitor center grounds to
learn about our amazing local native
plants and see who might be blooming
as the weather starts to cool!
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Sat. September 26
De la Calle al Valle: Story Riders
Celebration & Refuge Birthday Party
*Presented by Valle de Oro NWR & Story Riders from the Center of
Southwest Culture, Inc.*
Join us for a celebration of public lands
and the communities that steward
them. Join a Story Riders group bike
ride to the refuge or meet us at the
visitor center for workshops,
performances and fun! Follow the
refuge or Story Riders on social media
for more, or sign up for the Story Riders
news letter for more information as we
get closer to the event!
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Fri. October 2
Nature Tots: Seeds
*Presented by the Friends of Vallde de Oro*
Discover the amazing ways seeds travel
and grow! Little learners will explore
seeds through hands-on activities and
make a pine cone bird feeder to take
home. 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Sat. October 3
Saturday @ the Refuge: All About Bats
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Did you know 29 species of bats live in
New Mexico? Come learn about this
amazing mammal as you craft your own
seasonal decor! 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Sat. October 3
Dog with a Broken Leg: Animal Fiction
& the Human Condition
Have you ever wondered what genre
stories like Zootopia and Bambi fall into?
What connects them outside of just
having talking animals? Join Rafael for a
presentation on what animal fiction is,
why it’s important, and how it’s used as a
tool to better help us understand
ourselves as a species.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Fri. October 9
Nature Kids: Macroinvertebrates
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Take a closer look at the tiny creatures
living in and around our wetlands! Kids
will explore aquatic macroinvertebrates
and learn what these small animals can
tell us about the health of their habitat!
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Fri. October 9
Valleys of Gold: Origins of New Mexico
Foodways
New Mexico is known across the culinary
world for its unique cuisine, with red and
green chiles as the crown jewels of its
food. But how did that come to be? Was
there ever a New Mexico without chiles?
Join Rafael for a brief history of how the
food culture of New Mexico developed
into what it is today. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Sat. October 10
Bird Survey Training for World
Migratory Bird Day
Join the Biology Team for VdO's Bird Survey
Training to celebrate World Migratory Bird
Day, as we celebrate this year's theme of
citizen science "Every Bird Counts!" Open to
current and future volunteers. We'll go over
the protocol and bird ID during a tour on
the Electric Shuttle. 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sat. October 17
B.A.R.K. Ranger
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Bring your furry friends to learn about our
pet policies on the refuge and take the
pledge to be a part of our B.A.R.K. Ranger
program. All dogs required to be on leash
and non-reactive around others.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sat. October 17
Backyard Habitat Chat
*Presented by The New Mexico Backyard Refuge Program*
Join us to talk about sharing space with
our wild neighbors. If you bring photos
of your yard, patio, or balcony, you can
walk through the certification process
with our staff and volunteers and take
home your Backyard Refuge sign!
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sat. October 24
Author Talk: Hiking with David Ryan
*Presented by The Friends of Valle de Oro*
Published in 2019, David Ryan’s book 60
Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque
included his experiences hiking and
spending time at Valle de Oro in the
early years before the visitor center was
constructed. David will talk about his
experiences hiking around the state,
connections with the refuge, and about
his new book Wandering in the Clear Light
of New Mexico. Following David’s
presentation, attendees may participate
in a short hike on the refuge. Light
refreshments will be available.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sat. October 24
Tea in the Wild: Observing Nature
Through the Art of Brewing Tea
Join Ranger Dakota for a special outdoor
excursion version of the hit program The
Nature of Tea. Participants will learn how
brewing the world’s most consumed
beverage can connect us to the natural
processes and seasonal cycles
happening all around us and how
tasting tea can help train our senses to
notice more of the natural world. The
program will include a ride on the refuge
shuttle, a short hike, and sitting on the
ground outdoors. Space is limited!
Reservations required. Reserve your
spot by sending an email to:
dakota_dominguez@fws.gov
12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Fri. October 30
Spooky Night Out at the Refuge
Join Ranger Dakota on a one-of-a-kind
seasonal outing after dark at the refuge
featuring a nighttime shuttle tour of
refuge habitats, scary story readings,
and a short spooky walk in the dark.
Participants should plan to come
prepared with flashlights or headlamps
and clothes for cool temperatures.
Space is limited! Reservations required.
Reserve your spot by sending an email
to: dakota_dominguez@fws.gov
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Sat. October 31
Halloween Wildlife Costume Contest
Stop by the visitor center in your wildlifethemed
Halloween costume to enter into
our virtual costume contest! All ages
welcome. Costumes must be be inspired
by plants, animals, fungi or insects.
Participants must have their photo taken
by a ranger at the refuge on Halloween
to enter. Photos will be uploaded to the
refuge’s social media stories where
people can vote for the winners.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Fri. November 6
Nature Tots: Hibernation
*Presented by the Friends of Vallde de Oro*
How do animals get through the cold
months? Young nature explorers will
learn about hibernation and discover
some of the clever ways animals survive
winter.10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Sat. November 7
Saturday @ the Refuge: Leaf Globes
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Celebrate the colors of fall by creating
your own leaf globe! Use autumn leaves
and natural inspiration to make a
seasonal decoration to take home.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Wed. November 11
Veteran’s Day Federal Holiday
Visitor center OPEN regular hours

Fri. November 13
Nature Kids: Hibernation
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Explore how animals prepare for and
survive winter. Kids will learn about
hibernation, seasonal adaptations, and
the different strategies wildlife use when
temperatures drop.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Fri. November 13
Artist Talk: Treasure Keepers with
Marilee Woolace
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Join the Friends of Valle de Oro and local
artist Marilee Woolace to learn more
about the inspiration behind her current
installation here at the visitor center,
Treasure Keepers which features portraits
for endangered species from every state
in the US. 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Sat. November 28
The Nature of Tea: Observing Nature
Through the Art of Brewing Tea
Join Ranger Dakota for a multi-sensory
workshop experience exploring
connections between seasonal changes
in the bosque ecosystem, the process
and ritual of brewing and tasting tea,
and using our senses to observe the
natural world. Tea and light snacks
provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro.
Space is limited! Reservations required.
Reserve your spot by sending an email
to: dakota_dominguez@fws.gov
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Thu. December 3
Cozy Volunteer Day- Luminaria
Event Prep
Stop by the visitor center any time
during open hours, for any amount of
time you have, to help us prepare for
our annual Luminaria event on 12/12!
We’ll be indoors folding paper bags and
testing electric tea lights. There will be
warm drinks and snacks for volunteers.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Fri. December 4
Nature Tots: Cranes
*Presented by the Friends of Vallde de Oro*
Meet one of New Mexico’s most exciting
winter visitors! Young learners will
discover sandhill cranes, how they move,
what they eat, and why they spend the
winter along the Rio Grande.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Sat. December 5
Saturday @ the Refuge: Tin Stamping
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Create your own piece of Southwesterninspired
art with tin stamping! Learn how
simple tools and patterns can transform
metal into a beautiful handmade
decoration.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Fri. December 11
Nature Kids: Cranes
*Presented by the Friends of Valle de Oro*
Learn about the remarkable sandhill
cranes that return to New Mexico each
winter. Kids will explore crane migration,
behavior, habitat, and the adaptations
that help these impressive birds survive.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Sat. December 12
Volunteer Luminaria Set Up
Help make winter magic with us on the
trails at Valle de Oro! We will be setting
up 1,000 paper luminarias and we need
your help! Join us to participate in this
special New Mexico tradition. To RSVP,
email dakota_dominguez@fws.gov
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Sat. December 12
Luminaria Walk & Star Party
Enjoy luminarias around the visitor
center and nearby trails and watch the
stars with The Albuquerque Astronomical
Society. Free refreshments will be
provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro.
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

 Sun. December 13
Breakfast Burritos & Luminaria Clean Up
Help us clean up after a magical
luminaria night! We'll be picking up and
disassembling 1,000 paper luminariascoffee
and breakfast burritos will be
provided by the Friends of Valle de Oro to
help fuel volunteers! To RSVP, email
dakota_dominguez@fws.gov
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Tue. December 22
First Day of Winter Refuge Tours
Take a tour with a ranger around the
refuge in the electric shuttle to see what
plants and animals are up to now that
winter has officially arrived. Tours will be
on-demand throughout the day and will
take about 45 minutes. Just check in at
the front desk.
9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Fri. December 25
Christmas Day Federal Holiday
Visitor center CLOSED

Fri. January 1
New Year’s Day Federal Holiday
Visitor center CLOSED