October 19, 2023

We are happy to announce that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared October 23rd as Forest Appreciation Day! Forest Appreciation Day was made possible thanks to the efforts of Wild Friends students across New Mexico and their work on SM 29 (Sen. Stewart)/ HM 35 (Rep. Serrato) during the 2023 legislative session. We hope that you choose to celebrate with us! Here are a few ways to celebrate:

• Go on a hike
• Visit a nature center near you to learn more about forests in your area
• Go bird watching in a nature preserve or in your backyard
• Make pinecone bird feeders using peanut/almond/sunflower butter with seeds
• If you are a teacher, do a lesson/activity related to forests with your students! Here are some resources:
  • Wild Friends Forest Activities from 2022-23 School Year
  • Short Stand-Alone Outdoor Science Activities – Lawrence Hall of Science
  • Tree Exploration Activity – BEETLES Project
  • Fire Management Discussion – BEETLES Project
• Go outside to read! Here is a list of books about forests:
  • Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of how Forests Communicate Underground by Terra Kelley and Marie Hermansson
  • Can You Hear the Trees Talking? Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben
  • Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
  • Ellie’s Log by Judith L. Li and M.L Herring
  • The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • The Secret Lives of Trees: How They Live and Why They Matter by Colin Tudge