EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION AT THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT NATURE CENTER

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, located approximately 4.5 miles south of Fort Davis, is a rich resource for both formal and informal earth science education.

The Nature Center receives about 12,000 visitors annually. This diverse audience includes school children, organized tour groups, individuals, and families from 48 states and 11 countries. One of our educational goals is to present regional earth science information to these audiences in appealing and informative ways.

This overview will examine the earth science-oriented exhibits and programs at the Nature Center, their strengths, weaknesses, and how they are layered to appeal to various audiences. Included in the discussion will be the Chihuahuan Desert Mining Heritage exhibit, the Dynamic Landscape exhibit, and the Nature Center’s innovative The Earth Rocks!!! A Celebration of Earth Science program.