About Nature Niños New Mexico
Nature Niños' mission is to expand access to the outdoors, share all it has to offer, and invite youth and families who might not readily access the outdoors into a safe, and welcoming community where we build skills and grow the next generation of conservationists, land stewards, and recreationalists.
We are an entry point to the outdoors for all who find themselves with any form of "nature nerves." We provide safe, and welcoming spaces to invite youth and families to make their own connections and memories with nature. Our goal is to introduce and encourage all New Mexicans, of all ages, to explore and enjoy our lands and waters safely and freely. We spend time introducing youth to their eco-identity through the visual arts, music, theater, spoken word and other mediums while encouraging their creativity and personal expression. We expand access to the outdoors, share all it has to offer, and build skills to grow the next generation of conservationists, land stewards, and recreationalists.
The Nature Niños Approach
WE LISTEN we listen deeply to the communities we serve, co-creating place-based outdoor experiences that reflect local culture, needs, and voices
WE PROVIDE we offer inclusive programming that honors community culture and is accessible through free, low-cost, or sliding-scale options to ensure all youth & families can participate
WE PARTNER with schools, teachers, and organizations across New Mexico to expand the horizons of outdoor education and uplift our collective work.
What We Do
Programming
Nature Niños' trusted, professional team offers many free and low-cost opportunities for kids and families including summer camp, day programs, family hikes, and events throughout the year. Together, across generations, we learn to fish, hike, shoot a bow, harvest and eat wild foods, track wild game, nature journal, and so much more. We spend time introducing youth to their eco-identity through the visual arts, music, theater, spoken word and other mediums while encouraging their creativity and personal expression. Whether you're an experienced explorer or new to the outdoors, there is a place that's just right for your family and we're here to help you find it.
School Partnerships
Nature Niños works with New Mexico schools to offer nature and place-based opportunities throughout the school year. These school-time hands-on experiences are expert-guided and age-appropriate. We cover academic standards while also creating memorable adventures, developing social-emotional skills, and connecting students to themselves, each other, and the natural world. Our staff focus on building relationships with the youth to ensure a positive mentorship opportunity in an outdoor setting and guiding youth to start thinking about potential career pathways in conservation. Outdoor education has so many benefits that we'd love to bring to your school!
Teacher Workshops and Professional Development
In response to research, outdoor learning has become a priority for schools, districts, and public education departments across America. In 2021, New Mexico passed legislation in support of outdoor classrooms and professional development. The Nature Niños team has been preparing for this exciting new horizon. As New Mexico's lead for Project Wild, we pair decades of experience in outdoor education focused on public lands with partnerships across the country. We offer workshops, a toolkit, and professional development opportunities for teachers who are interested in developing research-backed skills in a peer-driven community of outdoor educators.
Youth Program Development & Consultation
Although we're headquartered in central New Mexico, our mission is statewide and we are working to provide extension sites throughout the state. We partner with communities and organizations across the state to advance their community-driven visions and plans for youth and family programs that connect the next generation to the outdoors and everything it has to offer.
Visit our Programming page to see all the amazing opportunities that Nature Niños is offering our New Mexico youth, from PreK to High School.
Recognition
Meet the Nature Niños Staff
Nature Niños is a team of staff dedicated to encouraging nature experiences and broadening our youth's knowledge in environmental conservation and preservation.
Sarah Candelaria is an outdoor enthusiast passionate about fishing, camping, hiking, and hunting. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Nature Niños. With a background in conservation work through her previous careers in New Mexico, Sarah merges her love for nature and education in her work.
She holds a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and has experience as a NM PreK Consultant, early childhood center director, and public school teacher. Sarah is also pursuing a Master's in Social Work, which strengthens the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) focus of Nature Niños.
Her experience in management, program development, and community engagement, combined with her educational expertise, led her to establish Nature Niños in 2019 to connect underserved youth and their families to the natural world through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
Isaiah was born and raised in Las Vegas, NM. Growing up exploring the beautiful landscape of northern NM helped Isaiah connect with the natural world and find his passion in working outdoors. He moved to Albuquerque in 2016 to attend UNM and study Biology.
Isaiah is passionate about connecting youth with experiences only found out in nature. With over 4 years of experience in conservation, he brings expertise in environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation to Nature Niños. Having worked with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, NM State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, Isaiah has a strong background in hands-on conservation efforts and youth engagement as a former volunteer with Nature Niños. Dedicated to fostering environmental education and future opportunities in outdoor careers, Isaiah is excited to support the organization's mission of inspiring young explorers to thrive in harmony with nature.
In his free time Isaiah enjoys climbing plastic holds at the climbing gym, boulders out in the foothills, or bird watching in the bosque.
Sky Carlisle is a lifelong New Mexican, community builder, and father of five with more than 20 years of leadership experience serving nonprofits, educational organizations, healthcare systems, and mission-driven initiatives throughout New Mexico and beyond. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations strengthen community partnerships, develop sustainable systems, and expand programs that create lasting impact.
His passion for experiential education began while attending the University of New Mexico, where he helped develop leadership and outdoor education programs for youth through ropes courses, mentorship, and college outreach initiatives. Since then, he has continued serving communities through nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, communications, and organizational development.
As Associate Director of Operations & Programming, Sky works alongside the Nature Niños team to strengthen operations, support staff, expand community partnerships, and connect people, programs, and partnerships in ways that help Nature Niños grow its impact across New Mexico.
He believes that some of life's greatest lessons are learned outdoors and is passionate about creating opportunities for youth and families to look up, discover wonder, cultivate stewardship, and build lasting connections through meaningful outdoor experiences.
Outside of work, Sky enjoys exploring New Mexico with his wife and five children, hiking local trails, fishing, playing guitar, and sharing the wonder of the outdoors with the next generation.
Lily brings to Nature Niños a background in farming and classroom teaching, a love of outdoor adventure, and a passion for connecting children with the natural world. Born and raised in Albuquerque, she earned her bachelor's degree in Pennsylvania before returning to the Southwest. She later spent eight years in rural southwestern Colorado, where she worked on small-scale farms and taught upper elementary students. During that time, she discovered a love for outdoor and place-based education. Lily has seen young people experience some of their most meaningful growth outside, where curiosity, play, and exploration naturally come together. She loves helping students build confidence, take risks, and deepen their relationship with the landscapes around them. In her free time, Lily enjoys hiking and backpacking with her pup and riding her bike in the bosque.
Atieno Ouma is a dedicated leader in outdoor education and community engagement, with extensive experience designing experiential programs that connect young people to education, community, and the natural world. Originally from Kenya and raised in Massachusetts, she has lived in New Mexico for 13 years. As Program Director for Hands on Heritage in Santa Fe, she expanded programs that connected Hispanic and Indigenous youth to the region's history, landscapes, and ecological systems. She built strong partnerships with local organizations and educators to create hands-on, place-based learning that fostered cultural pride, environmental stewardship, and a sense of belonging. Outside of work, Atieno enjoys backpacking, biking, skiing, and spending time with her two cats, friends, and family. She's excited to bring her passion for equity, education, and nature to Nature Niños!
Position Being Filled for Fall 2026.
Interested in applying email Sarah Candelaria at sarah@natureninos.org.
Position Being Filled for Fall 2026.
Interested in applying email Sarah Candelaria at sarah@natureninos.org.
Adam C. Okoye
Community Programming Educational Assistant
Adam has been working with Nature Niños for two years and has enjoyed sharing his knowledge of wildlife while educating youth about nature and the preservation of endangered species. Adam was born in Ankara, Turkey and spent his formative years living there and in multiple U.S. states. He has traveled to multiple countries and continents, learning much about various cultures and natural life. His education varied from private, public, international, parochial, as well as home schooling. After moving back to Albuquerque, he completed his high school education at Sandia H.S. and obtained an AA degree from Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, NM. His love of nature, prehistoric life and wildlife influenced his choice of college. While at Mesalands he was able to take paleontology and natural science courses as well as participate on dinosaur digs and volunteer at the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Science Laboratory. Adam has volunteered at the Albuquerque Biopark, Botanical Gardens, and Aquarium, and has also volunteered and received training from the Valle De Oro Wildlife Refuge. He is an Eagle Scout, and his interests include the outdoors, nature, conservation, paleontology and Anime.
Beth - a photographer, storyteller, and full-time mom to two wild-hearted, country boys who keep her grounded, inspired, and constantly on her toes. They are Beth’s greatest adventure and are a daily reminder to find beauty in the chaos!
Beth was born and raise in the mountains of central New Mexico, where she grew up as an active member of 4-H, participated in many community events, formed local connections, and attended elementary through High School!
As a photographer, she has a knack for capturing the quiet magic of the natural world and frequently finds her peace among pine trees, rocky trails, and the occasional wildlife surprise.
Beth is a passionate advocate for early childhood education and development, believing that the tiniest minds deserve the biggest love and the brightest beginnings. Her background in veterinary technology and small animal care adds a layer of compassion and curiosity to everything she does.
Jenny was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up having her closest connection to nature being the beach and the zoo. She continued that interest at the University of Arizona with a Bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Animals have always been her passion and she started her career in animal care at many zoological facilities across the Southwest. Some species she cared for include giraffes, zebras, macaws, snakes, frogs, and a variety of birds of prey. After discovering her love of education, she moved to Albuquerque in September 2022. She looks forward to connecting children with nature in a way that they can see a future career, like what she experienced.
Davon Collins is an artist and conservationist dedicated to regenerating our environment for generations to come. He is a graduate of Howard University, with a BFA in Electronic Art and currently pursuing his second degree in Environmental Science at the University of New Mexico. He moved to NM as part of a fellowship program dedicated to diversifying leadership in Outdoor and Conservation spaces; a sentiment that is critical to the work he engages in. Davon is committed to creating a safe and engaging foyer to the great outdoors for the communities that he represents. He loves swimming, hiking, cooking, and farming. Davon is excited to continue to be out in Nature with your Ninos!
Kenley Pacheco
Communications Coordinator
kenley@natureninos.org
Kenley was born and raised in New Mexico, where she spent her childhood exploring and building a deep appreciation for the state's beautiful outdoors. She has always had a love for being outside, especially hiking, fishing, and hunting. As a mother to a one-year-old son, Kenley believes every child deserves the opportunity to connect with nature, explore, and experience the joy of the outdoors.
Kenley graduated from New Mexico State University with her BSN in Nursing, with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. During her summers home from school, she became part of the Nature Ninos family from the very beginning, serving as a lead educator at summer camp and helping launch Tiny Trees. Today, Kenley is honored to help share the story of Nature Ninos and continue nurturing a program that is so meaningful to her heart.