Special Places and Wide Open Spaces
Living in Texas wouldn’t be the same without wild places to explore. The Frontera Land Alliance is devoted to conserving special places by connecting the public through our mountains and desert.
THANK YOU TO HUNT COMMUNITIES
FOR GENEROUSLY SPONSORING THE 2026
FRONTERA NATURE DISCOVERY PROGRAM
The Frontera Land Alliance believes that education empowers children to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential. When nature is integrated into daily life, it becomes a joyful part of children’s and adults’ learning experiences. Frontera’s Nature Discovery Program incorporates nature into the "classroom" with a collaborative network of organizations and experts. Our program provides opportunities to:
• Explore natural spaces for hiking and discovery.
• Engage your senses by featuring the textures, smells, beauty, and wonder of nature.
• Participate in activities designed to develop observation skills, creativity, and innovative thinking.
The Chihuahuan Desert, one of the most biodiverse ecoregions in North America, is both our home and our classroom. However, our region faces significant challenges, including limited access to environmental education, a lack of outdoor recreation culture, and pressing environmental concerns such as water scarcity. Studies show that engaging in nature has profound benefits, particularly for children:
• Physical Health: Time spent in nature reduces childhood obesity, strengthens immune systems, and promotes physical activity.
• Mental Health: Exposure to green spaces reduces stress, anxiety, and symptoms of ADHD.
• Academic Performance: Outdoor education improves critical thinking, problem-solving, and overall academic performance.
• Social Skills: Nature-based activities encourage teamwork, empathy, and communication.
For adults, engaging with nature improves mental health, boosts productivity, and fosters a sense of community. Despite these benefits, El Paso’s outdoor recreation culture lags behind regions like Colorado, and Arizona. This underscores the urgent need for programs like ours to bridge this gap for people to feel comfortable in nature through learning and recreation for improved mental and physical health.
Nature offers one of the best classrooms for whole-child learning. Learning in nature allows a child to engage in all senses, including physical movement. Children who have regular contact with nature become deeper learners and experience more complete whole-person development. Additionally, a child’s heightened connection with nature often leads to families becoming engaged in more outdoor activities.
To learn more, reach out to: Outreach@Fronteralandalliance.org
See the support first-and through the eyes of children at the Frontera Desert Discovery Camps: Desert Discovery Camp 1
Want to request a site visit? Don’t know what to ask?
Below activities and topics are dependent upon the field trip location chosen
● Nature Hikes ● Wildlife Viewing ● Desert Art ● Wildlife Monitoring ● Invasives & Exotics ● Geology
● History with Natural Ecology ● Plant Identification ● Fishing ● Bird Adaptations & Owl Pellet Dissection
● Social Responsibility & Coastal Conservation ● Ask Us Your Special Request!
Citizen Science: http://www.insightselpaso.org/city-nature-challenge-el-paso/
Community Conservation
Community conservation is an approach to land conservation that includes more people. Community conservation begins by listening to many different voices in the community — then responding. Community conservation uses the strengths of the land trust to meet needs expressed by people in the community. You can learn more at Land Trust Alliance.
The Frontera Land Alliance works to conserve special lands and waters through permanent preservation. We connect all people to the desert to see the value first hand through walks and talks, presentations, as well guided hikes. Frontera brings people together to strengthen our Conservation Community by preserving our regional landscape which is rich in history, natural resources, breathtaking views, and recreational opportunities. T
Frontera conservation in our Chihuahuan Desert is all encompassing. It is important that we preserve areas that are home to our tiniest insects, to reptiles and amphibians, to mammals, birds and our desert plants. To learn a little more about the living creatures and plants of our desert please view the videos below.
Education Resources
Preserving the Chihuahuan Desert: Conservation Challenges and Opportunities
The Maryknoll Monarch Initiative began in 2025 as a shared vision between the Maryknoll Sistersand the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Inspired by the Sisters’ Mission Institute, MMI presents a new educational and training initiative on the Border in El Paso, where each community has a ministry presence. Drawing on the geography, history, and politics of the border, MMI focuses on Care for the Earth, Human Migration, and Nonviolence.
The Calming Box Girl Scout Tropp 64135 created 3 calming boxes as part of their Silver Award Project. The Silver Award project is a significant achievement in Girl Scouting, recognized as the highest award for Cadettes. To earn this award, a girl must: Define an issue, Research and identify root causes, and develop a plan.
A Calming Box is to provide a way for students to learn various methods to address mental anxiety, strengthen self-image and self-esteem. Poor self-esteem and depression produce more negative thoughts and more anxiety. The calming box will help students be more confident, interactive, proud, have stronger self-esteem, and be more socially engaged. This together can lead to being a leader and a good role model in your community. The box can be used by anyone to replace. This is something that all people struggle with at all ages and evolves all senses indoors and outdoors.
