Outdoor Community Connections in Action!
Dispatches from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division
ORD Newsletter | September 10, 2025
Dispatches from New Mexico's
Outdoor Recreation Division
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Letter from the Marketing Coordinator
Greetings outdoor enthusiasts,
September is here and moving quickly! The small and mighty ORD team hit the road this week and reconnected in Gallup for Outdoor New Mexico's annual Outdoor Economics Conference. We love connecting in-person with our partners and have had a blast exploring the beautiful scenery at Red Rock Park.
Later this month, Director Karina Armijo will head to the Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, NC where members of the Confluence of States will also convene. Program Manager Carl Colonius will be in Taos at the next Rio Grande Trail Commission meeting and community events . Evan Pilling, our Grants Coordinator, will host guided hikes at the Annual New Mexico Conference on Aging in Glorieta, and I'll be tabling at the Camp OMDP event in Las Cruces.
Latino Conservation Week is coming up September 13-21 and you can visit latinoconservationweek.com for details, a list of events in NM, and ideas on how to celebrate in person or virtually.
Lastly, if you're an outdoor entrepreneur based in NM, we invite you to apply to showcase your products and services and to compete for $15k in cash prizes at this year's Adventure Pitch Fest! Applications close September 30 . Learn more, sign up for an info session and apply at nmoutside.com/adventure-pitch-fest .
Stay wild,
Michelle Simon
Marketing Coordinator
Outdoor Recreation Division
Adventure Pitch Fest
NM-based outdoor businesses of ALL sizes are invited to participate in this year's event on November 6 in Albuquerque! Join us for an info and Q&A session on Thursday, September 18 or Friday, September 26 to learn more. Apply to showcase OR apply for the pitch competition (showcase space included) where businesses will go head-to-head delivering 1-minute pitches before a panel of esteemed judges, competing for $15k in cash prizes. Applications close September 30, 2025 .
In Other News
Executive Summary: 2025 Outdoor Participation Trends Report
New Mexico adds 2,224 acres for public outdoor fun in Colfax County
XTERRA World Championship returns to U.S. soil for 30th anniversary in 2026
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to host National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation
Get Involved
NM Magazine 25th Annual Photo Awards
Enter your best photos of New Mexico's people, places, and wildlife for a chance to win prizes valued up to $5,000! Contest closes September 15.
Upcoming Workshops & Conferences
Sept 11, 18, 25: American Trails Advancing Trails Webinar Series , virtual
Sept 13: Santa Fe Conservation Trust Restoration Workshop: Erosion Control Structures , Dovetail, Galisteo Basin
Sept 16-18: Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals Visitor Use Management Training , virtual
Sept 17: TOTAL NM's NM Outdoor Classroom Free Virtual Workshop Series , virtual
Sept 18: Environment for the Americas Shared Spaces Webinar Series: Dark Skies & Birds , virtual
Sept 23-25: Annual Conference on Aging , Glorieta
Sept 25-26: Governor's Conference on Economic Development , Pueblo of Isleta
Sept 30-Oct 2: Wildland Urban Fire Summit , Valencia
Race Events
For a list of running races visit runguides.com/new-mexico/runs
For a list of cycling races visit nmcycling.org
Sept 13: Latino Conservation Week Virtual Race , virtual
Sept 21: Corrales Ditch Run , Corrales
Sept 21: Santa Fe International Half Marathon , Santa Fe
Oct 4: Road Apple Rally , Farmington
Oct 11: SVH 5K Walk/Run , Elephant Butte
Oct 11: Gila Monster Gran Fondo , Silver City
Oct 11: I Will Run for Them 5k , Albuquerque
Oct 25-26: Day of the Tread , Albuquerque
Oct 31: Day of the Dead: Land Of Enchantment Backyard Ultra , Las Cruces
Rio Grande Trail Commission
The next RGT Commission meeting will take place Friday, September 19 , at Taos Civic Plaza. Tune in virtually or connect with commission members and stakeholders on Sept 18 for a Horsethief Mesa Site Tour or Hiker Happy Hour at Midtown Market in Arroyo Hondo. RSVP HERE and view the latest newsletter at conta.cc/4fD5kEN.
Volunteer Opportunities
For a list of NM organizations with ongoing volunteer opportunities, visit nmoutside.com/volunteer
Now-Oct 26: Adaptive Cycling Volunteers , Albuquerque
Sept 12: Ute Lake State Park Trail Work , Logan
Sept 19-21: Rio Embudo Restoration , Dixon
Sept 19-21: Adaptive Sports NM's Disabled Veterans' Water Sports Camp , Logan
Sept 25-28: Black Range Backcountry Adventure , Gila National Forest
Sept 27: Pecos to Pecos Road & River Cleanup , multiple locations
Sept 27: Valles Caldera National Public Lands Day , Jemez Springs
Sept 27: Wild & Scenic River Restoration Project , Gila National Forest
Confluence Santa Fe Water Series
This family-friendly community water series hosted by Santa Fe Watershed Association is designed to celebrate the shared connection to the Santa Fe River Watershed through a film night, informative talks, story time at the library, river and arroyo cleanups, and social gatherings. Events are free and open to the public or by donation throughout the month of September.
Community Events
Sept 11: Confluence Santa Fe: Film Night & Speaker Panel , Santa Fe
Sept 12-13: Preserved Film Screening , Santa Fe
Sept 13-21: Latino Conservation Week , nationwide
Sept 14: Pecos Sunflower Festival , Santa Rosa
Sept 18: Rio Grande Trail Community Gatherings , Arroyo Hondo
Sept 19-21: Adaptive Sports NM Disabled Veterans' Water Sports Camp , Logan
Sept 20-21: Ruidoso Kite Festival , Ruidoso
Sept 20: Yerba Mansa Project 10th Anniversary & Bosque Restoration Field Day , Albuquerque
Sept 21: Ruedas Unidas/Wheels United - Open Streets Event , Las Cruces
Sept 26: Camp OMDP…