A day outside in New Mexico’s fresh air, sunshine and trees can be magical for the body and mind. Nature’s strong healing powers can improve the physical and mental health of all ages.
There are many ways life for children in this generation’s differs from that of the last generation, especially in the amount of time spent indoors interacting with electronic devices.  Playing outside gives young children the opportunity to develop strong motor skills, coordination, balance and agility. They learn to move in ways that challenge their muscles, bones and physical endurance.
Albuquerque’s Open Space events and educational programs are a great way to get the family outside to experience nature. Open Space neighborhood nature festivals, neighborhood community concerts and monthly family nature club hikes are free. Other programs charge small fees.
“We have early childhood programs for children ages 3 to 5 to come with a grown up, and then something for all ages, all the way up to our adult programs,” said Jessica Sapunar-Jursich, Open Space Coordinator/Education Supervisor. “Most of these are free. Those that do charge are a very low cost like $5 or $10 for the program.”

Here are some upcoming Albuquerque Open Space Events:

Jimmy Climbs Community Concert, Sept.17, 6:15 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and a picnic dinner to enjoy this outdoor family friendly event highlighting music with Jimmy Climbs and Opening Act by Conservation Carnivale. Neighborhood Open Space at the Tijeras BioZone Open Space, 15600 Central Ave. SE. This free event features paletas, face painting, the bosque traveling exhibit truck, a rock-climbing wall and hands-on nature activities.
Neighborhood Nature Festival, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to noon. The free park pop-up celebrates nature in your neighborhood at Alamosa Park (behind Ted M. Gallegos Community Center), 1100 Bataan Dr. SW. Listen to live music by Dos Gatos, interactive music with Kevin Kinane/Recycle-man and bilingual storytelling with Michelle Adam. Enjoy paletas, bilingual nature storytelling, nature-themed carnival performers, the bosque ecosystem exhibit truck, hands-on nature activities and games, an urban wild birds show & tell, Esperanza free bike repair and on-site language interpreters (Spanish and English).
Family Nature Club Hikes for All Ages, Saturdays: Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Nov. 25 and Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to noon. Join an Open Space educator on a family friendly hike. Engage in hands-on learning as a family, listen to natural history fun facts and storytelling and observe wildlife. Come prepared to explore the outdoors. Trail will accommodate large-wheel strollers. Hikes are free but registration is required at play.cabq.gov. 
Discovery Days, Ages 3 to 5 with Adult, Saturdays: Sept. 3, 10-11 a.m., Prehistoric Rio Grande; Oct. 1, 2-3:30 p.m., Changing Colors; Nov. 12, 10-11 a.m., Magnificent Migration; Dec.10, 10-11:00 a.m., All About Adaptations. Join your little one at the Open Space Visitor Center to make discoveries about the natural world with hands-on science, story time and an art project. You’ll leave with a packet of ideas and activities to continue discovering at home. The cost is $5 per family with registration required at play.cabq.gov. 
Saturday Explorer Camp, Ages 6 to10, Sept. 10, Prehistoric Rio Grande; Oct. 22, Changing Colors; Nov. 5, Magnificent Migration; Dec. 17, All About Adaptations. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to -noon. This elementary-age youth program at the Open Space Visitor Center includes hiking and outdoor exploration, hands-on science, literacy and art activities. Topics vary each session and camp is taught by two outdoor educators. Sign up for one or as many sessions as you like. The cost is $10 per child per session. Registration is required at play.cabq.gov. 
School Break Explorer Camp, Ages 6 to10, Oct. 6-8, 9 a.m. to noon, Fall Bosque Habitats; Dec. 28-30, 9 a.m. to noon: Winter Bosque Habitats. This elementary-age youth program at the Open Space Visitor Center includes hiking and outdoor exploration, hands-on science, literacy and art activities. Each session has a different theme. Children should be prepared to explore the outdoors. The program is taught by two Open Space educators. The cost is $30 per child per camp. Registration is required at play.cabq.gov.
Beginning Birding Kits at the Public Library, All Ages. Each library has bilingual (Spanish and English) kits available to borrow as part of the library’s regular collection. The kit contains a pair of binoculars, a “How to Use Binoculars” instruction sheet, a Birding Hotspot Guide for Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, an Open Space Properties map and a resource card to support beginning birding. More information: abqlibrary.org/birdingkits.
“Open space is public land and public land belongs to all of us in the community,” said Sapunar-Jursich. “I encourage everyone to come out to Open Space. We continually offer all sorts of public events and programs for all ages.”
More information: cabq.gov/openspace.