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Las Cruces High School Students Plan Outdoor Adventures

Anthony Moreno

Standing near two large containers full of climbing gear, Chuck McMahon instructs a group of students before they attempt to climb an indoor rock wall at New Mexico State University.

McMahon, an advisor with Venturing Crew 385, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts works to get young people familiar with the outdoors.

“This group (Venturing Crew) has traditionally liked to go rock climbing, and there’s just a ton of rock climbing around here, so it’s neat to be able to take people out that haven’t gone before and get them out on the rocks, especially when it’s here in your backyard,” said McMahon.

On this weeknight, the group McMahon advises is teaming up with the Off-Leash Bulldawgs, a student-led  high school club at Las Cruces High School that explores the outdoors. Junior, Sarah Randall is President of the student club that plans trips hiking, camping, and fishing. On this night, students are learning safety tips and how to properly use climbing equipment.

“We do a lot of community service, we like to clean up trails, and we also like to have fun along the way,” said Randall.

Randall says nature and the outdoors can provide refuge from distractions that younger people may face.

“In our generation especially, technology is all around us, and so it’s important to kind of escape from that and appreciate your surroundings and just take in the real world and appreciate nature.”

According to a report by the Outdoor Foundation, 28 percent of youth ages 13-17 participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2016. https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017-Topline-Report_FINAL.pdf

Credit Anthony Moreno
Students work together to climb an indoor rock wall at NMSU.

Randall says her involvement with the club has led to exploring the outdoors with members of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation. She also has advocated for preserving public lands, something that she hopes to continue while considering a career in environmental law.

“Our generation gets to take advantage of these public lands and so in order for future generations to take advantage of them, we need to continue to protect them,” said Randall.

To raise funds for their outdoor trips, Randall says that the group has held posole and pancake breakfast fundraisers that staff at Las Cruces High School has supported.

Julia Fernald, a senior with the Off-Leash Bulldawgs says that life can be busy, so having an outdoor group available, makes it easier to plan for a trip outdoors.

“When there’s a whole group of people going out, and making it an event, I can make sure I go hiking, and stuff like this I would of never done without this club,” said Fernald.

Club advisor Kristin Gustine, a science teacher at Las Cruces High School said that support from local community members has been key to the club having so many opportunities. Gustine said that local businesses have loaned mountain bikes and donated shirts to the club, and outdoor groups have helped introduce the club to lawmakers, and have connected students to fishing, rafting, and kayaking trips.

“This community has been outstanding,” said Gustine in an email to KRWG News.

Credit Anthony Moreno
A New Mexico State Park Ranger shares a history lesson with the Off-Leash Bulldawgs Club during a hike at Leasburg Dam State Park. (2018)

Patrick Nolan, Executive Director with Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks said during a KRWG call in program that his organization hosts many activities with the Off-Leash Bulldawgs.  

“We do a monthly trip with them, it can be anywhere from a camping trip to a hike, to mountain biking. It’s a bunch of kids that just want to get outside,” said Nolan.

The Off-Leash Bulldawgs have explored public lands around Las Cruces, and soon members of the club plan to head north to Colorado as guests of Venturing Crew for the 25th Ouray Ice Festival, where they can experience ice climbing for the first time and enjoy more of what the outdoors has to offer.

Anthony Moreno serves as the Director of Content at KRWG Public Media. He also is host and executive producer for "Fronteras-A Changing America" and "Your Legislators" on KRWG-TV.