The Wild Friends Program
July 23, 2025
The Wild Friends Program is a civics education program at the School of Law that provides hands-on learning to students in grades 5 to 12 across New Mexico. The experiential learning program teaches students about civics and wildlife law by helping them understand the democratic process, engaging in real-world legislation, and contributing to wildlife conservation through a combination of science and community action.
This year, students from across the state participated in writing and advocating for House Memorial 31, which urged state education agencies to incorporate citizen science into their objectives. Students met with legislators, testified at committee hearings, wrote letters of support, and successfully helped pass House Memorial 31.
In recognition of their efforts, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proclaimed April 25, 2025, as Citizen Science Day.
To celebrate the new observance, Wild Friends students joined the City Nature Challenge, a global initiative to document biodiversity in schoolyards and neighborhoods.
