EEGS 49ers in Southern New Mexico and the Big Bend of Texas for Spring Break!

Jake Armour and Dr. Sandra Clinton took 15 DEEGS students on an 8-day tour of the Camino Real through Southern New Mexico and West Texas for Spring Break.  This trip was the primary component of our ESCI 3310 National Parks: The Science Behind the Scenery experiential learning course.  Students flew into El Paso, TX where they were picked up in two 15-passenger vans preloaded with group camping gear and food for a week!  The first stop was a burrito lunch at a famous local spot, then over to the Rio Grande Bosque Park where we were introduced to the River, its unique Ecology and its relationship to the US/Mexico Border Wall.  This was followed by an afternoon trip up to the Franklin Mountains Urban Wilderness Area and State Park, where students could stand at the intersection of the Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range, and the Rio Grande Rift to contemplate the unique corridor that is the Camino Real. 

We spent our first night camping in the park under beautiful stars, the hoot of owls and the call of coyotes!  The days that followed found the students camping, cooking, and exploring numerous unique destinations across southern New Mexico and West Texas.  These include iconic sites like White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, and Big Bend National Parks as well as a number of National Forests, National Monuments, State Parks, and Preserves.  The students were able to view and engage with a variety of cultural, ecologic, and geologically distinct areas as well as see first hand some of the challenges that accompany them.  These experiences were recorded by the students through Tour Guides, Field Notes, and Photo Essays they complete during the semester.

Participating students will be displaying their work and hosting a potluck from 2-4:30 pm on Thursday, May 7th in McEniry 215.  All are invited!  

Come learn more about travel course experiences offered in our department and celebrate the work of our students!

Below is a gallery of photos from the trip: