We believe that providing people, especially our young, with the environmental know-how they need to thrive in our rapidly changing world, will lead to stronger communities and smarter decision-making on behalf of our shared planet.
New Mexico is facing some major environmental challenges, among them: climate change, limited clean water resources, a prolonged drought, and a lack of enforcement of environmental and public health safeguards from an impotent government that is unwilling to stand up to the forces of industrial capitalism. These are enormous issues requiring a strong and organized response from civil society.
Amigos Bravos is nationally respected for its innovative approaches to solving river and water issues and for its leadership in the effort to ensure that members of impacted communities have the technical knowledge and organizational capacity to defend the waters that sustain their societies and cultures. Key components of this effort include youth education and public workshops, tours, trainings and events that help generate pubic awareness and action on important water issues impacting their communities.
Youth Education: Nurturing the Water Stewards of the Future
Whether it’s conducting research from the banks of a river, participating in trash pickups to help clean up polluted rivers, or hands-on watershed restoration work, studies show that experiential environmental learning sticks with kids more than traditional classroom learning. It fuels a child’s interest in science and math, and sparks the kind of curiosity that makes kids better learners overall. Studying outdoors improves children’s self-esteem, character, leadership skills, and health and wellness.
At Amigos Bravos, we believe that providing kids with the environmental know-how they need to thrive in our rapidly changing world, will lead to stronger communities and smarter decision-making that will improve the health of our planet.
In 2019, Amigos Bravos engaged with 199 young people during 12 separate field trips/events on topics including river otters, water quality monitoring, watershed restoration and mining impacts to water quality. Additionally, we often present to classes in Grades K through 12 on a variety of water-related topics.
Amigos Bravos also actively engages with two Communities for Clean Water Youth Leaders to build their capacity and mentor them in their work reaching out to other youth in Española Valley.
For the past 13 years, Amigos Bravos has provided planning, logistical coordination and securing public and community engagement in long-term stewardship of the Rivers and Lands in Taos County. A focus of this work is an annual volunteer cleanup events that requires months of planning to coordinate the hundred or so volunteers that show up every year to to clean up multiple tones of trash along rivers and trails each year. 
Rally for the Rio is Amigos Bravos’ annual supporter appreciation and new member cultivation event that is held on the banks of Rio Grande every summer. Read more about our previous Rally for the Rio events and learn how COVID-19 is impacting our 2020 Rally for the Rio event. 
Amigos Bravos typically works with several interns each year. While some of the work product from these interns is useful, we primarily view this work as an opportunity to mentor and guide young environmental leaders. Read more about