Membership Matters

November 2024

Museum & Foundation Highlights

Ways to Give to the NMMNHF

Giving season is nearly upon us, and we want to make it easy for you to support the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation. Here are the many ways you can donate or give in support of our mission:

Recurring Donation

Small but regular donations are a big help to the Foundation in supporting ongoing programs. You can set up a recurring donation online via credit card or PayPal.

One-Time Donation

Make a donation online any time via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or Google Pay.

Or send a check to:

New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation

P.O. Box 25446

Albuquerque, NM 87125-5446

Planned Giving

An estate plan or long-term giving can help ensure the Foundation's ability to support Museum programs for years to come.

To discuss planned giving, contact Ernest Rodriguez-Naaz at ernaaz@naturalhistoryfoundation.org

Legacy Bricks

Purchasing an engraved brick helps support the Foundation and leaves a lasting memorial for a family member or loved one.

Membership

Purchasing a Membership helps fund Foundation efforts, too! And a gift membership like Family Plus makes a great holiday present for the entire family.

Matching Gifts

Many employers offer matching gifts when you donate to a non-profit like the NMMNHF. Check with your employer to see how to double your impact today!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Your company or business can support the Foundation by sponsoring one of our gala fundraisers - and you get to enjoy the perks of the evening! Sponsorships are available now for Chocolate Fantasy 2025.

Endowment Contribution

Contribute to the Foundation's endowment to ensure the future of the Museum. Contact Ernest Rodriguez-Naaz for details at ernaaz@naturalhistoryfoundation.org.

Directly Fund Exhibits

Ensure your funds go toward bringing new and exciting exhibits to the Museum by contributing online using this form.

Save the Date for Chocolate Fantasy: March 8

Lights, camera, action! We're rolling out the red carpet on March 8, 2025 for a Chocolate Fantasy fit for the stars. Save the date: March 8, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to Midnight at Sandia Resort & Casino.

Thank You for Supporting Cretaceous Couture

Cretaceous Couture was a fabulous and fashionable success. Thank you to our attendees, models, volunteers, and everyone else who helped support this event.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, and to Presenting Sponsor ExxonMobil. See a full list of sponsors.

Now Showing at the Verus Research DynaTheater

T.REX 3D

Blue Whales 3D

Animal Kingdom 3D

Desert Elephants Premieres Saturday, Nov. 16

Desert Elephants opens at the Verus Research DynaTheater on Saturday, November 16. Members see the film free on opening day, and at a 30% discount any time thereafter.

Desert Elephants is an epic journey across Africa’s Namib Desert, getting up close and personal with the largest land mammals on the planet. Making one of the world’s oldest deserts home, the desert elephants are one of nature’s most inspiring examples of survival and adaptation. Brave the desert with elephant baby Little Foot and her elephant family as they live a timeless tale of resilience, ingenuity and close family bonds. 

Conserving America's Wildlands Leaves Nov. 11

The traveling exhibit Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner's final day will be November 11, 2024. This exhibit blends stunning wildland photography from Ted Turner’s ranches with never-before-seen fossils and other specimens from the museum’s Research Collections and paints a vivid picture of our wild places and the value of conservation. Be sure to visit the exhibit before it closes.

Voices in Science Evening Lecture:

The Language of Bears (via Zoom)

Thursday, November 7

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Virtual: Zoom link sent on Nov. 7 to those who preregister

$8 for general public, $7 for members, $5 for students

Join us for a lecture by wildlife biologist Daryl Ratajczak on how bears communicate. Bears are cute, amazing, and sometimes breathtaking creatures. They may inspire awe and occasional fright, yet we often look at them as big old teddy bears. In order to dive into and understand the world of bears, it’s best that you speak their language. In this fun talk, you will learn all about bear speak, and what is going on in their world.

This lecture is the final one that will accompany the Museum's exhibit, Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner. 

Preregistration is required for this virtual event. Your link to the event will be sent to you on 11/7/24.

About the Speaker: Daryl Ratajczak previously managed the Appalachian Bear Center, and served as Wildlife Manager for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Big Game Program Coordinator, and Chief of Wildlife and Forestry for the state of Tennessee. While working in NM, he gave a standing-room only talk for this museum previously. He is currently a wildlife biologist in the Southern Rockies, an accomplished writer who has been published in numerous wildlife-related magazines, and Founder and Instructor for “Wildlife for You” (offering a range of science-based online webinars, podcasts, and classes about wildlife). Daryl received his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

STEAM Trek Virtual Field Trips Free Across NM

Classes statewide can register for free virtual field trips.

STEAM Trek virtual field trips are a great way to get your class excited about natural history and science, and are free thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.

Each trip includes a 40-minute film with teacher notes and classroom activities, plus a classroom Discovery Box with logo gifts and Verus Research DynaTheater tickets for each child.

Register for a trip for your class today!

STEAM Trek is presented by:

And sponsored by:

Start your Holiday Shopping at NatureWorks

It's never too early to get a jump on holiday shopping. Get started at NatureWorks with gifts that are perfect for anyone in your life. Purchases are always tax-free, and Museum members also receive a 10% discount.

Happening at the Museum

First Friday Fractals

Friday, November 1 and Friday, December 6

Showings at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m.

$10 for adults, $8 for seniors (60+), $5 for kids 3-12 yrs.

Voices in Science Evening Lecture: The Language of Bears (via Zoom)

Thursday, November 7

6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

$8 for general public, $7 for Museum members, $5 for students.

Virtual event: Zoom link will be sent on 11/7 to those who preregister.

Mesmerica at the Planetarium

Friday, November 8, and Friday, November 22

Showtimes and prices vary, starting at $20

Use code MESdcaMEMBERS for a 10% discount.

Use Smith's Rewards to Support the Museum

Link your Smith's rewards card to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation for 0.5% of every eligible purchase to be donated in support of the Museum.

Donating to the Foundation is easy when you shop at Smith's and swipe your linked rewards card!