Two hunter education classes will be available this month in Roswell.

These courses are open to students of any age seeking hunter education certification to meet hunting requirements in New Mexico. The courses are instructor-led and incorporate lecture, video, break-out sessions, review methods and homework to educate students. Students 10 and under must have a parent/adult present with them during class.

All students MUST complete the Today’s Hunter student manual homework before participating in class. Students can pick up a free hard copy manual at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Southeast Area Office, 1615 W. College Blvd., Roswell. The manual can also be downloaded for free at www.hunter-ed.com/ newmexico/manual. Students are required to turn in their completed manual worksheets upon arrival to class.

Registration is open online through the student’s Customer ID Number (CIN) Account. Once in the account, click on Hunter Education, then click the Register for Hunter Ed Classes button and follow the prompts.

Students may attend from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. either Saturday, June 29, or Sunday, June 30, at the Southeast Area Office in Roswell.

No more excuses!

Safety first! Helmets, goggles available to youth free of charge

Did you spend a lot of money on your child’s dream machine recently? Are your kids looking to get out and explore the trails? Before they do, they must complete an approved OHV safety class. Throughout the summer, the Department is offering several opportunities for your family to take an OHV safety class.

In addition to a certification, youth under 18 who pass an in-person OHV class will be given a free helmet and goggles to ensure they are safe before hitting the trails. OHV in-person classes are currently scheduled in Los Lunas. There is also a motorcycle class scheduled in Albuquerque.

Enroll for a class by logging into or creating a customer account and clicking on Off-Highway Vehicle.

For more information, contact the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish OHV Program office at 505-222-4712 or email DGF-OHVEDU@dgf.nm.gov.

Hunter education instructor training workshop scheduled

This workshop is required to become a certified hunter education instructor and will certify the instructor to teach both the Traditional and the Field Day Hunter Education student courses. This workshop will also provide the New Mexico Hunter Education certification to new instructors who need a required New Mexico Hunter Education number. All participants must register prior to attending.

This worksop will be held from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, June 24, in Las Cruces. Interested applicants need to first become certified Game and Fish volunteers. Below are the steps to become a certified volunteer: 1. Create a Customer Identification Account (CIN) with the Department at onlinesales.wildlife. state.nm.us. 2. Email Chris Jarvis at chris.jarvis@dgf. nm.gov for complete volunteer on-boarding packet.

3. Once the application is approved, certified volunteers can sign-up for the hunter education workshop through their CIN account.

For additional questions, contact Stephanie Walton at stephanie.walton@dgf.nm.gov.

Bowhunter skills camp set for June 22

Learn archery basics and safety, how to choose equipment, proper shot placement while hunting, outdoor preparedness, and more!

These camps are for participants of any age who are interested in learning more about the basics of archery and bow hunting. All archery equipment will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment if they have it.

The camp will be held June 22 at the Lincoln National Forest Office. Registration is available online.

All participants must have a Department Customer Identification Number (CIN) Account and enter this number onto the registration form.

Summer Solstice events planned at Aztec, Chaco

On Friday, June 21, visitors are invited to Chaco Culture National Historical Park to observe the sunrise at Casa Rinconada.

As the sun rises just before 6 a.m., it will shine directly through a window on the northeast side of the kiva, illuminating a niche in the opposite wall shortly after sunrise. The Chacoans were keen observers of the sky and created architectural alignments like the east-west/north-south alignment of Casa Rinconada to document specific solar events. Join us as we continue this time-honored tradition of solar observation.

Park staff will open the park entrance gate at 5:15 a.m. Prior to the opening, visitors should park their vehicles in the visitors’ center parking lot. The sunrise event will be open to the first 100 visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

To celebrate the beginning of summer, a full slate of programs and special events will be occurring throughout the week. The MaaTuu dance group of Santa Clara pueblo will be performing in the Pueblo Bonito plaza three times: Thursday at 10 a.m., Thursday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m. A special performance by R. Carlos Nakai, the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute and Grammy-nominated musician, will be performing at Casa Rinconada during the sunrise on June 21.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22, join a ranger for a special back-country hike to the Casa Chaquita site to learn about the hidden wonders of this national park and World Heritage Site. For the full slate of talks, performances, hikes and other programs being offered this week, view the calendar on the park website.

Aztec Ruins National Monument will be hosting its summer solstice sunrise observation on Thursday, June 20. Visitors will be able to observe the sun rising in alignment with the north wall of the Aztec West great house just before 6 a.m. After this, visitors will be invited to enter the great kiva to observe a shaft of sunlight shine through a doorway on the east side of the kiva as it travels across the west wall and aligns directly with a niche in the wall.

Park staff will open the park entrance gate at 5:30 a.m. Visitors should park in the visitors’ center parking lot, and staff will direct them into the site. The park grounds will remain open after the event.