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Celebrate The 5th Anniversary Of White Sands As A National Park This Week

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Published Date

December 16, 2024

Dune field at White Sands NP / NPS

White Sands National Park is hosting special events all this week to celebrate its 5th anniversary as a national park. Events are scheduled December 16 – 20, 2024.

On December 20, 2019, White Sands National Monument was officially re-designated as White Sands National Park through the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020. The re-designation to a national park recognized the added significance of the park for its natural and cultural resources. In addition to containing the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, including gypsum hearth mounds found nowhere else on earth, the park is home to the globe’s largest collection of Ice-Age fossilized footprints that tell more than 20,000 years of human presence, all while providing memorable recreational opportunities. It is also home to endemic species such as numerous moths that have been newly discovered to science.

Beginning Monday December 16, White Sands will host special programs at the park’s visitor center through Friday December 20 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of becoming a national park. A variety of events will be offered such as drop-in programs, junior ranger coloring club, history walks, Sunset Strolls, solar observing programs, and more.

The programs that will be offered are listed below. Reservations are not required, and these programs are free. Park entry fees may apply.

Monday December 16

Life Within Drop-In Program 
Time: Stop by anytime between 2:00 and 3:00 pm.
Catch a glimpse into the remarkable ways life has adapted to the Tularosa Basin.
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

History Tour of White Sands Visitor Center 
Time: Meets at 3:00 pm, Approximately 30-45 minutes.
Learn about the unique southwest architecture and history of our beautiful visitor center.
Location: By historic sign in front of visitor center.


Tuesday December 17 

Cocoa with a Ranger Time: Stop by any time between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.
Enjoy a hot beverage while asking a ranger your burning questions about White Sands National Park.
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

Life Within Drop-In Program 
Time: Stop by anytime between 3:30 and 4:30 pm
Catch a glimpse into the remarkable ways life has adapted to the Tularosa Basin.
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard

Wednesday December 18

Junior Ranger Coloring Club 
Time: Stop by anytime between 9:30 and 11:00 am
Bring the kids to color and learn about their national park with White Sands’ most passionate education interns!
Location: Visitor Center Museum.

Life Within Drop-In Program 
Time: Stop by anytime between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.
Catch a glimpse into the remarkable ways life has adapted to the Tularosa Basin.Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

Solar Observing Program
Time: Stop by any time between 2:00 and 4:00 pm.
Learn about Earth’s favorite star with our friends from the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
Location: By historic sign in front of visitor center.

Thursday December 19

Life Within Drop-In Program
Time: Stop by anytime between 2:00 and 3:00 pm.
Catch a glimpse into the remarkable ways life has adapted to the Tularosa Basin.
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

Sunset Stroll with Ranger Rebekah 
Time: Meets at 4:00 pm, 45 minutes – 1 hour program.
A ranger-guided leisurely half mile hike to learn about the unique history and science of White Sands National Park.
Location: Meet in the parking lot between Backcountry Camping Trail parking lot and Yucca picnic area.

Friday December 20

Cocoa with a Ranger 
Time: Stop by any time between 10:00 and 11:00 am.
Enjoy a hot beverage while asking a ranger your burning questions about White Sands National Park.
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

Let’s Talk Trackways Program
Time: Begins at 2:00 pm, 30-minute program.
On the far reaches of the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, the world’s oldest fossilized footprints are studied by researchers from around the world. Learn more about this unique resource!
Location: Visitor Center Courtyard.

Sunset Stroll with Ranger Payton 
Time: Meets at 4:00 pm, 45 minutes – 1 hour program.
A ranger-guided leisurely half mile hike to learn about the unique history and science of White Sands National Park.
Location: Meet in the parking lot between Backcountry Camping Trail parking lot and Yucca picnic area.

For more information on the program offerings please visit the calendar of events on the park website.

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