Go check out the Sensory Trail at the Tijeras Bio-Zone Center! It’s located off of Central Avenue/Route 66, just east of Tramway at 15600 Central SE. While the Education Center is still under construction, the trail is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There are also porta-potties for your convenience. It is a wonderful, inclusive trail for all ages and all abilities to get into nature and learn about the local ecosystem.
*Shortly after opening, the trail sustained storm damage. It temporarily closed, but just reopened on Saturday, Sep 13th.*
At its inception was a mother, Astrid, who approached key organizations with the idea to collaborate with local partners to create more accessible areas of open space. Thanks to her and the hard work of over 30 professionals and families, this idea became a reality. From planning and funding to construction, a need was met! You can read more about key organizations and partners here at the City of Albuquerque website.
While other areas in Albuquerque meet standards for ADA, this trail seems to go above and beyond by featuring a multi-level sensory experience, which includes educational signs and hands-on stations.
Accessible & Educational for All
Paul Brouse, the Advancement Director of Hero’s Path Palliative Care, says:
Most would label the GEM Inclusive Sensory Trail as an accessible trail, but it follows a “universal design,” which means that it is designed to be accessible, interesting, and inclusive for the whole family: individuals with disabilities, in wheelchairs, siblings, and parents.
The trail includes the following routes: ADA Accessible Trail for All, Exploratory Route, and the Challenge Route. There are educational signs that prompt engagement through Nature Matters Academy‘s acronym of GEM (Grow, Engage, and Make Connections). Using this GEM framework, the trail takes you through the senses of Touch, Smell, Play, Vision, and Hear.
Educational Signs
Each educational sign provides information about how certain animals use their senses or “superpower.” For example, for “Vision” it describes how a Golden Eagle’s superpower is sight, has a diagram of an eagle’s eye, encourages children to find certain shapes in nature, and more! Each sign has descriptions in Braille and also a QR code that you can scan to get the description in audio and in different languages!
Hands-On Stations
There are fun, hands-on stations, such as a group of logs that children (and adults) can touch or walk through, or rocks and hollowed out logs to touch and play with. On part of the trail, there are different textures in the ground to walk or ride over, making it a favorite spot for wheelchair users! There are signs with cut-out shapes you can look through and feel different shapes and animals. These encourage children to find these same shapes in nature, and so much more!
Mr. Brouse says it best:
Our hope is that GEM Inclusive Sensory Trail will encourage families of all shapes and abilities to enjoy the incredible nature of our area, to take advantage of the Open Spaces available, and to increase universally accessible opportunities. Maybe one day soon, we will all enjoy the Land of Enchantment together.
Words and pictures can only describe so much, but it is truly a trail you have to visit and experience for yourself! Don’t forget about these other Sensory-Friendly Family Activities you can do in Albuquerque as well.
