Friends are important to have, and the Friends of the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park support the zoo in a variety of ways.
This State Park began as a concept in 1962 and opened to the public as New Mexico Zoological-Botanical State Park of the Southwest in June of 1971. A year later brought a joint agreement between the State and the City of Carlsbad to let the city take over the park, due to the State lacking funding for maintenance and operations. State legislators took back responsibility for the park in 1975, and in the same year, citizens of Carlsbad decided the original name was too long and voted to rename the zoo, choosing Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.
Volunteers have been essential for running the park during most of its existence. The Carlsbad Horticulture Society was formed in 1975 and gives financial assistance to the zoo from sales in the gift shop, which the society runs. In 2022, the society aided $20,000 in funds to the park that helped with HVAC upgrades throughout the park.
Friends of the Living Desert began in 1982, starting with lectures and ticket sales. They continue to give back to the park by providing monetary donations, selling Maggie the Bear paintings and shirts, maintaining the vending machines, and supporting the A.D.O.P.T. (Animals Depend on People Too) program which allows individuals to “adopt” an animal (in name only). This helps provide funds to care for that animal. The Friends also sell zoo memberships, which offer year-long admission to the zoo at a set cost and offer reciprocity at many other zoos across the nation.
These activities are important fundraisers for maintaining the zoo. Different modes by which funding from Friends has gone back into the park include trail cams to see how newly arrived animals are adjusting, enrichment items, vet bills, purchasing food, helping build exhibits, the sculpture in front of the visitors center, travel expenses for staff to attend training, transportation for new animals arriving at the park, maintaining the Friends website, providing park literature, and applying for and maintaining grants. The organization also applies for the City of Carlsbad Lodger’s Tax funding so that the zoo can be promoted in a variety of ways near and far to boost visits to the zoo.
While providing funding to assist Park operations is important, one of the most vital components of the program is its volunteers. Volunteers are crucial to the operations of the park, and that is where the Friends of the Living Desert need the most help. Docents, or volunteer teachers, started in 1995. These Docents attend an eight-week training program that covers all aspects of the park. These Docents then provide several valuable services to the park, including guided tours, taking outreach programs to schools and civic organizations, working special events, and conducting a two-week Zoo camp in the summer, one of the highlights of being a Docent. The camp incorporates all types of learning; audio, visual, kinetic, and tactile, making it a fun and rewarding summer activity for kids. Volunteers can help in other areas as well, such as the greenhouse, plants in the park, the front desk greeting visitors, and special events that include crafts.
If you would like more information on volunteering with the Friends of the Living Desert Zoo, becoming a Docent, or donating to the Friends stop by the zoo at 1504 Skyline Dr, Carlsbad, NM 88220, or call 575.887.5516 and ask for Kathy Hampton or Sandra Cosand.
Visit the website at https://livingdesertnm.org.
