Docent Program

This program is a collaborative project between FOMDP and our local Bureau of Land Management, aiming to educate visitors about public lands and the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Education content will include but is not limited to:

Our docents, who are volunteers, create their own interpretive programs. This program has dual objectives: introducing the community to various parts of the national monument and familiarizing visitors with our organization. Public education activities may include tabling, patio talks, or guided hikes. Additionally, our docents undergo NAI training to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills for interpretation.

Volunteering as a docent not only offers a valuable service to the community but also provides personal enrichment. You will have the chance to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the national monument, share your love for nature and conservation, and join a dedicated group of individuals committed to safeguarding our public lands.

If you are interested in becoming a docent, please reach out to jessica@organmtnfriends.org.

Upcoming events

Scavenger Hunt with Artist in Residence: Poet James-Hovda

Migratory Bird Day

La Cueva Hike

Picacho Peak Hike Pt. 2

Bishop Cap Loop (Experienced hikers only)

Community Hike for Healing

Jim Enright

I lived in Pittsburgh PA for my first 38 years, then resided for 20 years in southern New Jersey. I have been a resident of Las Cruces since 2009. I earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Cincinnati then worked as a Chemist in a toxicology lab, detecting drugs in racehorses for over 28 years. I was a coach of high school runners for 8 years. I currently work part-time at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine as a standardized patient. I am an avid hiker, gardener, photographer, reader, wood carver, banjo picker, fossil collector and bicyclist. I was a long-distance runner for over 40 years. I have enjoyed being a volunteer, leading local hikes during the past decade. I am thrilled to volunteer as a docent in our local national monuments!

Maude Dinan

Hello! My name is Maude, and I’m thrilled to meet you out in our public lands. My work and play largely revolve around protecting, and connecting in, nature. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, this passion has taken me all over North America, working with critters, in caves, under big trees, and tackling climate change. I hope to share with you the wonders of the night sky, subterranean earth, and everything in between, as we explore our Monument.

Tom Dormody

Tom Dormody, long-time resident of Las Cruces and avid outdoorsman, enjoys exploring the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and other public lands. His docent programs focus on the Monument’s natural and human histories. Tom retired from New Mexico State University in 2021 as Regents Professor Emeritus in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education. His university courses included methods of teaching youth biological, earth, and physical sciences; the diffusion and adoption of agricultural innovations; and a course on sustainability using for context the life and times of noted conservationist John Muir. Tom’s most recent research focused on developing an online curriculum to improve middle school students’ weather and climate science comprehension and improving elementary students’ understanding of sustainable concepts through keyhole gardening. He credits his 2012-2013 service as Director of the Division of Education and Dean of the Graduate School at CATIE (Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education) in Turrialba, Costa Rica for developing a passion for sustainability. Tom has a BS in Horticulture from Oregon State University, MS in Vegetable Crops from the University of California at Davis, and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Occupational Education from Cornell University. He is a member of the Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and American Association for Agricultural Education.

Mary Hoffman

Mary grew up in the Chicago area but moved to New Mexico in 1969. She graduated from UNM and UNM Law School and was a lawyer in New Mexico until she retired. Her work as a lawyer included serving on the staff of two federal judges in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, working on Indian law cases at the NM Attorney General’s Office, working on business and real estate matters in private practice, and serving as general counsel and head of the legal division at the NM State Land Office in Santa Fe. She has experience serving on NM State Bar Committees and non-profit boards. She likes to hike, road bike and fly fish and is a member of the Mesilla Valley Flyfishers and Trout Unlimited. With family and friends, she has hiked and fished in many wild and beautiful parts of NM. As a docent, Mary wants to increase awareness and appreciation of the OM-DP National Monument and, most importantly, help people get out and enjoy it.

Jean Berlowitz

Hello Fans of OMDP! I’m Jean Berlowitz. I’m a retired business executive who never should have been one. I love the outdoors, and know how lucky I am to have lived in southern New Mexico for 10 years. My particular interests at OMDP are the original peoples of the land, and the critters who have inhabited it throughout the centuries. I hope to see you at one of my Docent table talks which are designed for families with kids, although I’ve been told adults enjoy them too!

Carol Ezell

Hi, I’m Carol Ezell. I spent my career as a CPA in a large metropolitan area before moving to Las Cruces in 2019. But I always craved the outdoors, and would often sneak out at lunchtime for a walk at a nearby park just to breathe and observe nature. The mountains have always called to something deep in my soul, and I have many childhood memories of camping and exploring them. I enjoy helping others make those memories and impressions. It is my goal to enhance their experiences as they dive more deeply into seeing, feeling and hearing what the natural world has to teach us all. My particular interests are birds and photography. OMDPNM is a great place to observe many species of birds, and they are part of why this land was designated as a national monument. Go on a short hike with me and I’ll tell you why that is, and maybe you will tell me what drew you here.