Conservation
through Connection

The Conservation Society of El Paso, formerly known as the El Paso Zoological Society, is dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between communities and the natural world.

Our mission is to inspire, engage, and empower the community through immersive experiences that foster a deeper connection to animals and nature, promote conservation, and foster environmental stewardship. We are dedicated to promoting conservation, protecting the environment, and cultivating a sense of stewardship for future generations. By fostering the bond between people and nature, we strive to create lasting impacts on our planet’s and community’s well-being.

The Challenge
Conservation is losing ground in communities disconnected from nature. The Chihuahuan Desert — one of the most biodiverse yet fragile ecosystems in North America — is facing growing threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. At the same time, many children in El Paso and surrounding areas lack access to meaningful outdoor education or opportunities to engage with animals and wild places. Without early, joyful experiences in nature, it’s easy to grow up unaware — or indifferent — to what’s at stake.

Our Response
We’ve built an entire model around one simple truth: You protect what you are connected to.

Our Conservation Community Initiative creates opportunities for people of all ages to reconnect with the natural world — not through lectures, but through experience, empathy, and joy.

Why It Matters
Disconnection from the natural world isn’t just a crisis of education — it’s a crisis of care.

By giving people the chance to touch, explore, and wonder, we awaken the kind of emotional investment that leads to real conservation action.

We’re not just teaching facts. We’re creating lifelong environmental stewards — one child, one family, one experience at a time.