The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), the nonprofit organization that operates the Los Alamos Nature Center, has been awarded “Outstanding Attraction” at the 2025 New Mexico Top HAT Awards Gala, hosted by the New Mexico Hospitality Association.
On Tuesday night, Executive Director Jillian Rubio and Board Member Lauren Winchester accepted the award on behalf of PEEC. Both were delighted by the recognition. “We’re honored to have won the NM Top HAT Award for Outstanding Attraction in 2025,” said Rubio. “Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. Our community means the world to us.”
This recognition comes as PEEC celebrates 25 years of environmental education in north-central New Mexico. PEEC began with a dozen community members gathered around a dining room table and has grown into a community hub for nature. In 2012, Los Alamos County voted to build a new nature center and awarded PEEC the contract to operate it. With its educational exhibits and state-of-the-art planetarium, the Los Alamos Nature Center is an outstanding attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Supported by donations, memberships, corporate partners, grant funders, and Los Alamos County, PEEC continues to embody its mission: “Enriching people’s lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies.”
As PEEC looks forward, this award affirms the vision of its founders and the traditions they began—connecting people to the natural world, fostering environmental stewardship, and building community through shared experiences.PEEC also extends heartfelt congratulations to its friends at the Los Alamos Arts Council and Fuller Lodge Art Center, who received the Top HAT Award for Community Engagement.
The Top HAT Awards celebrate outstanding teams, businesses, individuals, campaigns, experiences, and lodging properties that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their company or organization’s brand promise over the past year. The Top HAT Awards Gala is the premier event honoring innovation, community, and excellence in tourism across the state.For more information, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.
PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts several interest groups, from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and gift shop merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit peecnature.org/support/membership/.