The 2024 cohort of Cuentos y Cantos al Desierto observing a flowering indigo bush native to the dunes east of Mono Lake. Photo by Issac Logsdon.
Our services are meant to reflect the needs of the client and are always designed in response to the place, season, climate and community. Please read through the work we offer and reach out through our contact form if you’d like to start a conversation with us. We offer a 1 hour video call to familiarize ourselves with clients and their ask before moving forward. Please note that all indoor requests will require a Covid conscious plan before moving forward. Pamparios for your interest!
Programs & Workshops
Cuentos y Cantos students writing on the topic of transformation at Panum Crater.
This is the heart of our work, as we provide a range of programs and workshops that are rooted in land, art and connection. Our curriculum centers cultural practices, ecology and social justice, creating opportunities for participants to have a sense of belonging in the places they call home. We currently provide bilingual botanical bike rides along the bosque in Albuquerque, interpretive hikes in the Sandia Foothills and herbal workshops at community gardens.
In 2026 we will be offering the following programs:
Recordar y Recopilar, a 4 week online dream intensive
Cuentos y Cantos al Monte, a backcountry artist retreat in New Mexico
Embodied Sound Techniques, a Community Practice
and various place based programs across the Southwest
Our curriculum often covers topics such as native and medicinal plants, dream practices and traditions, embodied voice exercises and meditation. If you’d like Blanca to facilitate a specialized program for your organization, school or community please reach out!
Previous programs include building plant relationships for the California Botanic Garden, dream practices and herbal allies for Hood Herbalism, bilingual ecology of the Eastern Sierras for the Mono Lake Committee, medicinal tea workshop for the Southwest Organizing Project and a presentation on land, art and spirit for Claremont Graduate University.
Facilitation & Trainings
Blanca and outdoor educators with the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mts.
Our facilitation is grounded in community engagement and peacemaking, supporting groups in their goals whether that is team building, cultural sensitivity or a series of meetings for a concentrated effort. Song Dog is able to facilitate one day to multi day sessions in person or online, given the nature of the group’s needs and capacity. In the past we have offered the following trainings and facilitated programs on:
Racial Justice Learning Journeys for Desert Conservation Advocates
Professional Development Training for Outdoor Educators
Community Building & Gathering for Indigenous Knowledge Fellows
Previous clients and partners include Better World Group Inc, the Healing & Reconciliation Institute, the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Sagebrush Consulting and mutual aid groups across the Southwest.
Translation & Interpretation
Translation of Kim Sutherland’s book ‘Rural, Issue #2: New Cuyama’.
As a fluent speaker, writer and reader in Spanish and as a first generation descendant of Mexican immigrants, Blanca is also aware [and quite proud] of the ‘pocho’ experience they carry with them. Our Spanish is place based and influenced by other Spanish-speaking communities that we engage with. Previous services include the translation of the film Lavender House for Sarah Rara, a story map of Protect Conglomerate Mesa for Maria Jesus and artist book Rural Issue #2: New Cuyama for Kimberly Sutherland.
Additionally, we have interpreted many educational programs within the field of outdoor recreation and conservation, assisting community with their inquiries through our roles with The Wildlands Conservancy, the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Friends of the Desert Mountains, the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of California Riverside and Latino Conservation Week.