VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Xeriscape garden|Volunteers are needed to work in the Aurora Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. For information, call Abby Schreiber at 303-739-7356 or e-mail aschreib@auroragov.org.
Denver Zoo|The zoo, 2300 Steele St., needs volunteers to assist with special events, to assist zookeepers and to work in its membership, education and administration departments. For information, go to www.denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4894.
Dinosaur Ridge|Volunteer tour guides are needed to teach people about the paleontological, geological and natural resources and history of Dinosaur Ridge. Applicants must be at least 18 and must complete required training. For information, call 303-697-3466 or go to www.dinoridge.org.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science|The museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd., needs volunteers to work with visitors in its diorama halls, galleries and activity areas. Also needed are volunteers to be guides, interpreters, collections assistants and classroom prep assistants. Call 303-370-6419.
Bluff Lake Nature Center|The nature center, East 30th Avenue and Moline Street, needs volunteer naturalists to work with kids, using games, science experiments and hands-on activities to teach them about nature. No experience is required. For information, call Sue Schafer at 303-468-3245.
Rocky Mountain Field Institute|Volunteers are needed for multi-day environmental service programs focusing on trail restoration and construction at South Colony Lakes Basin in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The programs will include education on the ecology and natural history of the area. Food and most outdoor equipment will be provided. Register at least two weeks ahead by calling 719-471-7736 or sending e-mail to rmfibox@qwest.net.
Plains Conservation Center|The center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, needs volunteer “citizen scientists” to work with naturalists gathering, compiling and mapping information about prairie residents. Survey work will take place on the first Saturday of each month. Training is provided. To register, e-mail Fran Blanchard at fblanchard@plainscenter.org or call 303-693-3621.
Butterfly Pavilion|The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, needs volunteers to work with visitors and to help in its tropical butterfly conservatory, tide pool, touch cart and garden areas. Go to www.butterflies.org or call Kris Desmarais at 720-974-1868.
Urban Wildlife Partners|The group needs 20 volunteers for the second annual “BioBlitz,” from noon Sept. 30 to noon Oct. 1. Volunteer opportunities include helping with family activities, greeting visitors, entering data and counting animals. Three locations – north, east and south of Denver – need volunteers. For information, call Kris Desmarais at 720-974-1868 or e-mail volunteering@butterflies.org. For information about “BioBlitz,” go to www.allspeciescount.org.
TWICE WEEKLY
Telescope viewing|Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Ave., on the University of Denver campus, has astronomy presentations and allows use of the 20-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information, go to www.thedas.org, or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Nature wagon rides|The Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, is offering wagon rides at 7 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day on its 1,100-acre prairie, where animals including jack rabbits, pronghorns, burrowing owls, prairie dogs, hawks and songbirds can be observed. Take a water bottle, insect repellant and a jacket. A campfire and marshmallow roast follow the ride. Cost is free for members, $5 for nonmembers. For reservations, call 303-693-3621.
Mesa Laboratory|The Mesa Lab, a working research laboratory at the west end of Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, has a free visitor center that is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Free, guided noontime tours are offered daily throughout the summer. The visitor center has a climate exhibit, an eclipse telescope, working supercomputers, a gravity well and hands-on demonstrations of lightning, tornadoes and fluid dynamics. For information, call 3303-497-1174 or go to www.ucar.edu.
Renewable energy|The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The Visitors Center features an interactive exhibit hall and DOE public reading room. For information, go to www.nrel.gov/visitors_center or call 303-384-6565.
Children’s workshops|The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., has many children’s workshops and events for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. For a list of events, call 303-370-8225 or 303-370-8347.
Nature activities|South Suburban Parks and Recreation naturalists lead many outdoor, nature and environmentally related activities and events at Carson Nature Center, 3000 W. Carson Drive, Littleton. For a list of events, go to www.sspr.org or call 303-730-1022.
Wildlife refuge programs|The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, East 56th Avenue at Havana Street, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. There are various exhibits at the visitor center and free nature programs and refuge tours. Call 303-289-0930 for times and reservations, or go to http://rockymountainarsenal.fws.gov.
Natural history seminars|The Rocky Mountain Nature Association offers a series of outdoor seminars on natural history topics in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado State Parks and other locations. For information, call 800-748-7002 or go to www.rmna.org.
Kids’ nature programs|The Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a variety of nature programs for kids. For a list of events, call 303-739-2428 or go to www.auroragov.org.
Kids’ dinosaur programs|The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park, has summer dinosaur classes for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. For information, call 719-686-1820.
Astronomy events|Fiske Planetarium, on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, has a variety of astronomy shows, talks and family matinees. The evening talks and shows are $6 adults, $5 students with valid ID, and $3.50 children and seniors. Saturday family shows are $5 adults, and $3.50 children and seniors. Laser shows are $5. For more information, call 303-492-5002 or go to www.colorado.edu/fiske.
WEDNESDAY
Astronomy event|Members of the Denver Astronomical Society will present a slide show featuring images from the Hubble Space Telescope, followed by outdoor viewing of the night sky with large telescopes. Cost is $5 adults, $3 children. For location, directions and reservations, call 720-898-7405.
THURSDAY
Wildflower tours on Mount Goliath|The Denver Botanic Gardens is sponsoring two wildflower tours on Mount Goliath from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Aug. 6. Meet at the U.S. Forest Service’s Clear Creek Visitor Center in Idaho Springs. For information, call 720-865-3533.
FRIDAY
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield free day|Admission to the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, will be free to Colorado residents from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 303-973-3705.
SATURDAY
Renewable energy and building expo|The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, will host the “NREL Residential and Commercial Building Expo” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register, call 303-384-6565. For information, go to www.nrel.gov/visitors_center.
Denver Field Ornithologists event| DFO leaders Wayne and Dianna Johnston will lead a birdwatching excursion in Rocky Mountain National Park. Meet at 8 a.m. at the park’s Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on U.S. 36. Take a lunch and water. The entrance fee for Rocky Mountain National Park is $20 a vehicle. For information, call 303-682-5662.
Dinosaur discovery day|West Alameda Parkway will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Dinosaur Discovery Day. Volunteer tour guides will be available to give demonstrations and explanations for the various stops along Dinosaur Ridge, which is on West Alameda Parkway at Rooney Road. For information, go to www.dinoridge.org or call 303-697-3466.
“Family Fun Day”|The Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria St., Parker, is having a “Family Fun Day,” featuring a variety of cultural and educational activities for children of all ages. Activities may include arts and crafts, storytelling, games and a scavenger hunt. For information, call 720-488-3300 or go to www.thewildlifeexperience.org.
AUG. 7
Denver Field Ornithologists event|DFO leader Randy Lentz will lead a birdwatching excursion in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Meet at 8 a.m. at the park’s visitor’s center. Take Colorado 93 north from Golden 1 mile to Golden Gate Canyon Road. Turn left, and continue for 13 miles to the park. A daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Take water and a lunch. For information, call 303-680-3381.
To publicize upcoming events geared toward and open to the public, please mail complete details at least two weeks in advance to Scientifically Speaking, The Denver Post, City Desk, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail to Scispeak@denverpost.com.
