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 Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., needs volunteers to assist with special events, to assist zookeepers and to work in the zoo’s membership, education and administration departments. For information, visit 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 18 or older and complete required training. For information, call 303-697-3466 or visit www.dinoridge.org.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science|The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., needs volunteers to work with visitors in the museum’s diorama halls, galleries and activity areas. Also needed are volunteers to be guides, interpreters, collections assistants and classroom prep assistants. Call the volunteer services office for information, 303-370-6419.
Bluff Lake Nature Center|Bluff Lake 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 a four-day service program focusing on trail restoration and construction over Labor Day weekend at South Colony Lakes Basin in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Food and most outdoor equipment will be provided. Also needed are volunteers for service programs in September, October and November at Table Mountain, Shelf Road and Garden of the Gods. Register at least two weeks ahead by calling 719-471-7736 or e-mailing rmfibox@qwest.net.
Plains Conservation Center|The Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, needs volunteer “citizen scientists” to work with PCC 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. For information, visit www.butterflies.org or call Kris Desmarais, 720-974-1868.
Urban Wildlife Partners|The Urban Wildlife Partners 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,” visit www.allspeciescount.org.
TWICE WEEKLY
Telescope viewing|Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Ave., 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, visit 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 jackrabbits, 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 nonmembers. (In case of inclement weather, an indoor interpretive experience will be substituted). For reservations, call 303-693-3621.
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 visit www.auroragov.org.
Kids’ dinosaur programs|The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park, has summer dinosaur classes for children in grades K-5. For prices and registration information, call 719-686-1820.
TODAY
Denver Field Ornithologists field trip|DFO leader Jackie King will lead a birdwatching excursion in Parker Regional Park. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot. (From intersection of Main Street and Colorado 83 in Parker, go south 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Indian Pipe Lane into the parking area.) Take a lunch and water. For information, call 303-287-1644.
Wetland event|A city of Aurora park ranger will lead a free nature walk at 10 a.m. in Jewell Wetland, 13500 E. Jewell Ave., Aurora. To register or for information, call 303-739-2428 or visit www.auroragov.org.
Junior Ranger program|Jefferson County Open Space rangers and naturalists at the Pine Valley Ranch Depot are offering a free two-hour program for kids ages 4-12 who want to become Open Space Junior Rangers. The program is also for Scouts working on their naturalist, forestry or other outdoor skill badges. To register, call Lookout Mountain Nature Center at 303-526-0594.
THURSDAY
Moonlight hike|A moonlight hike will be at 7 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4757 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton. Cost is $7.50. To register, call 303-973-3959.
Glacier talk|A free lecture about glaciology and Arapahoe Glacier will be at 7 p.m. at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden. For information, visit www.cmc.org or call 303-279-3080, ext. 2.
FRIDAY
Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists/Denver Geophysical Society luncheon meeting|Scott Tinker, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology AAPG Ethics distinguished lecturer, will give a talk at the 11:30 a.m. meeting at Marriott City Center, 1701 California St. Cost is $24 lunch and talk, $3 talk only. For reservations, call 303-623-5396. For information, call 303-573-8621 or visit www.rmag.org.
SATURDAY
Bug Safari|The Butterfly Pavilion is offering a free program discussing bugs, how they survive, where they live and their value to the ecosystem at 11 a.m. at the Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road. To register, call 303-739-2428 or visit www.auroragov.org.
Denver Field Ornithologists event|DFO leaders Chris Owens and Richard Mendez will lead a birdwatching excursion at 7 a.m. in Jim Hamm Park. (From I-25, take exit 240. Go west 4 miles on Colorado 119 to Boulder-Weld County Line Road, then go north 2 miles to the park at 17th Avenue). Take a lunch and water. A daily State Parks pass may be required. For information, call 303-772-6048.
AUG. 21
Denver Field Ornithologists field trip|DFO leader Doris Cruze will lead a birdwatching excursion in Roxborough State Park, 4751 Roxborough Drive, Littleton. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the park’s visitor center. A daily state parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Take water. For information, call 303-798-8072.
Guided nature walk|A city of Aurora park ranger will guide a free hike on the trails of Star K Ranch at the Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. Binoculars are available. For information, call 303-739-2498 or visit www.auroragov.org.
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.
