VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Denver Audubon|Audubon Society of Greater Denver needs volunteers to help lead groups of elementary grade school children on field trips at the Audubon Center. Training is from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 21. For information, call 303-973-9530.
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.
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, natural resources and history of Dinosaur Ridge. Applicants must be at least 18 and complete required training. For information, call 303-697-3466 or visit www.dinoridge.org.
Science Museum|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 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-mail 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, data entry and counting animals. 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
Map and compass class|The US Geological Survey hosts a free map, compass and orienteering class at 1 p.m. Fridays in the map department at the Denver Flagship REI, 1416 Platte St. For information, call 303-756-3100.
Bird banding station|Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Education and Bird Banding Station at Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton, will be active now through Oct. 21. RMBO biologists will assess the present condition of songbirds, and will gather scientific data by measuring, weighing, identifying, aging and banding the specimens. For information, call 303-637-9220.
Mini Med School|The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center is having a free Mini Med School at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays Sept. 14 through Nov. 9 in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Phipps IMAX Theater, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Nine lectures given by CU School of Medicine professors will cover topics like molecular and cell biology, anatomy and physiology, immunology, cancer, virology, and neurology. Registration is required and is on a first-come first-served basis. For information, visit www.uchsc.edu/minimed or call 303-315-8911.
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 noon-time 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, tornados and fluid dynamics. For information, call 303-497-1174 or visit www.ucar.edu.
Renewable energy|The US 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. Monday through Friday. The Visitors Center features an interactive exhibit hall and DOE public reading room. For information, visit 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, call the Children’s Workshop coordinators at 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, visit 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 visit 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 visit 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 visit 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 grades k-5. For information, call 719-686-1820.
Astronomy events|Fiske Planetarium, on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, has a variety of astronomy shows, talks, and family matinees. The evening talks and shows are $6 adults, $5 students with valid I.D., and $3.50 for children and seniors. Saturday family shows are $5 adults, $3.50 children and seniors. Laser shows are $5. For information, call 303-492-5002 or visit www.colorado.edu/fiske/.
TUESDAY
La Brea fossils lecture|Sue Ware, a department associate at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, will give a free talk, “CSI: La Brea: Murder and Mayhem on Wilshire Blvd.,” at 7 p.m. in DMNS’s Ricketson Auditorium, 2001 Colorado Blvd. For information, visit www.wipsppc.com or call 303-663-5868.
WEDNESDAY
“Distinguished Women in Science” lectures|Rita Colwell, former director of the National Science Foundation, will give a free lecture, “Diversity in Science: Science and Society in the 21st Century,” at 11 a.m. in room W118, Anatomy/Zoology Building, on the Colorado State University campus. She will give an additional free talk, “Global Climate and Human Health,” at 4 p.m. in West Ballrom of Lory Student Center, also on the CSU campus.
Denver Field Ornithologists meeting|Author Kent Nelson will discuss his book, “Birds in the Hand,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s VIP room, 2001 Colorado Blvd.
THURSDAY
Owl presentation|Metro Districts of Highlands Ranch and HawkQuest will give a presentation, “Owls of the World,” with live owls from six continents, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kistler Park Outdoor Learning Center, 9603 South Burntwood Way, Littleton. Take a camera. Cost is $5 resident, $6 nonresident. For information, visit www.highlandsranch.org or call 303-791-2710.
FRIDAY
Lightning Data Center meeting|”Neurologic Complications of Lightning Strikes,” a talk, will be at noon, following an 11:30 a.m. roundtable, in St. Anthony Central Hospital’s Auditorium A, 4231 W. 16th Ave.
SATURDAY
Bats program for youth|Metro Districts of Highlands Ranch is having a program, “Mysterious Bats,” for kids ages 6-10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Redstone Park Pone Creekside Shelter, 3280 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch. For information, visit www.highlandsranch.org or call 303-791-2710.
Geology hike|Interpreter Ron Claussen will discuss geological aspects of the Park as he leads a hike in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Canyon Point Parking Lot next to the information kiosk. For reservations, call 303-688-5242.
Agate and cryptocrystalline quartz symposium|A two-day “Symposium on Agate and Cryptocrystalline Quartz” will be in the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines Campus Sept. 10-11. Over 30 speakers from five countries will discuss different aspects of the mineralogy of agate. Registration fee is $40. To register, contact tmichalski@usgs.gov or call 303-202-4852.
Sept. 11
Bee program|Metro Districts of Highlands Ranch is offering an outdoor education program, “Fascinating Bees,” for kids ages 8 and older (with an adult). The program includes touring a honey house, taste-testing honey and making a beeswax candle. Meet at 1 p.m. at Metro District Parks, Recreation and Open Space Office, 3280 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch. Cost is $7 resident, $9 non-resident. For information, visit www.highlandsranch.org or call 303-791-2710.
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.
