VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Wildlife museum|The Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria St., Parker, needs volunteers to help with school tours, read books to children and for its annual Halloween event. For information, contact Volunteer Services at 720-488-3318 or e-mail ekehm@twexp.org.
Air and Space museum|Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., needs volunteers to help at the admissions desk, museum store, and in the museum’s collection of artifacts. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For information, call Matthew Burchette at 303-360-5360, ext. 103.
Nature center|Lookout Mountain Nature Center needs volunteer naturalists to greet visitors, lead programs for school and scout groups and develop programs for the public. For information and an application, call 303-526-0212. Application deadline is Oct. 16.
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 must 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.
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 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.
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.
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, visit www.thedas.org, or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Science and engineering fair|The Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be Feb. 28 2006 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. For information, e-mail james.stevens@uchsc.edu or call 303-724-3003. Teachers interested in staging a science fair at their school can visit the Central Colorado AHEC website at www2.uchsc.edu/ahec/science/.
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 assess the present condition of songbirds, and gather scientific data by measuring, weighing, identifying, aging and banding the specimens. For directions and hours, 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 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.
Nature programs|The Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a variety of nature programs. For a list of events, call 303-739-2428 or visit www.auroragov.org.
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 more information, call 303-492-5002 or visit www.colorado.edu/fiske/.
MONDAY
Denver Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society program|A free lecture about Fort Laramie will be at 7 p.m. in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Ricketson Auditorium, 2001 Colorado Blvd. For information, call 303-988-5549.
University research talk|”University Research and Continuing Education in Emerging Technologies,” a free talk by Neb Jsaksic, associate professor at the University of Colorado at Pueblo, will be at 6 p.m. in room M3130 of the main campus building at Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive. For information, call 303-797-5851.
Mars program|”The Return of Mars,” a free slide presentation by Jerry Sherlin, professional astronomer and instructor, will be at 7 p.m. at the Arapahoe Library District’s Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle, Centennial. For reservations, call 303-693-7449.
TUESDAY
Food residues program|”Ancient Morsel Code: The Unexpected Beauty and Significance of Fossil Food Residues,” a free presentation by Karen Chin, curator of paleontology at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, will be at 7 p.m. in the Changing Gallery in the CU Museum on the CU Boulder campus. For information, visit http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/ or call 303-492-6892.
WEDNESDAY
Guided birdwalk|Naturalists Paul and Phoebe Thayer will lead a birdwatching excursion at 9 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3959.
Geology hike|US Geological Survey geologist Pete Modreski will lead a free hike and discuss geology at 4 p.m. on Green Mountain. Meet at the trailhead on West Alameda Parkway opposite West Florida Drive, 1.7 miles west of Union Boulevard in Lakewood. For information, call 303-202-4766 or e-mail pmodreski@usgs.gov.
Denver Zoo free day|Admission to the Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., will be free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Colorado residents with proof of residency. For information, visit www.denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4800.
THURSDAY
Seismic-derived acoustic impedance data talk and lunch|”Uses, Abuses and Examples of Seismic-Derived Acoustic Impedance Data: What Does the Interpreter Need to Know?” a presentation by Rebecca Latimer, Fall 2005 SEG/AAPG (Society of Exploration Geophysicists/American Association of Petroleum Geologists) Distinguished Lecturer, will be at 11:45 a.m. at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St. Cost is $19 Denver Geophysical Society members, $26 nonmembers, $3 meeting only. To register, call 303-757-2942.
Indian Peaks Chapter of Colorado Archaeological Society presentation|”What’s New at Rocky Mountain National Park,” a free presentation, will be at 7 p.m. in the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History on the CU Boulder campus.
FRIDAY
Lightning Data Center meeting|”High and Low Voltage Injuries – An Electro-Forensic Engineering Perspective,” a presentation by Michael J. Foley, electro-forensic engineer for Technical Consultants Group, Ltd., will be at noon, following an 11:30 a.m. round table at St. Anthony Central Hospital, Auditorium – Side A, 4231 W. 16th Ave., Denver.
SATURDAY
Wildlife programs|Naturalist Sue Schleuder will lead a hike and discuss mule dear at 9 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton; Volunteer Naturalists Mike and Alma Rounds will lead a hike and discuss mountain lion behavior at 2 p.m. in the Park. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3959.
Trail improvement day|Central Rockies Section is hosting a trail improvement day at Lumpy Ridge in Estes Park. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Estes Park Town Hall parking lot on MacGregor Avenue in downtown Estes Park. Take gloves and water; a free pizza lunch is provided. To register, e-mail Greg Sievers at gsievers57@cs.com or call 970-586-4075.
Triceratops Trail open house|The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge is having a free open house from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Triceratops Trail at the Parfet Prehistoric Preserve. To reach the site, turn east off of West 6th Avenue onto 19th Street in Golden. Parking is available. Entrances will be marked. For information, visit www.dinoridge.org or call Matt Carey at 303-697-3466, ext. 11.
Nature journal class|Author Susie Mottashed will lead a class in nature journaling, including observation skills and sketching techniques that enable you to do quick field sketches, at 9 a.m. at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden. Cost is $20 for Colorado Mountain Club members, $25 nonmembers. To register, visit www.cmc.org/education.
Oct. 16
Woodpecker talk|Tim Gallagher, author of “Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker,” will discuss his book at 7 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church of Denver, South Monaco Boulevard and East Hampden Avenue. Cost is $5 Friends of Denver Audubon, $7 nonmembers. For reservations, call 303-973-9530.
Guided birdwalk|Naturalist Doris Cruze is leading a birdwatching excursion at 8 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Or information, call 303-973-3959.
Moonlight hike|The Friends of Roxborough State Park are hosting a moonlight hike at 6 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton.For information, call 303-973-3959.
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.
