U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitor Center|School field-trip program guides and docents are needed to serve as hosts and conduct programs appropriate for school groups, youth and scouting organizations, senior citizen and civic groups at the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. For information, contact Ivilina Thornton at 303-384-6566 or e-mail ivilina_thornton@nrel.gov.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Science fair judges|Community Resources, Inc., an organization that organizes science fairs, needs volunteers to judge science fairs this spring at Valverde Elementary School, McMeen Elementary School, Steele Elementary School and for the Denver Public Schools District Fair. For dates and information, call Debbie Turner, 303-782-0975 or e-mail Debbie_Turner@dpsk12.com.
Science and engineering fair|The Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Volunteers are needed to judge the fair. For information, visit www2.uchsc.edu/sciencefair/judges/ or call Sandra Van Kaenel at 303-315-9005.
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 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.
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. Also, volunteers are needed to help with the BODY WORLDS 2 exhibit. 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.
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.
Wilderness environmental service programs|The Rocky Mountain Field Institute needs volunteers to complete alpine restoration projects this summer at Crestone Needle and South Colony Lakes Basin in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Four-day programs will be offered July 8-11, Sept. 1-4, and Sept. 8-11. A seven-day “volunteer vacation” will be Aug. 20-26 and is run in conjunction with the American Hiking Society. For information, contact RMFI at 719-471-7736 or rmfibox@qwest.net.
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 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information, visit www.thedas.org, or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Buggy story time|The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, offers “Buggy Story Time” at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays through April. The program includes buggy stories, a butterfly craft and an opportunity to meet invertebrates up close. Free with paid admission to the Butterfly Pavilion. For information, visit www.butterflies.org.
Science and engineering fair|The Denver Metro Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 27 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/.
Earth Corps program|The Rocky Mountain Field Institute is offering 30-day fellowships programs between July 17 and Aug. 15 to undergraduate students. Participants will live in remote wilderness settings and complete long hours of demanding physical labor. Students will receive $1,000 and 4 hours of credit in geography from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Application cost is $25. To apply, call RMFI, 719-471-7736 or e-mail rmfibox@qwest.net. Applications deadline is April 7; however, outstanding applicants will be awarded fellowships in advance of the deadline. Decisions will be announced by April 14.
Map and compass class|The U.S. 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.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research|NCAR’s 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. 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 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. 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/.
TODAY
Owl program|The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, East 56th Avenue at Havana Street, is having a program and tour of the park in search of great horned owls and other wildlife from 9 to 11 a.m. Take a camera and binoculars. For information, visit http://rockymountainarsenal.fws.gov.
Nature walk|A naturalist will lead a free guided walk at 9:30 a.m. in the Cooley Lake wildlife area at South Platte Park, 7301 S. Platte River Parkway. The area is normally closed to general public access to protect wildlife. To register, call 303-730-1022.
Moonlight owl walk|A South Suburban Parks and Recreation naturalist will lead a walk in search of coyote, beaver and owls at 7 p.m. in the Classroom Building at the Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park, 7301 S. Platte River Parkway. Cost is $9 adults, $7 youth ($6 adults, $5 youth District rate). Call 303-730-1022 for information.
Coyotes and foxes program|A South Suburban Parks and Recreation naturalist will give a program on coyotes and foxes at 2 p.m. in the Classroom Building at the Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park, 7301 S. Platte River Parkway. Cost is $9 adults, $5 youth ($6 adults, $4 youth District rate). Call 303-730-1022 for information.
MONDAY
Archaeology lecture|”Bones of Contention in Northern Peru,” a free talk by Jon Kent of the department of archaeology at Metro State University, will be at 7 p.m. in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Ricketson Auditorium, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Enter through the west (Leprino Atrium) entrance. The free talk is part of the monthly general meeting of the Denver Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society. For information, call Red Couts at 303-752-4044.
WEDNESDAY
Solar electricity program|”Plugging Into the Sun: Understanding Solar Electricity,” a workshop for homeowners providing information on deciding if a solar electric system is right for them and how to get the process started, will be at 6 p.m. at Colorado Solar Works, 1501 Lee Hill Road, No. 15, Boulder. For information, call the Center for Resource Conservation at 303-441-3278.
THURSDAY
Astronomy talk|”Supernovae,” an astronomy program, will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 student with valid ID, $3.50 child/senior. The program will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. Friday. For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
Supernovae program|”Supernovae,” a program by University of Colorado Professor Emeritus Richard McCray, will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adults, $5 students, $3.50 children and seniors. The program will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. Friday. For information, call 303-492-5001 or visit http://fiske.colorado.edu.
FRIDAY
Birding program|Volunteer Naturalist Sharon Logan will discuss “Fundamentals of Birding” during a half-indoors, half-outdoors program in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center. To register, call 303-688-5242. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
SATURDAY
Guided bird walk|Park naturalists will lead a birdwatching excursion at 9 a.m. at Barr Lake Nature Center, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton. Take binoculars and a field guide. For information, call 303-659-6005.
Naturalist-led hike|Volunteer Naturalist Dennis Cook will lead a hike at 1 p.m. in the East Canyon Preservation Area in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. This area is accessible only on naturalist-led hikes. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-688-5242.
“Saturday Physics Series” program|”A Journey to the Earth’s Interior,” a free presentation by Assistant Professor Shijie Zhong of the University of Colorado, Boulder, will be at 2 p.m. in Duane Physics room G1B30 on the CU Boulder campus. For information, call 303-492-4318.
Bald eagle program|The Morrison Nature Center with the City of Aurora Parks and Open Space Department is having a free outdoor event including a search for eagles and other birds of prey at the Coal Creek Arena and along the Sand Creek corridor and live birds of prey from the Raptor Education Foundation, at 10 a.m. at the Coal Creek Arena, on East Sixth Avenue two miles east of Airport Boulevard. For information, call 303-739-2428 or e-mail auroranature@aol.com.
Feb. 19
Bald eagle program|The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, East 56th Avenue at Havana Street, is having a program and tour of the park in search of bald eagles and other wildlife from 9 to 11 a.m. For information, visit http://rockymountainarsenal.fws.gov.
Butterfly Pavilion program|A guided “Sunset Safari” will be at 5 p.m. at the Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. The program features hermit crabs, bullfrogs and butterflies. Cost is $6.
Jr. Naturalist Club program|”Snakes Alive,” a naturalist-led program for kids ages 7-12, will be at 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. For information, call 303-688-5242. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
To publicize upcoming events geared toward and open to the public, please mail 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.
