VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Xeriscape garden|The City of Aurora Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway needs volunteers. Call Abby Schreiber at 303-739-7356, or e-mail aschreib@auroragov.org.
Park weeding and trail maintenance|Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton, needs volunteers most Thursdays through October to work with trained crew leaders to maintain trails. Volunteers are needed most Wednesdays through October to work with trained crew leaders to pull, snip and collect noxious weeds. For information, call 303-973-3959.
US 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 US 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.
Science fair judges|Community Resources, Inc., which 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.
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.
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.
Other multi-day volunteer projects are scheduled for June, Sept. and Oct.; regular workdays are scheduled in the spring and fall at Garden of the Gods.
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 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.
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 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 children and adults. 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
Family walk|South Suburban Parks and Recreation is offering a family nature walk at 2 p.m. in South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive, Littleton. Cost is $9 adults, $5 youth ($6 adults, $4 youth District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022.
MONDAY
Earth Week community celebration|Naropa University is offering five days of free events, panel discussions, raffles, talks and activities from noon to 5 p.m. at the 2130 Arapahoe Campus. Programs include garden restoration projects, a Town Hall panel on global climate change, and recycling activities. For information, call Sam Mason, 303-245-4747.
Endangered species week Zoo programs|The Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., is having live animal demonstrations and information about saving animals and habitats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17-21. The “Endangered Species Week” programs are free with paid admission to the Zoo. For information, visit www.denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4800.
TUESDAY
Colorado Cafe Scientifique|”Pluto and Beyond: New Horizons will tell us about the ends of the Solar System,” a free discussion by Fran Bagenal, of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercantile Room at the Wynkoop Brewery, 1638 18th St. For information, visit http://CafeSciColorado.org.
Sustainability in organizations talk|Gifford Pinchot, president and co-founder of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, will discuss tools for implementing sustainable practices in your company at 7:30 a.m. in the Advanced Colorado Center, World Trade Center, 1625 Broadway, 8th floor conference room. Tickets are $10 for Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy (CORE) members, $20 nonmembers. (At the door, $5 more). To register, visit www.corecolorado.org.
“Ecopreneurs” program|Gifford Pinchot, president and co-founder of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, will give a talk, “Ecopreneurs Take the Lead in Building a Better World: Few Resources, More fulfillment,” at 6:30 p.m. in Leeds School, room 218, on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. For information, call Bud McGrath at 303-592-4066 or e-mail bud.mcgrath@ceba.org.
THURSDAY
Guided birdwatching excursion|Volunteer naturalists Karen and Ken Metz will lead a birdwatching hike in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown, before the park opens for general admission. Meet at 7 a.m. at the east entrance gate. Take binoculars. To register, call 303-688-5242.
Astronomy program|”Colorado Skies: Galactic Evolution,” a talk, will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 student with valid I.D., $3.50 child/senior. For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
FRIDAY
Mineral and fossil show|The Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Holiday Inn Denver Central, 4849 Bannock St. Admission is free.
SATURDAY
Earth Day geology hike|Retired US Geological Survey geologist Harald Drewes will lead a free hike up South Table Mountain in Golden. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Cold Spring Park and Ride, at West Sixth Avenue and Simms Street in Lakewood. For information, contact Pete Modreski at 303-202-4766 or e-mail pmodreski@usgs.gov.
Vulture event|Volunteer naturalists will give programs on vultures throughout the day, with a live Turkey Vulture on display at 2 p.m. in the Visitor Center in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Take binoculars. Throughout the day, there will be Arbor Day activities for children at the Visitor Center and a historic tree hike at the Lucas Homestead, featuring 100+ year old apple trees. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-688-5242.
Earth Day event|The 17th annual Mountain Area Earth Day Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evergreen Lake and Lake House, 29614 Upper Bear Creek Road. Over 50 federal, state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations and business will share information in a hands-on format. Exhibitors include the US Forest Service with “Smokey the Bear,” the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the National Eagle and Wildlife Repository, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Audubon Society, Clear Creek and Jefferson County’s Open Space, and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center. HawkQuest will present live birds of prey, Take used cell phones and ink cartridges for recycling. For information, call 303-674-1918.
Denver Botanic Gardens free day|The Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., is offering free admission to Colorado residents from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 720-865-3500 or visit www.botanicgardens.org.
April 23
Earth Day bicycle ride|US Geological Survey geologist Pete Modreski will lead a free bicycle tour along Clear Creek, from Wheat Ridge to Denver. Meet at 9 a.m. at Anderson Park, West 44th Avenue at Field Street. For information, call 303-202-4766 or e-mail pmodreski@usgs.gov.
Guided hike|Interpreter Ron Claussen will lead a hike and discuss waterfalls, pools and grottos in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center. Take a camera if you desire and be prepared for muddy conditions. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. To register, call 303-688-5242.
Museum free day|the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., is offering free admission to Colorado residents from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Mr. Bones,” a “paleopuppeteer” will have life-size dinosaur puppets; “Secrets of the Dioramas” tour will be at 12:30 and 2 p.m. A scavenger hunt will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Separate admission fees to Phipps IMAX Theater and Gates Planetarium remain in effect. For information, call 303-322-7009 or visit www.dmns.org.
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.
