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, 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
Denver flowerbed tours|Denver Parks and Recreations is hosting three park horticulturist guided tours throughout the summer. The tours are $15 for adults, $7 for seniors and youth ages 5-12. Tour costs include transportation, refreshments and a small gift. Adult participants can purchase a discounted ticket packet for all three tours for $40. To register for a tour, call 720-913-0700.
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
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.
TUESDAY
Fossil program|”Fossils and Genes: Exploring the Evolution of Life,” a free talk and discussion with Warren Allmon, director of the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, N.Y., and Douglas Futuyma, Distinguished Professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University, will be at 7:30 p.m. in Chemistry 140 on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. “For information, call 303-735-0962 or visit http://lasp.colorado.edu/life/symposium06.html.
WEDNESDAY
Adult nature hike|South Suburban Parks and Recreation is offering an adult hiking trip in Boulder Open Space. Meet at 8 a.m. at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive, Littleton. The hike includes transportation and naturalist leadership; hikers will return at about 4 p.m. For ages 18 and up. Cost is $19 ($15 District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022.
Green practices talk|Dennis Allen, general building contractor, will discuss incorporating green practices on projects and in your company at 11:30 a.m. at East Boulder Recreation Center, Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive. Cost is free for Boulder Green Building Guild members, $10 nonmembers, $5 students. To register, visit www.bgbg.org/event_registration042606.php. For information, call 303-444-7044.
THURSDAY
Cassini Mission to Saturn talks|”Cassini Mission Update,” a talk by Joshua Colwell of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, will be at 7 p.m. “Saturn Overlooked,” a talk by John Weiss of the Cassini Imaging Team, will be at 8:15 p.m. Both talks are at the Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus. Cost is $10 per talk, $15 for both talks, $5 per talk child/senior/student (upon request). For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
FRIDAY
Cassini Mission to Saturn talks|”Cassini Mission Update,” a talk by Joshua Colwell of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, will be at 7 p.m. “A New View of Titan,” a talk by Nick Schneider of CU’s Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, will be at 8:15 p.m. Both talks are at the Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus. Cost is $10 per talk, $15 for both talks, $5 per talk child/senior/student (upon request). For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
Guided hike|Volunteer Naturalist Dennis Cook will lead a hike in the East Canyon Preservation Area in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 4989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. The East Canyon Preservation Area is only accessible on naturalist-guided hikes. Wear hiking shoes, long shirts and pants, and take water. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For meeting time and location and to register, call 303-688-5242.
SATURDAY
Tree planting|Volunteers are needed to plant 200 trees from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Sloan’s Lake Park. Registration will be at the park entrance at 17th Avenue and Utica Street. Tools will be provided. Take sunscreen, water bottles and gloves if you have them. For information, call 303-331-4061 or e-mail handsondenver@ci.denver.co.us.
Star party|A free star party with a guided tour of current constellations, planets and astronomical concepts will be at 7:30 p.m. at Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. To register, call 303-739-2428.
Kids nature program|”Junior Naturalist Club The Birds are Coming Home,” a naturalist-led program for children ages 7-12, has hands-on activities and discovery time in the park. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-688-5242.
April 30
Zoo “wild walk”|The Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., offers “Wild Walks,” hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tours showcase the Primate Panorama and are free with zoo admission.
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.
