VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Morrison Museum|The Morrison Natural History Museum, 501 Colo. Highway 8, needs volunteers to teach about local fossils and rocks using hands-on exhibits and interactive demonstrations. Training and mentorship provided. Volunteers are also needed to assist with reptile collection care, fossil molding and casting, and information desk/gift shop operations. Call 303-697-1873 or visit www.mnhm.org.
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 Tuesdays in July to work with trained crew leaders to maintain trails. Volunteers are needed most Wednesdays in July 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.
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 is a nonprofit organization based in Colorado Springs, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of wildlands and key natural areas. RMFI accomplishes its mission through environmental service, education and research. RMFI programs are developed around comprehensive, multi-year or long-term projects developed in concert with land management agencies to meet critical preservation and restoration goals. Volunteers are needed 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 Sept. 1-4, and Sept. 8-11.
Other multi-day volunteer projects are scheduled for 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
Evening wagon rides|Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., is offering naturalist-led nature-watching sunset wagon rides at 7 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day. Cost is free for members, $5 non-members. After the wagon ride is a campfire with a marshmallow roast. Take a jacket, water and insect repellant, and wear sturdy shoes or boots. In case of inclement weather, an indoor interpretive experience will be substituted. To register, call 303-693-3621.
Kids nature programs|Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a free program for kids ages 5 and under every Thursday with puppets, stories, activities and outdoor exploration. The same topic is covered at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., choose which time works best for you. For information, call 303-739-2428.
Bald eagle viewing|Barr Lake State Park Nature Center, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton, loans binoculars Wednesdays through Sundays for viewing of newly-hatched eaglets. The view of the eagle nest is best from the Gazebo, a 1.3-mile walk south of the Nature Center. For hours of operation, call 303-659-6005.
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 303-497-1174or 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. For information, call 970-586-3262 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
Kids nature program|Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, between Chambers Road and Airport Blvd., north of Colfax Ave. and south of Smith Road, is offering a free program, “Junior Rangers Bug Hunt,” at 9:30 a.m. Participants will use bug nets to capture insects. The program will be repeated at 9:30 a.m. July 13. To register, call 303-739-2428.
Hound hike|Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989, S. Highway 83, Franktown, is offering a human-and-dog hike and sharing information about trail etiquette, training and keeping your dog safe and comfortable outdoors. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Event Facility Shelters. To register, call 303-688-5242. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
Moonlight hike|Naturalists will lead a moonlight hike at 7 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. To register, mail a check for $7.50 per hiker and your phone number to Friends of Roxborough, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton, 80125. Non-refundable tickets will be sent to you. For information, call 303-973-3959.
Longs Peak seminar|Jim Detterline, Rocky Mountain National Park Ranger will lead the Rocky Mountain Field Seminar, “Longs Peak in Detail,” at 7 a.m. in the Rocky Mountain Nature Association’s administrative office behind RMNP headquarters. For course and fee information, call 970-586-3262 or e-mail fieldseminars@rmna.org. Information is also available at www.rmna.org.
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.
Naturalist-led walk|South Suburban Parks and Recreation is having a free naturalist-led nature walk at 9:30 a.m. in the Cooley Lake wildlife area at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. The Cooley Lake wildlife area is normally closed to the general public to protect wildlife. To register, call 303-730-1022.
MONDAY
Archaeology lecture|Neil Hauser, University of Colorado archaeology graduate student, will give a free talk, “Investigation of a Unique Quarry on the Umcomgraghe Plateau,” 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. Call 33-752-4004 or visit www.coloradoarchaeology.org/Denver/.
Moonlight walk|A South Suburban Parks and Recreation naturalist will lead a moonlight walk at 8:30 p.m. in South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. Cost is $9 adult, $7 youth ($6 adult, $5 youth District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022. To register, call 303-347-5999 or visit www.sspr.org.
Full moon walk|Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, is offering a full moon walk at 7:30 p.m. Dress for the outdoors and take a jacket. Sturdy close-toed shoes or boots, water and insect repellant are recommended. In case of inclement weather, an indoor interpretive experience will be substituted. Cost is free for members, $5 nonmembers. To register, call 303-693-3621.
Kids nature program|”Nature Peek-A-Boo,” a series of programs for children age 3, with care giver over age 14, will be Mondays July 10-31 at 9:45 a.m. at South Platter Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. The program features games, songs, crafts, hikes and catching critters. The series is concurrent with a program for 4-5 year old siblings. Cost is $44 ($32 District rate). To register, call 303-347-5999 or visit www.sspr.org. For information, call 303-730-1022.
Plant seminar|Rocky Mountain Field Seminars is offering a week-long program July 10-15 on observing and identifying plants through observation and botanical keying. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
WEDNESDAY
Guided bird walk|Naturalists Phoebe and Paul Thayer will lead a birdwalk at 8 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. Take water and a snack. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3959.
THURSDAY
Colorado skies program|”Colorado Skies: Scientific Inquiry,” a program exploring Colorado’s skies and how scientists investigate the cosmos, will be at 8 p.m. in Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 student (with valid ID), $3.50 child/senior. For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
FRIDAY
Lightning Data Center meeting|Stewert Levy will discuss injury prevention topics at the 11:30 meeting in Auditorium A, St. Anthony Central Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Ave., Denver.
Cosmic collisions program|”Cosmic Collisions,” a program exploring the way impacts shape Earth’s neighborhood and the aftermath of the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 with Jupiter, will be at 8 p.m. in Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 student (with valid ID), $3.50 child/senior. For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 303-492-5001.
Dinosaur egg program for kids|The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, on the CU Boulder campus, is having a program for kids, “Egg-stra, Egg-stra,” at 9:15 a.m. July 14 and 28. There will be crafts and experiments. For registration and fee information, call 303-492-6892
Sunset stroll|Morrison Nature Center is offering a free sunset stroll at 8:30 p.m. in Jewell Wetland, at the northwest corner of Potomac and Jewell Avenue (just east of Utah Park). To register, call 303-739-2428.
Digital nature photography seminar|”Highlights of the High Country: A Digital Field Workshop,” a seminar on using your digital camera in the field, focusing on scenic landscapes and wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park, offered by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, will be July 14-16. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
SATURDAY
Hummingbird program|”Hummingbirds,” a program by Volunteer Naturalist Jill Parker, will be at 2 p.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.
Nature sketching class|Volunteer Naturalists Leslie Campbell and Glenda Newton are giving a program on outdoor sketching, with trips to various places in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Meet at 9 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.
Guided hike|Volunteer Naturalist Dennis Cook will lead a two-mile hike at 8 a.m. in the East Canyon Preservation area in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. The preservation area is accessible only on naturalist-led hikes. Wear hiking shoes and long shirts and pants. To register, call 303-688-5242. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
Wildflower seminar|”Identifying Wildflowers,” a class offered by Rocky Mountain Nature Center will be taught in Rocky Mountain National Park. For prices and registration, call 970-5863252 or visit www.rmna.org.
Raccoon program|Morrison Nature Center, off of Smith Road on Laredo Street, half way between Chambers Road and Airport Blvd., is having a free program on raccoons at 7:30 p.m. To register, call 303-739-2428.
GPS seminar|”Backcountry Navigation with a GPS,” is a two-day seminar on using your GPS unit to navigate the backcountry, offered by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association. For prices and to register, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
July 16
Guided bird walk|Naturalist Doris Cruze or Naturalist Dennis Wojciki, will lead a birdwalk at 7:30 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. Take water and a snack. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3959.
Sunday Science|The Morrison Nature Center, off of Smith Road on Laredo Street, half way between Chambers Road and Airport Blvd., is offering hands-on science events from 1 to 4 p.m. To register, call 303-739-2498.
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.
