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 August to work with trained crew leaders to maintain trails. Volunteers are needed most Wednesdays in August 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. 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.
Kids nature programs | Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a free program for kids ages 6-10, “Junior Rangers,” which meets the second Thursday and Sunday of the month at 1:30 p.m. August’s topic is “Flowers, Fruits and Seeds.” To register, call 303-739-2428.
Science open house | The Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, offers a free open house with hands-on science activities from 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month. To register, 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 303-497-1174 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. 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
Native American/plant seminar | The Rocky Mountain Nature Association is offering a seminar, “Ute People and Plants.” The class includes information on identifying edible, medicinal, historical and ethno-botanical uses of local plants. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
Tundra program | Rocky Mountain Nature Association is offering a program by naturalist Kevin Cook, “Exploring Life on the Tundra.” He will discuss how plants and animals adapt to life in the tundra. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
TUESDAY
Solar Decathlon House workshop | Jeffrey R. Lyng, project manager of the 2005 winning house, will give a workshop, “The Solar Decathlon House: An Evening With the National Championships,” at 6 p.m. at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. Cost is $10 at the door. (CRES/CRES Basic or household members, $5. Free for CESC EST members). To register, call 303-216-2026, ext. 150 or visit http://smartenergyliving.org/ecm/Workshops/06_Solar_Decath_Home.html.
WEDNESDAY
Lunch lecture | The U.S. Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, is hosting a presentation, “The ABCs of Residential PV,” from noon to 1 p.m. Take a lunch. For information, visit www.nrel.gov/visitors_center/.
THURSDAY
Sunset stroll | Morrison Nature Center is offering a free evening walk at Quincy Reservoir, 18350 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora. To register, call 303-739-2428.
Dam festival | Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown, is celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the breaking of the Castlewood Dam. There will be dam hikes and other activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call 303-688-5242.
Colorado skies program | “Colorado Skies: Cassini Mission Update,” a program exploring the ongoing Cassini mission to Saturn, 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
Bat program | Naturalist Susan Dunn will give a program on bats, “Batty Over Roxborough,” at 6:30 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. To register, call 303-973-3959.
Deep Impact program | “Deep Impact,” a program exploring how the Deep Impact mission was designed, 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.
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield free day | The Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, 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.
SATURDAY
Naturalist-led program | “Roxborough Rocks,” a program led by Volunteer Naturalist Peter Laux, 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.
Observatory open house | Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Ave., is offering telescope viewing of Jupiter, quarter phase moon and global clusters, information about the Perseid meteor shower and more during their free open house event from 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is $1 to view through the 27-foot long Clark-Saegmuller refractor. For information, call 303-871-5172 or visit www.thedas.org.
Archaeology tour | A video presentation and site tour of the Lamb Spring archaeological site will be at 9 a.m. at Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. To register, call 303-973-3959.
Dinosaur discovery day | The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge are hosting “Dinosaur Discovery Day” from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. West Alameda Parkway, over the Hogback, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trained guides will be stationed along the roadside to explain features, give demonstrations and answer questions. At the Visitor Center, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a free “Orienteering Hoedown” with members of Geocaching Colorado presenting a “GPS Treasure Hunt with Geocaching.” There will also be an introduction to Letterboxing, Dinosaur Stamp Making, The Backyard Bones: Dinosaur Dig Pit, Stegosaurus Branding, and a free mineral specimen for kids. For information, visit www.dinoridge.org or call 303-697-3466, ext. 11 or 303-697-3466, ext. 13.
Beaver, elk and willow program | The Rocky Mountain Nature Association is offering a seminar, “Beaver, Elk and Willow: The Complex Web They Weave,” by veteran researcher Bruce Baker. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
Aug. 6
Wildlife program | “Natures Designs – Wildlife and Their Environment,” a program by Volunteer Naturalist Jill Parker, will be at noon on the patio in Roxoborough 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.
Historic Persse Place open house | Volunteer Naturalists will give a program on the Historic Persse Place, a nationally registered historic home, at noon in 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3959.
Naturalist-led human and dog walk | Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, is offering a free naturalist-led walk for humans and their well-mannered and leashed dogs. To register, call 303-739-2428.
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.
