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 and 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 in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.Other multi-day volunteer projects are scheduled for October; regular workdays are scheduled in the spring and fall at Garden of the Gods.
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
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.” September’s topic is “Nature Hide and Seek.” 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.
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/.
Bird banding | See migrating songbirds up close. The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Education and Bird Banding Station in Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton, is open Monday through Friday, Sept. 18-Oct. 20, from 7 to 11 a.m.
TODAY
Snake program | Ranger Julie Arington and a live snake will give a program, “Snakes Alive!” at 2 p.m. at the Pikes Peak Amphitheater in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
Rocky Mountain Field Seminar | “Colorado Cat Tales,” a seminar about mountain lions, bobcats and lynx, will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For prices and registration, visit www.rmna.org,e-mail fieldseminars@rmna.org, or call 970-586-3262.
MONDAY
Archaeology lecture | Jason LaBelle, director of the Laboratory of Public Archaeology at Colorado State University, will give a free talk, “Lindenmeier from a Landscape Perspective: Preliminary Results of a 2006 Soapstone Prairie and Red Mountain Ranch Survey, Larimer, County, Colorado,” at 7 p.m. in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Ricketson Auditorium, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Enter through the west (Leprino Atrium) entrance. For information, contact Red Couts at 303-752-4044 or visit www.coloradoarchaeology.org/Denver/.
TUESDAY
Science program for kids | “Ooey Gooey Science,” a program for kids ages 8-12, will be at 4:15 p.m. at the Phillip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock. Wearing old clothes is recommended. To register, call 303-688-7720.
WEDNESDAY
Colorado mineral and fossil show | The free Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show will be Sept. 13-17 at the Holiday Inn Denver Central, 4849 Bannock St. (just north of I-70 and I-25). For hours and information, visit www.mzexpos.com/colorado_fall.htm.
WEDNESDAY
Museum open house | The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, in conjunction with the Gem and Mineral Show, is having an open house, reception and silent auction of mineral specimens and related items. Begins at 7 p.m. in the Geology Museum, 13th and Maple Streets on the CSM campus in Golden.
THURSDAY
Dinosaur program | A presentation about dinosaurs and their habitats from Colorado’s past and present, will be at 6:30 p.m. at Majestic View Nature Center and Community Park, 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. Cost is $3 per person. To register, call 720-898-7405.
Kids nature event | “Critter Tales Where Would You Hide?” a program for children ages 3-6, will be at 10 a.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. To register, call 303-688-5242.
Astronomer talks | “Science of the Signs,” a talk by Matt Tearle and Adam Norris of the University of Colorado’s Department of Applied Mathematics, will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Fiske Planetarium on the CU Boulder campus, and will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15. 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
Earthwatch Institute program | Colorado Earthwatch volunteers will describe specific scientific projects in which they participated, along with slides or powerpoint presentations. The free event is at 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium of REI’s Flagship Store, 1416 Platte St. For information, call 303-394-3842.
Denver gem and mineral show | The Denver Gem and Mineral Show will be Sept. 15-17 at the Denver Merchandise Mart, I-25 at 58th Avenue. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17. For information, visit www.denvermineralshow.com/. Also, volunteers are needed to talk with kids who look at “show and tell” specimens and who take the “treasure hunt” geo-quiz at the “Kid’s Corner” during the show. To volunteer, contact Pete Modreski at pmodreski@usgs.gov or 303-202-4766.
Antique map fair | The Rocky Mountain Map Society and Denver Public Library are hosting an Antique Map Fair from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Central Library, 13th Avenue and Broadway. Cost is $5 at the door. For information, visit www.rmmaps.org.
SATURDAY
Falcon program | A free program, “Meet the Falcons,” with a live falcon from the Raptor Education Foundation, will be at 4 p.m. at Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora. To register, call 303-739-2428.
Fall birding festival | Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton, is having its 8th annual Fall Birding Festival from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities include free food, live raptor viewing with the Raptor Education Foundation and Windsong Education, guided walks, kid’s bird crafts, live songbirds at the migratory bird banding station and more. To register, call 303-659-6005.
Elk program | Rocky Mountain Nature Association is offering a seminar, “Bugling Elk and Other Elk Facts,” a handicapped accessible program about elk behavior. For prices and registration, call 970-586-3252 or visit www.rmna.org.
Parent/child nature program | “Nature Adventures,” a free parent/child program with nature activities, stories and games, for kids ages 4-6, will be at 11 a.m. at the Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. To register, call 720-898-7405.
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.
