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.
Park weeding and trail maintenance | Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton, needs volunteers to work with trained crew leaders to pull, snip and collect noxious weeds and help maintain the hiking trails. 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. 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 7 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. 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.
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
Geocaching event | Participants will practice using a GPS unit, find sources for clues, learn to play ethically and visit caches in the park from 2 to 4 p.m. at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. Cost is $9 ($6 District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022. To register, visit www.sspr.org or call 303-347-5999.
Anthropology lecture | “Chaco Canyon: An 11th Century Pueblo Capital,” a free lecture by Stephen Lekson, curator of anthropology for the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, will be at 2 p.m. in the meeting room of the LoDo Tattered Cover bookstore, 1628 16th St. For information, visit www.aiadenver.org.
Nature walk | A free naturalist-guided walk will be at 9:30 a.m. in the Cooley Lake wildlife area at South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s South Platte Park, 3000 West Carson Drive. This area is closed to the general public access to protect wildlife. To register, call 303-730-1022.
MONDAY
Archaeology lecture | Greg Gedney, member of the Denver Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society will present recent findings about lithic analyses of the Swallow Site in Jefferson County. The free program is 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/index.htm.
TUESDAY
“VC Power Lunch Lecture” series | “Energy Efficient Buildings: What You Need to Know About Making your House Energy Efficient,” will be the lecture topic at the noon meeting at the National Renewable Laboratory Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway. Take a lunch. To register, call 303-384-6565. For information, visit www.nrel.gov/visitors_center/.
WEDNESDAY
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.
THURSDAY
Kids weather program | “Colorado Weather Whys,” a free program by 7News meteorologist Richard Ortner, for children in grades K-5, will be at 4:15 p.m. at Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle. To register, call 303-693-7449.
US Green Building Council’s Greenbuild Expo | The City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development Practitioners from Portland-area architectural, engineering, planning and development firms will lead a free open house event from 8 a.m. to noon at the PDX Lounge, in Xzanthia Gallery, 734 N. Santa Fe Drive. Interactive learning sessions will cover topics ranging from green home remodeling to the construction and operation of high-performance commercial buildings. Sessions will include case studies of prominent Portland developments.
Live astronomer talk | “Colorado Skies: Leonid Meteor Shower,” will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Fiske Auditorium on the University of Denver 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
Map, compass and orienteering class | The US Geological Survey hosts a free map, compass and orienteering class at 1 p.m. in the map department on the first floor of the REI Denver Flagship store, 1416 Platte St.
Star show | “Cosmic Collisions,” will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Fiske Auditorium on the University of Denver Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 Student with valid ID, $3.50 child/senior. For information, visit http://fiske.colorado.edu or call 33-492-5001.
Primitive skills program | Learn rope-making and other primitive skills at 7 p.m. at the Carson Nature Center at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. Refreshments are included. Cost is $9 adults, $7 youth ($6 adults, $5 youth, District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022. To register, visit www.sspr.org or call 303-347-5999.
SATURDAY
GPS and topographic maps class | The US Geological Survey is offering a class at 10:30 a.m. at the REI Denver Flagship store, 1416 Platte Street. Take your GPS and owner’s manual. Nine spare receivers are available for loan. Cost is $10. To register, call 303-756-3100.
University of Colorado Wizards show | “The Physics of Sports,” a free program by Physics professors Deborah Jin and John Bohn, will be at 9:30 a.m. in the Muezinger Psychology auditorium, room E050. For information, call 303-492-5011 or visit www.colorado.edu/physics/Web/wizards/cuwizards.html.
“Family fun” walk | A South Suburban Parks and Recreation naturalist will lead a walk at 2 p.m. in South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive and discuss “nature myths.” Cost is $ 9 adults, $7 youth ($6 adults, $5 youth District rate) family rate: $25 ($17 District rate). For information, call 303-730-1022, or to register, visit www.sspr.org or call 303-347-5999.
Animal eating program | “Get Stuffed,” a free program on what local wildlife eats, will be at 10 a.m. at the Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. To register, call 303-739-2428.
(Nov. 19)
Guided bird walk | Naturalist Doris Cruze will lead a bird walk at 8 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. Take a bird book and binoculars if you have them. Dress for the weather. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For information, call 303-973-3595.
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, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail to Scispeak@denverpost.com.
