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 greet patrons in the Welcome Center, serve as sales staff in the Museum Store,help in Facilities Maintenance with upkeep on the WWII-era hangar, instill in kids of all ages the thrill of aviation and flight as a tour guide,and to work on restoring the aircraft collection.For more information, visit www.wingsmuseum.org, or contact Volunteer Coordinator Susan Darigo at volunteer@wingsmuseum.org or 303-360-5360, ext. 111.
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. Contact RMFI at 719-471-7736 or e-mail rmfibox@qwest.net for information.
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. the first and third Fridays monthly 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
Nature walk | Explore the Cooley Lake wildlife area during a free naturalist-guided walk at 9:30 a.m. at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. Call 303-730-1022 to register.
MONDAY
Archaeology program | December is “Members’ Night at the Denver Chapter meeting. Members will give presentations on archaeological places they have visited. There will also be a silent auction. Meet at 7 p.m. in Sturm Hall, room 154, on the University of Denver campus. For information, call Red Couts at 303-752-4044 or visit www.coloradoarchaeology.org/Denver/index.htm.
TUESDAY
Climate modeling program | “Climate Modeling of the 20th and 21st Centuries, a free program, will be at noon at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. Take a lunch. Register by calling 303-384-6565. For information, visit www.nrel.gov/visitors_center/.
Passive solar design workshop | “Passive Solar Design: What You Need to Know,” a program by Paul Kriescher, a principal with Lightly Treading Energy and Design, a Denver based consulting company specializing in passive solar design, will discuss the vital energy-savings and added comfort that comes from wise passive solar design at 6 p.m. at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. Cost is $10 at the door; Smart Energy Living/CRES members are free. To register, visit www.smartenergyliving.org, e-mail workshops@energyscience.org or call 303-216-2026, ext. 150.
Denver Café Scientifique | “What’s all the Hullabaloo over Dying Aspen Groves?” a free talk by Wayne Shepperd, Research Silviculturist for the US Forest Service, will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercantile Room at the Wynkoop Brewery, 1638 18th St. For information, visit http://cafescicolorado.org.
WEDNESDAY
Guided bird walk | Naturalists Paul and Phoebe Thayer will lead a bird walk at 9 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. To register, call 303-973-3595.
Mars program | See the IMAX film “Roving Mars,” and hear a from Jim Bell, a lead scientist on the Mars rover mission at 7 p.m. at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Phipps IMAX Theater, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Cost is $12 member, $15 nonmember. For information, visit www.dmns.oorg/main/en/.
FRIDAY
Fact or Fiction Friday | A free game show like atmosphere provides a chance for participants to test their knowledge of Aurora’s local flora and fauna. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. To register, call 303-739-2428.
SATURDAY
Deer program | This free program involves the deer living in Aurora and their natural history. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. To register, call 303-739-2428.
Winter stroll | Take a winter stroll down the Fountain Valley Trail, then warm up with hot cocoa, warm cider and holiday treats at the nationally registered historic home of Henry Persse between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. For information, call 303-973-3595.
Decorate for wildlife event | Make holiday decorations to attract wildlife to your yard and help decorate the Nature Center at 2 p.m. at South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive. Cost is $9 adults, $7 youth; ($6 adults, $5 youth District rate); family rate is $25; ($17 District rate). Call 303-730-1022 for information. Register at www.sspr.org or at 303-347-5999.
Dec. 17
Nature movie | A free nature movie will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road. Popcorn will be provided. 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, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail to Scispeak@denverpost.com.
