VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Raptor monitors | The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department needs volunteers for the raptor monitor program at Boulder Reservoir. Monitors should be able to work independently and should own binoculars. Skilled birders are preferred, but some identification training will be provided for beginners. Responsibilities include monitoring, observing, and documenting nests, wildlife closures, and surrounding areas for birds of prey, reporting significant events, and assisting with educating the public. Commitment is flexible but would preferably be from one to four hours on a weekly basis, through September. For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Mary Malley at 303-413-7245 or visit bouldercolorado.gov/parks-recreation.
Bird observatory | The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory needs volunteers to teach educational programs at Barr Lake State Park and Dinosaur Ridge between March and June. Training will be provided in specific program-content and teaching techniques. Programs are approximately 2 hours in length and occur in the morning. Eligible volunteers should be able to commit to 20 hours from March-June. Contact Amanda Morrison, Assistant Education Director at 303-659-4348, ext. 6# or via e-mail at Amanda.Morrison@rmbo.org.
Trail work | Trails 2000 builds and maintains trails and educates trail users. Volunteers are needed to do trailwork beginning in March. To sign up for details and weekly trailwork reminders, sign up for Trail 2000’s EList at trails2000.org.
Arches National Park | Arches National Park, in Moab, Utah, needs volunteers to work with park rangers either from early March to Mid-June or from early June to September-October. Volunteers typically work a five-day, 40-hour week after rigorous training. Volunteers work in the new visitor center, lead walks and hikes, prepare and deliver evening campground presentations, interact informally with visitors on tails and occasionally undertake special projects. All volunteer work is overseen by Park rangers, who offer their expertise and guidance. Volunteers receive free housing, uniforms and a small stipend. Visit nps.gov/arch, including the information under “Support Your Park”; then e-mail sharon_brussell@nps.gov.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 thedas.org, or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Kids wildlife storytime | Volunteer Naturalists will read wildlife stories for children ages 2 years and older at 10:30 a.m. Fridays, March 2, 16, 23 and 30, 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.
Nature movies | Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road, offers a free nature movie, popcorn and hands-on projects at 2 p.m. the 3rd Sunday monthly. To register, 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 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 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 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 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 .
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 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 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 colorado.edu/fiske/.
Environmental internship | The Rocky Mountain Field Institute is offering internships to select undergraduate students to participate in its Earth Corps program. The 2007 internships will provide key support for the completion of high-altitude restoration projects on Pikes Peak and near the summits of Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak. The internships will be 30 days in length. At the completion of the internship, each student will receive 4 hours of credit from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. To apply, contact RMFI at 719-471-7736 or e-mail. Application cost is $25, non-refundable. Deadline for submittal is April 7; however outstanding applicants will be awarded internships in advance of the deadline. Final decisions will be announced by April 14.
TODAY
Energy open house | The Colorado School of Mines is hosting an open house showcasing the energy research and physics education activities being conducted in Colorado from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to visit several research facilities on the Mines campus including the Colorado Fuel Cell Center. For information, call 303-273-3321 or visit mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/APSCSMhome.html.
Energy lecture | “Energy, CO2 and Global Change: Technology Research for a Greenhouse World,” a talk by Franklin M. (Lynn) Orr, Jr., director of the Global Climate and Energy Project at Sanford University, will be at 7 p.m. in Friedhoff Hall in the Green Center, 924 16th St., Golden.
Air program and hike | Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown, is offering a program with air and oxygen experiments, followed by a short air hike. Meet Ranger Jim Looney at the 1 p.m. at the park’s Visitor Center. A $5 daily Sate Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. For reservations, call 303-688-5242.
MONDAY
National Space Society meeting | The Direct Launcher, a proposed launch vehicle to launch Orion, NASA’s successor to the space shuttle, will be the topic discussed at the free 7 p.m. meeting of the National Space Society in Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway. For information, call Bill Nelson at 303-330-2888.
WEDNESDAY
Antarctic program | View the IMAX film, “Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure,” and hear from producer Scott Swofford at 7 p.m. in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Phipps IMAX Theater, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Cost is $12 for members, $15 nonmembers. For information, call 303-322-7009 or 800-925-2250.
Map and compass basics class | REI is offering a clinic aimed at the newcomer using maps and compasses. Basics covered include understanding map symbols, orienting the map and compass, triangulation, declination adjustment and reading terrain features. Take your compass. Classes will be at 7 p.m. at the Boulder REI, 1789 28th Street, 303-583-9907 AND at the Lakewood REI, 5375 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, 303-932-0600.
Science and art program | “Science as Performance: A Proactive Strategy to Communicate and Educate Through Theater, Music and Dance,” a free presentation by Brian Schwartz, professor of physics and director of the “Science & Arts Series,” will be at 7:30 p.m. at the ATLAS Building Auditorium, Room 100, on the University of Boulder campus. For information, e-mail cuatlas@colorado.edu or call 303-735-4577.
THURSDAY
Live astronomer talk | “Birth of Stars and Planets,” a program by the University of Colorado’s Ben Brown, will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $5 student with valid ID, $3.50 for child/senior. For information, call 303-492-5001 or visit .
The program will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. March 9.
Ice Fest | A four-day public event, “Ice Fest,” in celebration of the launch of the International Polar Year, will be March 8-11 at the University of Colorado, Boulder, features talks, slideshows, films, science demonstrations and other family activities. All Ice Fest events are free except for films on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights. For information and a schedule of events, visit .
Kids nature program | “Critter Tales,” a program for kids ages 3-6, accompanied by a parent, will be at 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Volunteer Naturalist Linda Pohle will lead a scavenger hunt focusing on plants and animals in the park. For information, call 303-688-5242.
FRIDAY
Kids nature program | “Whoo’s For Dinner? Dissecting Owl Pellets,” a program led by Ranger Angel, will be at 10:30 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. For ages 8 years and older. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. To register, call 303-973-3959.
SATURDAY
Family astronomy show | “Space Storm,” a program exploring the Sun-Earth connection, sunspot cycles and solar flares, will be at 2 p.m. in the Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $5 adult, $3.50 child/senior. For information, call 303-492-5001 or visit .
Kids nature program | “Cartooning Animals,” a program for kids ages 6-10, focusing on different animals and their habitats, will be at 10 a.m. at Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St. Kids also get to make a project to take home. Cost is $10. To register, call 720-898-7405.
Wildlife hike | Volunteer Naturalist Helen Angel will lead a short walk at 1 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.
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.
