VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Plant conservation | The city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department needs volunteers to help the Native Plant Conservation Team. Volunteers work together with OSMP staff on Friday mornings, assisting with a variety of plant related projects. The program starts in April. For more information or to apply for the program, visit osmp.org or call 720-564-2012 or 720-564-2084.
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.
Colorado Trail Foundation | The Colorado Trail Foundation needs volunteers to do trail work and other volunteer tasks. Trail work happens from June to August and work events are from a single day to a week long. For information, visit coloradotrail.org.
Bird observatory | The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory needs volunteers to teach educational programs at Barr Lake State Park and Dinosaur Ridge through 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 between now and June. Contact Amanda Morrison, Assistant Education Director at 303-659-4348, ext. 6# or via e-mail at Amanda.Morrison@rmbo.org.
Transportation safety expo | Volunteers are needed for a special event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 21 at The Forney Museum of Transportation, 4303 Brighton Blvd. The Museum is hosting a variety of safety agencies at a Transportation Safety Expo. Volunteers will be giving directions, counting, answering questions, and manning booths during lunch breaks. Lunch will be provided. One two-hour training session is required prior to the Expo. Call Beverly weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 303-297-1113.
Trail work | Trails 2000 builds and maintains trails and educates trail users. Volunteers are needed to do trailwork. To sign up for details and weekly trailwork reminders, sign up for Trail 2000’s EList at trails2000.org.
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 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
Bat program for kids | City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Ranger Naturalist Burton Stoner will enact the story of the fruit bat, Stellaluna, at 10 a.m. at the Foothills Nature Center, 4201 N. Broadway. The program is designed for children ages three to 10. For information, visit osmp.org or call 303-441-3440.
Guided bird walk | Volunteer Naturalist Doris Cruze will lead a bird walk at 8 a.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.
WEDNESDAY
Dinosaur program | “Dinosaurs of the Front Range,” a program by Jeff Stephenson, Zoology Collections Manager for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, will be at 7 p.m. at the Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St. Cost is $5 adult, $3 child. Register by calling 720-898-7405.
THURSDAY
Live astronomer talk | “Colorado Skies: Spring Skies,” a program by the University of Colorado’s Matt Benjamin, 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 .
HVAC systems discussion | “HVAC Systems for Dummies (and Smarties!) Part II,” a free roundtable discussion offered by the Boulder Green Building Guild, will be at 5 p.m. at Sherpas, 825 Walnut St., Boulder. Register at info@bgbg.org with “HVAC for dummies and smarties” in the subject line.
FRIDAY
Star show | “Cosmic Collisions,” a program exploring the way impacts shape our Earth’s neighborhood, 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 .
SATURDAY
Family astronomy program | “Kids in Space,” a program exploring our solar system, 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 .
Denver Botanic Gardens free day | Colorado residents with valid identification are admitted at no cost from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St. For information, call 720-865-3500.
Family astronomy show | “Stars and Lasers,” a program about the night sky, with music and fun in laser light, will be at 3:15 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 .
Home energy makeover program | “Create Your Own Home Energy Makeover Workshop and Home Tour,” will be at 9 a.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center15151 E. Alameda Parkway, and covers energy audits, insulation and air leakage, air flow, energy efficient heating and air conditioning and more. The home tour will be of one winning home from the Xcel Energy Makeover Contest. For information, visit smartenergyliving.org.
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.
