VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Park ranger assistant training | Larimer County is training people to be park ranger assistants at area parks in May. Training at Horsetooth Reservoir will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 5 at the Sail and Saddle Club; training for volunteers to be park ranger assistants at Carter Lake will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 21 at the Bison Visitor Center. To register, e-mail Dutch Fla Havhan at dflahavhan@larimer.org or call 970-679-4552.
Botanical gardens | Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., needs volunteers for its 58th annual plant sale in May. Both morning and afternoon shifts are available on May 12 and 13. Volunteer benefits include a ten percent discount on plant sale purchases, a free t-shirt, free refreshments and lunch. For information, e-mail volcoord@botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3565.
Trail guides | The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks needs trail guides to visit trailheads and hike trails on OSMP lands six-10 hours per month, providing visitors with information on area features, seasonal changes and local and natural history. Free classroom and field training is provided in four sessions. For information, visit osmp.org or call 720-579-4161.
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.
Trail work | 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.
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 help with youth and adult education programs offered by the Museum’s Education Department. Volunteers conduct tours, assist with hands-on activities, teach in the flight simulator lab and conduct our Project Pilot course. Project Pilot is a team-building course in which students learn the basics of flight planning and then fly a mission in the Museum’s Flight Simulator Lab. Wings offers progressive training for all of these volunteer positions. Aviation experience is a plus, but is NOT required. Contact the Education Department at 303-360-5360, ext. 106 or 116, or education@wingsmuseum.org for information.
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.
Xeriscape garden | Volunteers are needed at the Aurora Water Xeriscape Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. For information, contact Abby Schreiber via e-mail at aschreib@ci.aurora.co.us or at 303-739-7356.
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 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information, visit thedas.org, or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Spring “Eagle Watch” program | Larimer County Parks and Open Lands will be conducting an Eagle Watch program each weekend through this spring. Park rangers will lead a four-mile, round-trip hike through spring flowers and vast panoramas of Eagle’s Nest Open Space to the viewing location. With the aid of a telescope, you will be able to see one of the adults sitting on the cliff face nest hundreds of feet above the North Fork of the Poudre River. Soon, participants will be able to see fuzzy heads of the chicks appear as the adults bring the food. May through June, you can see the chicks grown larger and change to dark plumage, and even learn to stretch their wings and practice flight. The first “Eagle Watch” program will be at 10 a.m. May 5. Meet at the Eagle’s Nest Open Space trail head, one mile south of Livermore. Register by calling Park Manager Charles Gindler at 970-498-5606 or e-mail cgindler@larimer.org. After registering, you will be called or e-mailed with a date and time to meet at the Eagle’s Nest Open Space trail head for a hike to the viewing site. For more information, visit larimer.org/parks.
Guided flowerbed tours | Denver Parks and Recreation will host five guided flowerbed tours throughout the summer focused on perennials, annuals and new features at City Park. Park horticultural experts will guide the tours. Each tour is $15 for adults, $7 for seniors 60 and older and youth 17 and younger. Tour costs include transportation, refreshments and a small gift. Register for the tours by calling 720-913-0700.
Wildflower tours | The Denver Botanic Gardens is offering free wildflower tours on Mount Goliath Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 19 through Aug. 2, and Saturdays June 30, and July 7 and 28. The hike is a moderately difficult 1.5 mile downhill trek, and is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and leaves from the US Forest Services Clear Creek Visitor Center in Idaho Springs. To register, call 720-865-3533.
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/.
Field ecology internship | Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory will host a field ecology internship for high school science teachers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18-29. The focus of the workshop will be ecological complexity. Participating teachers will work with Colorado State scientists on an authentic research project that can be transferred into high school classrooms. Participants will receive a $750 stipend. To apply, send your name, address, phone number, home and school e-mail addresses and a list of the current subjects you teach. Include a brief statement of how this training will be used in your classroom. Information must be on school letterhead; limit the application to one page. Send the application information to Kim Melville-Smith, NREL, 1499 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, 80523-1499. Deadline for registration is May 18. For information, contact Melville-Smith at 970-491-7715 or e-mail Kimberly.Melville-Smith@colostate.edu.
WEDNESDAY
Anthropology talk | “New International Cultural Treaties: Consequences for Anthropology and for Museums,” a free talk by Richard Kurin, Director of Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution, will be at 6 p.m. in the University of Denver’s Sturm Hall, Room 451, 2000 E. Asbury Ave. A reception will follow in Sturm Hall Room 286.
FRIDAY
Botanic Gardens at Chatfield free day | Colorado residents with valid identification are admitted at no cost from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. For information, call 720-865-3500.
Sigma Xi meeting | “Advances in Imaging Cellular Function: A Revolution in Cell Biology and Application to Endocrinology and Diabetes Research,” a talk by Joe Angleson, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, will be at 4 p.m. in F.W. Olin Hall, Room 105 on the DU campus.
SATURDAY
Ferret program | Metro District Park Ranger Megan Wilhite and US Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Paul Mariani from the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center will give a program on black-footed ferrets at 2 p.m. at the Metro District Parks, Recreation and Open Space Service Center, 3280 Redstone Park Circle. Cost is $6 residents, $7 non-residents. Three or more family members will receive $1 discount per person. To register, visit highlandsranch.org or call 303-791-2710.
City Greenhouse open house | The Denver City Greenhouse, 2500 East 23rd Ave., is having a free tour and open house from 10 a.m. to noon. The greenhouse produces over 205,000 plants for more than 630 flowerbeds across the city every year.
Guided hike | “Ravens Reign at the Devil’s Backbone,” a two-hour guided hike at the Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of Loveland, will be at 5 p.m. Volunteer naturalists will discuss ravens and some of the reasons that the Key Hole trail is closed during nesting season. Take lots of water, and dress for changing weather. Hike is rated “easy.” For information, call Ann Dewey at 970-679-4561.
Trail maintenance project | Volunteers are needed to help the Larimer County Horseman’s Association maintain Section 1 of the Devil’s Backbone trail from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take work gloves, water, sun screen, hiking gear and boots. Volunteers will be provided with tools, training, supervision, and a free lunch from Subway Sandwiches. To register and for directions, contact Dutch Fla Havhan at 970-679-4552 or e-mail dflahavhan@larimer.org.
Guided bird walk | A Metro District of Highlands Ranch Park Ranger will lead a bird watching expedition at 7 a.m. on the High Line Canal Trail. Cost is $6 resident, $7 non-resident. Three or more family members will receive a $1 discount per person. To register and for meeting location information, call 303-791-2710 or visit highlandsranch.org.
Dinosaur event | “Dinosaur Discovery Day,” a free public tour day with volunteer guides, will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. This tour day is also Boy Scout Day at Dinosaur Ridge, and there will be organized activities for scout groups. For information, visit dinoridge.org.
To publicize upcoming events geared toward and open to the public, please mail details at least two weeks in advance to Andrea Labak, Scientifically Speaking, The Denver Post, City Desk, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail to Scispeak@denverpost.com.
