Volunteer Opportunities
Railroad museum The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden needs volunteers for ongoing projects throughout the summer and fall to work in the office, on the track crew, in restoration projects in the roundhouse, in the library and as tour guides. Contact: David Williams at 720 274-5147 or david @crrn.org.
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. Info: osmp or 720-579-4161.
Raptor program Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, based in Fort Collins, needs volunteers. RMRP encourages preservation of our environmental and cultural resources through excellence in raptor rehabilitation, community education and research. Info: 970-484-7756 or e-mail info@rmrp.org.
Museo de las Americas The Museo de las Americas is recruiting and training volunteers for art, programs and events. Contact Kristi Martens at 303-571-4401, ext. 28, or e-mail Kristi@ .
Hospice Trinity Hospice of Colorado needs volunteers to provide visits, companionship and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families. Contact Kathy McCune at 303-799-5096, or e-mail kathryn .mccune@trinityhospice.com.
Teddy Bear Project The ninth annual Teddy Bear Project needs volunteers to do independent collections of new and slightly used plush animals, any size, shape or color. Through Dec. 12, the drop-off site is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays at 3021 S. University Blvd. Info: 303-628-0477.
Elder care Total Longterm Care, a nonprofit that allows elders to live with dignity in the community for as long as possible, needs volunteers for its End of Life program. Volunteers would go into the home or other place of residence and be a companion for an individual who is experiencing end of life. Volunteers are thoroughly trained and given a great deal of support when they get started. Info: Barb Warner at 720-974-6003 or bwarner @totallong .
Medical relief Project C.U.R.E. delivers donated medical supplies and equipment to people in need of medical relief around the world. Project C.U.R.E. Corps needs groups of volunteers to sort items, load containers and for warehouse organization. Individual volunteers are needed to work as truck drivers, volunteer coordinators, couriers, sorting team leaders, and in procurement and general administration. Info: . or 303-792-0729.
Money management Seniors Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps people maximize their personal independence, needs volunteers for its Money Management Program — Bill Payer Service. After training, volunteers will go into the residences of low income disabled or elderly persons, at no cost, to assist them with organizing and paying their bills, balancing their checkbook and providing guidance on personal budgeting and related matter. Info: Tim Cusick at 303- 300-6933 or tcusick@seniorsinc.org.
Gift wrapping The Aurora Public Library needs volunteers from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24 to gift wrap books and other items purchased at Barnes & Noble, 170 S. Abilene St., at Aurora City Place shopping center. The gift-wrapping will be provided free of charge to customers. Customer donations for the services benefit the Aurora Public Library’s programs and collections. Weekend, evening and some day shifts are available. Info: 303-739-6580.
Coats for Colorado campaign Dependable Cleaners and KMGH-Channel 7 are accepting donated new and gently used coats through Nov. 30 at more than 30 Dependable Cleaners in the metro area or at upcoming special collection events. Future events will be Saturday and Nov. 10. Info: Patti Kingsbury at 303-777-2673, ext. 21 or .
English tutors The Colorado Refugee English as a Second Language program needs volunteers to teach English to recently-arrived refugees. Tutoring takes place in the student’s home. The next training date will be in early December. Info: Sharon McCreary at 720-423-4843 or sharon_mc
creary@dpsk12.org; or refugee-esl.org.
Limb preservation The Limb Preservation Foundation needs volunteers for the 2007 Saving Limbs and Lives – A Friend-Raising Breakfast event Oct. 31 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center. Volunteers are needed for event set-up from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.; event registration from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and as event hosts and hostesses from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Info: Martha Simmons at 303-217-0998 or martha@ .
Art museum The Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver is hosting summer training for prospective volunteers. Info: Becky Wareing at 303-298-7554 or beckyw@mcartdenver.org.
Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative BCWI needs volunteers to help with forums, to work on StreamTeams to protect local waterways, to write articles and take photographs, to help with general clerical duties and more. Info: KeepItCleanPartner . or 303-413-7365.
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 fall at Garden of the Gods. Info: RMFI at 719-471-7736 or rmfibox@qwest.net.
Morrison Museum The Morrison Natural History Museum, 501 Colorado 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. Info: 303-697-1873 or .
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. Info: 303-973-3959.
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. Info: Education Department at 303-360-5360, ext. 106 or 116, or education@ .
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 Department of Energy’s NREL Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. Info: Ivilina Thornton at 303-384-6566 or ivilina_thornton@nrel.gov.
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. Info: . or 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. Info: 303-697-3466 or .
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. Info: Volunteer Services Office, 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. Info: Sue Schafer, 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. Info: . or Kris Desmarais, 720-974-1868.
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. Info: ., or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
ONGOING
Wildlife program Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Road, is offering free hands-on wildlife programs led by park interpreters at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The program features mountain lions, black bears, hummingbirds, porcupines, common birds and other wildlife. An optional hike on the Columbine Trail will follow the talk.
River table Visit South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park, 3000 W. Carson Drive, the first Saturday of each month and manipulate a river in the 12-foot stainless steel river table. The table is filled with plastic sand and recirculating water powered by pumps that can be controlled by participants. Visitors can create a city landscape and see how natural river actions affect their creation. Naturalists are on hand from 2-3 the first Saturday of each month to guide individuals and families through the free, hands-on experience. Info: 303-730-1022 or .
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. Register: 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 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. with puppets, stories, activities and outdoor exploration. Info: 303-739-2428 or .
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 Sunday every month at 1:30 p.m. (There are NO November programs). Register: 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 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month. Register: 303-739-2428.
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. Info: 303-497-1174 or .
Renewable energy The U.S. 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. Info: . or 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 . 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. Info: 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. Info: 970-586-3262 or .
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 .
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. Info: 303-492-5002 or .
Nature programs and hikes “Rox-Revealed,” a program featuring naturalist-led programs and hikes, is at 11 a.m. Saturdays at Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info: 303-973-3959 or .
Wildlife program “North Cheyenne Cañon Wildlife,” a park interpreter-led program, will be at noon Saturdays and Sundays at Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S. Cheyenne Canon Road. An optional walk on the Columbine Trail will follow the talk. Info: 719-385-6086.
TODAY
Guided hike A guided hike to Stratton Open Space will start at 1 p.m. at the Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Road, Colorado Springs. Take water, rain gear, a hiking stick (optional) and a snack. Wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. Register: 719-385-6086.
“Trick or treat” nature hike The “tick or treat nature trail” at Morrison Nature Center and Star K Ranch features booths, and a scavenger hunt puzzle. Walk the trail between 1 and 4 p.m. at Morrison nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora. Info: 303-739-2428 or .
Raptor program HawkQuest is giving a live raptor program at noon at Bluff Lake Nature Center. Directions and info: 303-739-2428 or .
Geology hike Volunteer Naturalist Peter Loux will lead a 4-mile hike and discuss the rocks, cliffs, the creek and dam history in Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Event Facility Shelters. Take water. Register: 303-688-5242. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park.
MONDAY
Deer program “Roxborough Revealed — Roxborough’s Deer in the Fall,” a program by a volunteer naturalist, will be at 11 a.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive. A $5 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info: 303-973-3959 or .
Paleontology lecture and book signing “Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters,” a free lecture and book signing by author and paleontologist Donald Prothero, will be at 7 p.m. at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Ricketson Auditorium, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Info: 303-663-5868 or .
TUESDAY
Nature comedy program/book signing eventKevin Fitzgerald, veterinarian, TV star, comic and rattlesnake researcher, will take the stage for a night of comedy, “Snake, Rattle and Roar,” at 6 p.m. at the Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora. Special guests include Kirk Johnson, chief curator of the Museum of Nature & Science and Mary Ann Bonnell, lead naturalist for the City of Aurora. Bonnell and Johnson will be offering book signing for their book, “Gas Trees and Car Turds, a Kids Guide to the Roots of Global Warming.” Cost is $30. Register: 303-693-3621.
THURSDAY
Astronomy program “Moon Mineralogy Mapper,” a program by Joe Boardman of Analytical Imaging and Geophysics, will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Cost is $6 adult, $3.50 child/senior, free for students with valid ID. The program will be repeated Nov. 2. Student admission for Nov. 9 is $5 with valid ID. Info: . or 303-492-5002.
Kids nature program “Sharpen Your Senses,” a program with field and on-trail activities for kids ages 3-5 (with adult), will be at 9 a.m. in the Visitor Center at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info: 719-576-2251.
Environmental film festival The Colorado Environmental Film Festival, featuring world-class environmental films as well as topical forums and discussions, will be Nov. 1-3 at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden. Info: .
Energy efficiency class “Living Greener: Reducing Your Environmental Footprint,” offered by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, is a course designed to help you make your home more energy efficient, includes a field trip to watch a home undergoing an energy audit by an expert analyst from EnergyLogic. One course participant will win a free energy audit. Register: 303-322-7009.
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. Info: 720-865-3500.
SATURDAY
Kids evergreen program “Colorado Evergreens for Kids,” a program exploring the differences in Colorado evergreen trees, for children ages 8 and up, accompanied by an adult, will be at 1 p.m. at the Starsmore Discovery Center, 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Road. Cost is $2 per child. Register: 719-385-6086.
Global warming rally “Step It Up,” a free rally organized by students from Colorado College and concerned members of the Colorado Springs community, will be from noon to 3 p.m. at Rock Ledge Ranch at Garden of the Gods. The rally will feature speakers from Colorado College and from Colorado Springs, including professors and city council members who will discuss various topics such as the history of Colorado Springs, the city’s future and the need for environmental and political action. There will also be live music, an acclaimed storyteller and guided nature walks through Garden of the Gods. In addition, an organized bike ride will be leaving the Loomis dorm at Colorado College at noon to bike to the rally. Participants can purchase carbon offsets for personal greenhouse gas emissions and learn about and sign up for local and national organizations and initiatives. Take a picnic lunch if desired. For information, directions, or disability accommodation at the event, call 719-389-6607.
Nov. 4
Archaeology/art talk John Papadopoulos of UCLA will give a lecture about Piet de Jong, watercolor illustrator of ancient Greek sites, at 2 p.m. in the speaking hall of the Tattered Cover Bookstore, 16th and Wynkoop in LoDo. Info: .
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.
