ONGOING EVENTS
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 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Info: , or call 303-871-5172 for reservations.
Mining club | The Denver Mining Club is a free (except for purchase of lunch) weekly meeting each Monday except on holidays with a mining-related speaker. Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Country Buffet Restaurant, 8100 W. Crestline Ave., Littleton. Purchase of buffet lunch is required.
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 to 3 p.m. the first Saturday of each month to guide individuals and families through the free, hands-on experience. Info: 303-730-1022 or .
GPS, map and compass class | On the second Friday of every month through November, there is a free USGS GPS, Map and compass class at Building 810, Federal Center, Lakewood. Class schedule is: Map and Compass from 9 to 11 a.m. and GPS from noon to 4 p.m. Info/register: 303-202-4689 or e-mail gpsworkshops@usgs.gov.
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 programs | The Starsmore Discovery Center, at the entrance of North Cheyenne Canon at 2120 S. Cheyenne Road, has guided “wildlife tracks and signs” walks at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays on the Columbine Trail. Info: 719-385-6086.
Kids nature programs | Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton, offers “Kids Hour” programs at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 29. Kids can enjoy fun activities, stories and short nature hikes. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info/register: 303-973-3959.
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. with puppets, stories, activities and outdoor exploration. Info: 303-739-2428 or .
Nature activities | Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers a free program for Junior Rangers, “Black Canyon Wildlife Olympics,” between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays at the South Rim Visitor Center. Info: 970-249-1914, ext. 423.
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.
Nocturnal nature program | “Nature at Night,” a free program, is at 6:30 p.m. the third Friday of each month at Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora. Info/register: 303-739-2428.
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 .
Nature presentations | Garden of the Gods Park offers free daily nature presentations. For times and presentation topics, check the information kiosk at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs. Info: 719-634-6666.
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 .
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 .
Public viewing at observatory | The Sommers-Bausch Observatory on the University of Colorado Boulder campus is open to the public for stargazing (weather permitting) every Friday at 8 p.m. Info: 303-492-6732 or .
Junior naturalist program | Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton, offers a “junior naturalist” program for children. Kids can earn a Certificate of Completion or continue on for an official Junior Naturalist Patch. Two hikes are required for completion. Kids will use their artistic skills and gain knowledge of the outdoors in this program. Ask the Visitor Center for details. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Register: 303-973-3959.
Self-guided junior ranger program | North Cheyenne Canon Park, is offering a self-guided junior ranger program. Young rangers between the ages of 8 and 12 can earn “Steward Level” badges using Junior Ranger booklets which may be picked up from either the Starsmore Discovery Center, at the entrance of North Cheyenne Canon, 2120 S. Cheyenne Road, (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday) or at the Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center, 4075 N. Cheyenne Canon Road,(9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Sundays). Young Rangers receive a booklet, pencil, patch and certificate of completion. Cost is $5 per person. Info: 719-385-6086 or .
Junior ranger activity | Colorado National Monument in Fruita is unveiling a new Junior Ranger activity booklet for kids ages 5-12. The booklet is available at the CNM Visitor Center. Once kids have completed the required activities (usually takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete), they can return to the visitor center where a park ranger reviews their work and awards them an official Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Info: 970-858-3617 or .
Kids nature program | “Animal Art and Awesome Activities,” an animal-related art and activity program for kids ages 6-10, is from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month at the Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. Cost is $10/class. There is a $2 discount if registering for at least three sessions. Register: 720-898-7405.
Nature activities | Curecanti National Recreation Area, between Montrose and Gunnison on Highway 50, offers two free programs: “Saturday Night Sky Programs,” featuring astronomy when the moon is small and moonlight hikes at the Dillon Pinnacles when the moon is full or nearly so; and “Junior Ranger” programs for kids every Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Elk Creek Visitor Center. Info: 970-641-2337, ext. 205.
Kids nature program | “Nature Adventures,” a free parent/child program for kids ages 4-6 and parents, is at 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the Majestic View Nature Center, 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. Nature Center Specialist Dean Bernard tells stories and leads nature activities and games. Register: 720-898-7405.
Mineral group | The Rocky Mountain Micromineral Association, a new mineral group, will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of each month at the Colorado School of Mines Museum. The group is informal, with no dues, officers or newsletter. Microscopes and free microminerals are available at the meetings. Info: contact Richard Parsons, 303-838-8859 or Richard.parsons@att.net.
Self-guided homestead tours | Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. Highway 83, Franktown, has a new one-fourth-mile trail and self-guided booklet that takes visitors on a tour of Park’s old homestead and its out-buildings. The trail booklet is available at the homestead and the Visitor Center. Info: 303-688-5242.
Guided walks | Garden of the Gods Park, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs, offers free daily guided walks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meet at the north main parking lot trail head. Take water, and wear sturdy shoes and a jacket. Info: 719-634-6666.
TODAY
Historic home open house | A Volunteer Naturalist will lead a tour of the historic home of Henry Persse off the Fountain Valley Trail at 2 p.m. in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Info: 303-973-3959.
MONDAY
Museum free day | The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001Colorado Blvd., is offering free admission to Colorado residents today, made possible in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Separate admission fees still apply for Phipps IMAX Theater and Gates Planetarium. Info: or 303-322-7009.
State of the Rockies | Speaker Series talk “Where’s the Beef? Trade-offs Between Grass-fed and Industrial Livestock,” a free talk by Rosamond Lee Naylor, director of the Program of Food Security and the Environment, will be at 7 p.m. at Colorado College, Gates Common Room, third floor of Palmer Hall, 1025 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs. This talk is the third installment in the State of the Rockies Speaker Series: “Food and Agriculture in the Rockies.” Info: 719-389-6607 or visit .
TUESDAY
Earth/space/time program | “Life Out There,” a program by David Grinspoon, Curator of Astrobiology, and Ka Chun Yu, Curator of Space Science, will be at 7 p.m. in the Gates Planetarium at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. The program is presented with support from the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Cost is $12 members, $15 nonmembers. Info: or 303-322-7009.
General Palmer talk | Park Volunteers Jan and Ken Hardison will give a free presentation, “Christmastime with General Palmer,” on the historic figure who shaped Garden of the Gods future. The presentation will be at noon in the Red Rocks Room of the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs. Register: 719-219-0108.
Book signing and talk | Ian Plimer, author and geologist, will discuss and sign his book, “Heaven and Earth: Global Warming, the Missing Science,” at 7:30 p.m. at the LoDo Tattered Cover Bookstore, 1628 16th St. Info: 303-436-1070.
WEDNESDAY
Boulder Green Building Guild | Commercial Brown Bag Series talk “Making Green Tenant Finish Affordable – Utilizing Green Leases and Other Strategies,” will be the topic discussed at 11:30 a.m. in the in the Community Room at REI, 1789 28th St., Boulder. Take a sack lunch if desired. Cost is free for members, $20 nonmembers. Register: .
Guided photography walk | Paul deGerjeois, scenic photo artist, will lead a 2-mile off-road hike at 4:30 p.m. at Garden of the Gods. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and take any camera from a cell phone to DSLR. Tri-pod and polarizing filter area also suggested. The hike is appropriate for photographers of all ability levels. Meet in the Red Rocks Room at Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs. Register: 719-219-0108.
THURSDAY
Photography hike | Naturalist and long-time photographer Derald Hoffman will lead a 2-hour photo-hike for digital camera enthusiasts at 9 a.m. Learn the best creative mode positions for using your digital camera. Meet at the Visitor Center in Roxborough State Park, 4751 N. Roxborough Drive, Littleton. Take drinking water, wear sunscreen and dress for the weather. A $6 daily State Parks pass is required for all vehicles entering the park. Register/info: 303-973-3959.
Charles Darwin program | “An Evening With Charles Darwin,” a program by John Steinle, director at Hiwan Homestead Museum in Evergreen, will be at 7 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St. Cost is $10 members, $13 nonmembers. Register: . Info: 720-865-3585.
Train history program | “The Colorado Midland: A Train Ride,” a free talk by Mel McFarland, will be at 7 p.m. at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 N. Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs. Info/register: or 719-488-0880.
Environmental film festival | The 4th annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival will be Nov. 5-7 at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden. Info: .
FRIDAY
Free day | The Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, is giving free admission to Colorado residents from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: or 303-973-3705.
Nuclear energy talk | Clean Energy America speakers will give a talk “The Nuclear Energy Industry’s Role in Light of Kerry and Boxer’s Willingness to Negotiate with Republicans on the Expansion of Nuclear Power,” at 4:30 p.m. at Olin Hall, room 105, on the University of Denver campus.
Mineral, fossil and gem show | A “Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show” will be Nov. 6-8 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave. Service Road, Golden. The show features mineral crystals, fossils, jewelry, gemstones and cutting rough, and sixteen dealers. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 8. Admission is free.
SATURDAY
Birds of Prey classes | Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, 720B E. Vine Drive, Fort Collins, is offering a series of three “Birds of Prey” classes. The classes will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7, 14 and 21. Session one examines bird anatomy and physiology, and birds do what they do. Courtship, breeding, population trends, migration, and environmental issues will be discussed. Session two explores individual species habitats and identification of hawks (buteos and accipiters), falcons, harriers, eagles, and owls. Photographs and live raptors will help participants identify Colorado’s raptors. Session 3 features a raptor-watching field trip covering a variety of nesting habitats throughout northern Colorado. Trip focuses on how and where to observe birds of prey and field identification of birds in local areas. Cost is $60 per class or $160 for all three classes. Register: 970-484-7756, e-mail info@rmrp.org or visit .
Presentation and book signing | W. John Kress, curator of botany and research scientist at the Smithsonian National Museum Natural History, and photographer Jonathan Singer will discuss and sign their book, “Botanica Magnifica,” at 10 a.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St. Info: 720-865-3585.
Nov. 8
Sand Creek Massacre program | “The Life and Times of Making Medicine,” a program about Making Medicine, a Cheyenne warrior and buffalo hunter who was a teenage witness to the Sand Creek Massacre, will be at 1 p.m. at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Eads. Info: 719-469-0543 or 719-729-3003.
To publicize upcoming science events geared toward and open to the public, 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 Scispeak@denverpost.com.
