Nature Hikes and Programs

Natural Selections is our ongoing series of educational programs on topics including ecology, wildlife, local history, night hikes, children’s programs, plus many more. All programs are free and open to the public. Please do not bring dogs.

Do you want Natural Selections sent to you by e-mail? Join our mailing list! Follow this link to subscribe. In the drop-down menu, choose "Natural Selections." You will receive a weekly notice about upcoming programs. We will not share your email address.

Teachers, scout troops and community groups can obtain free individual programs from Open Space and Mountain Parks naturalists. Follow this link to learn more.

Do you have questions about the plants, animals, rocks, or history of Open Space & Mountain Parks?   Ask Coyote Bob!

Great resources and ideas for families to Connect Kids to Nature - visit the web page or  download the brochure .

Watch a video about Natural Selections hikes!

January

Nature For Kids and Parents:  Winter Wonderland Photo Safari
Sun Jan 29, 1-3 pm
Nature in winter is a season of quiet, hidden mysteries: if you learn to look closely, there is so much going on.  Join city of Boulder volunteer naturalist Debora Martin on a photographic fantasy.  Bring a camera or journal for documenting those special shots before they melt away forever. Meet at the Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge (map search "Lehigh Street and Lafayette Street, Boulder, CO" where Lehigh and Lafayette Streets intersect - park along the street) for an easy hike on Shanahan Ridge Trail.  Ages 6 and up.

February

Flatiron Freddy!
Thurs Feb 2, 7:30 – 8 am   Ground Hog day!
Join city of Boulder OSMP Rangers for a celebration of Ground Hog Day and a short hike/program. Hike the Chautauqua trail a few hundred yards to meet Freddy and see if his shadow appears. We will learn how the stars above have something to do with this day and why a real ground hog would never see his shadow in Colorado. We will also find out more about groundhogs and their relatives. Meet at Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Free morning treats and coffee!  Please dress warmly and leave dogs at home.

Snow, Trees, and Furry Mammals! Sun Feb 5 – times vary:
1:00 to 1:30  Stories for ages 2 to 4
1:35 to 1:50  Nature Detective Scavenger Hike
2:00 to 2:30  Stories for ages 4 to 6
Join naturalist Ellen Orleans for story time at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. This lively reading features colorful picture books and a chance for children to join in the fun with noises, rhymes, and their own observations. Two story times options offer different books for different age groups, but all children (and adults!) are welcome at both sessions. Our nature scavenger hike gives children the chance to look, listen, and touch as we hike an easy path nearby.

Mid-Winter Music  (Meadow Music's chilly twin!)
Sun Feb 12, 1-2:30pm
Join Open Space and Mountain Parks Naturalists Mark, Paige and Jeff for our first ever mid-winter outdoor music program! We'll take a short hike in search of our animal of the week followed by an outdoor nature concert in the Chautauqua Rock Garden honoring the winter season. We'll conclude with free hot cocoa in the Ranger Cottage. This will be an outdoor event, whatever the weather. Come prepared with warm clothes, a chair/tarp to sit atop and a mug for hot cocoa. Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage.

Nature For Kids and Parents:  Great Horned Owls
Sun Feb. 19, 1-3 pm
Does the dead of winter sound like a good time for a bird to sit on the nest?  It does if you’re a Great-horned Owl!  In order to find a mate and establish territory, Great-horned Owls do more hooting in the winter than any other time.  Learn how to hoot like an owl and try it out some winter night in your backyard.  They might hoot back or fly over to check whoooooo's in the neighborhood.  Find out why owls are so cool with volunteer naturalist Debora Martin on an easy hike on Enchanted Mesa/Kohler Trail.  Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage.  Please dress for the weather, and be prepared for icy spots on the trail. Ages 6 and up.

Cliff-Nesting Raptors in the Flatirons
Thu Feb 23, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Every year from February to July, the Flatirons are home to spectacular residents. Join Ranger Rick Hatfield for a presentation on the city of Boulder's management plan for the observation and preservation of falcons and eagles in the Flatirons. Learn about the natural histories of peregrine and prairie falcons and golden eagles as well as how you can get involved in the program. The Access Fund will also be present with information on the work they do to conserve the climbing environment and keep other climbing areas open. Meet at the REI Community Room (1789 28th St Boulder).

Nature For Kids and Parents:  Wildlife In Winter
Sun Feb 26,  1-3 pm
Animals survive the winter using their unique adaptations.  Do you ever wonder what it would be like?  Choose the animal you want to be and investigate how it copes with the cold.  By the end of this nature hike with volunteer naturalist Debora Martin , you will know all about their keen survival skills, and more! Meet at the Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge (map search "Lehigh Street and Lafayette Street, Boulder, CO" where Lehigh and Lafayette Streets intersect - park along the street), for an easy hike and games.  Please dress for the weather, and be prepared for icy spots on the trail. Ages 6 and up.

March

Nature For Kids and Parents:  Turn On The Senses!
Sun March 18, 1-3 pm
Hike through the meadow with volunteer naturalist Debora Martin using our senses.  We'll go on a scavenger hunt into the beautiful pines and play games!  Let's have some fun, and meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage for an easy hike on Bluebell-Baird.  Ages 6 and up.

Deep Survival - Prepare Mind & Body for Any Situation
Fri March 23, 6:30 – 8 pm
Join Ranger Dave Gustafson, for this discussion and slideshow based on Laurence Gonzales’s book “Deep Survival.” It is being used for training by the US Navy, wild land firefighters, police departments, emergency responders and other agencies. Learn how to prepare your mind for the worst of any situation. Find out how your body and mind react in a high stress situation and what you can to do to help stay in control. We will also look at the types of emergencies most common on Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. Meet at the REI Community Room (1789 28th St Boulder).

Snakes Alive!
Friday March 30 at 6:30 PM
Have you ever wondered how a snake moves, eats, or sheds it skin?  Are snakes slimy?  Do they have bones?  Do they really bite their tail and roll down a hill?  Come learn the truth about snakes and explore their amazing world with the Center for Snake Conservation.  In addition, learn to identify Colorado’s snakes, what you may see on your hikes, and the benefit these snakes provide humans and natural ecosystems.  This is a hands-on program to discover the fascinating habits and adaptations of snakes in a safe (for the snakes of course) and educational environment.  Meet at the REI Community Room (1789 28th St Boulder).

Sawhill Ponds Boulder Valley Ranch - Sage Trailhead Chautauqua Ranger Cottage Flagstaff Summit South Boulder Creek West Bobolink Doudy Draw Foothills Trailhead Gregory Canyon Marshall Mesa Realization Point NCAR Wonderland Lake arts Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge Lefthand Trailhead South Mesa Trailhead

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 14:22