CONTACT: Victoria Dinkel, Nature Center Interpretive Program Coordinator, 719-520-6767, victoriadinkel2@elpasoco.com
FOR IN PERSON COVERAGE OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS CONTACT: Jessica Miller, Nature Center Supervisor, 719-499-4923, jessicamiller@elpasoco.com
ONLINE REGISTRATION: available at https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/nature-centers/
Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817; 719-520-6745; www.elpasocountynaturecenters.com
Nature Adventures: Fabulous Frogs?
Friday, May 3, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Children ages 3-6, with an adult, will enjoy puppet shows or stories, crafts, hands-on activities, and discovery time on the trail. Prepaid registration required. $3 per person including siblings and adults.
Fountain Creek Family Fun Day
Saturday, May 4, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Explore outdoor activity stations including dinosaur fossils, bug sweeps, kite making, pond critters, crafts, and more. Free slice of pizza for all participants from Papa Murphy’s. Reservations recommended. $5 per person/$4 per member/Free to active-duty military families.
2’s & 3’s Outdoors: The Five Senses
Friday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Explore nature with your 2 or 3-year-old through interactive activities, a story, and a short hike. Prepaid registration required. $3 per person including siblings and adults.
Spring Bird Count
Saturday, May 11, 7:00-11:00 a.m.
Beginning to advanced birders count and record the numbers of bird species and populations found in Fountain Creek Regional Park during the height of spring migration. $5 donation recommended per participant to support our bird feeders.
Sixth Annual Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival
Thursday-Sunday, May 16-19
Discover new birds when you register for the local festival that promotes conservation and education, building upon the natural and agricultural heritage resources of the Pikes Peak Region. Choose from over 30 field trips and activities. Register at www.pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org.
Community Science: Butterfly Monitoring
Saturday, May 25, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Calling all community scientists! Want to learn more about butterflies and how you can contribute to the conservation of these important pollinators? A Lepidopterist from the Denver Butterfly Pavilion will show us how to identify different butterflies and survey our site. Afterwards we will focus on larval populations and breeding sites of the Monarch butterfly – a candidate for the Endangered Species Act that passes through our Milkweed Meadow annually. Bring plenty of water and a lunch. $FREE. Email victoriadinkel2@elpasoco.com to register.
Homeschool Fridays: Awesome Arthropods
Friday, May 31, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Not “bugs”, arthropods! Learn about insects, spiders, and some of their other creepy crawly relatives with a puppet show, arthropod activity, and a guided hike to catch wild arthropods. Designed for grades K-2. Prepaid registration required. $4 per person.