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El Paso County’s Fountain Creek Nature Center and Bear Creek Nature Center announce the events and activities for September 2019 which includes: birds, bears, bugs, and Creek Week.

Fountain Creek Nature Center

320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817

719-520-6745, www.ElPasoCountyNatureCenters.com

Fountain Creek Nature Adventures: “Treemendous” Trees

September 5, 9-10:30 a.m.

Children ages 3-6, with an adult, will enjoy puppet shows or stories, crafts, hands-on activities, and discovery time on the trail. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Prepaid reservations required.

Volunteer Environmental Education Leader Training

Thursday, Friday, September 5 & 6, 12:00-4:00 p.m.

Become a volunteer Environmental Education leader for field trip programs at Fountain Creek Nature Center. Application & interview required. Learn our techniques and programs for connecting students to the wetlands and surrounding ecosystems. You’re sure to make a positive impact on the students! Contact Paula at 719-520-6745 or bcfcvolunteers@gmail.com.

Birding for Beginners 101

Thursdays Classrooms: September 5 & 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday Field Trips: September 7 & 21, 7:30-10:30 a.m.

This series will teach beginning bird watchers the basics and develop skills in identifying birds by sight and sound. Prepaid registration required. $50/member, $65/nonmember.

2’s & 3’s Outdoors: Things That Smell

September 12, 9-10:15 a.m.

Explore nature with your 2 or 3 year-old through interactive activities, a story, and a short hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Prepaid reservations required.

Homeschool Fridays: Awesome Arthropods

Friday, September 13, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Not “bugs”—arthropods! Learn about insects, spiders, and their relatives with a puppet show, arthropod activity, and guided hike to catch arthropods. Geared towards grades K-2. $4 per person, 15 participants minimum; participants can join with other homeschool groups. Prepaid reservations required.

Fall Bird Count

Saturday, September 14, 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Help record the number of bird species and populations found in Fountain Creek Regional Park during fall migration. $5/person donation.

Creek Week Kickoff

Saturday, September 28, 8:30 a.m.

Kickoff this clean up at Fountain Creek Nature Center! Bring your community group to meet “Stan the Can” and clean up waterways or remove invasive species. Select any date, time and location during this week. Register at www.fountaincreekweek.com.

Bear Creek Nature Center

245 Bear Creek Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

719-520-6387, www.ElPasoCountyNatureCenters.com

Honey Harvest Extraction Demonstration

Saturday, September 7, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Watch beekeepers harvest honey from hives, see bees in action in their observation hive, and learn about the importance of bees and other pollinators. Activities, crafts, samples of honey and local honey available for purchase. $1 per person donation suggested.

Volunteer Field Trip Leader Training

Thursday & Friday, September 12 & 13, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Train to become an Environmental Education leader for school field trip programs at Bear Creek Nature Center. After application and interview, learn our techniques and programs for connecting students to the foothills and surrounding ecosystems.

Contact Paula at 520-6387 or bcfcvolunteers@gmail.com.

Active Adults: An Evening of Native American Flute Music

Friday, September 13, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of Native American flute music; both live and recorded. Hear Native American legends of the origins of the flute. Learn about their design and what makes them unique from other styles of flute. Light snacks provided.

Prepaid registration required. $5 per member/ $6 per nonmember.

Webelos Scout Day

Saturday, September 14

Register for interactive sessions led by trained guides to earn badges for:

Arrow of Light Adventures

Into the Woods – 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Into the Wild – 11:00-1:00 p.m.

Earth Rocks! – 1:30-3:30 p.m.

$4 per badge per scout. Limited space.

Prepaid registration required.

Same Tree Different Day

Tuesday, September 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Colorado Springs photographer, Mike Pach, photographed a tree behind his home every day for a year and learned many lessons which he will share to inspire you to increase your awareness, develop good habits and reach your goals. Breathtaking audio-visual presentation. $4 per member/ $5 per nonmember.

Nature Explorers: Bugs for Lunch

Wednesday, September 18, 9-10:30 a.m. & 1-2:30 p.m.

Children, ages 4-5 with an adult, will enjoy hands-on activities, puppet shows or stories, crafts, and a hike. Accompanying siblings under 2 free. $3 per person including siblings & adults. Prepaid registration required.

Aiken Audubon Monthly Program: Topic TBD

Wednesday, September 18, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Free monthly Aiken Audubon meeting and educational program. Free and open to the public. Call 719-520-6387 for topic. Social and refreshments at 6:30 p.m.

Little Wonders: Amazing Acorns

Wednesday, September 25, 9-10:15 a.m. & 1-2:15 p.m.

$3 per person including siblings & adults. Discover the world of nature with your 2 or 3 year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. Prepaid registration required.

Pikes Peak Mycological Society Program: Topic TBD

Wednesday, September 25, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Learn more about the fascinating world of fungi with the Pikes Peak Mycological Society.

Free!

Becoming Bear Aware

Saturday, September 28, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Learn to live in peace with our bear-y hungry neighbors. Join us for an interactive discussion and short hike to discover fun facts about bears, look for the clues they leave behind, and learn how you can help to create a community that is safe for humans and bears alike. Prepaid registration required.

$3 per member, $4 per nonmember.