2010 Schedule

1. #1) “Rainbows and Sunshine” – Mountain Weather June 14-17
   Learn about the water cycle and the importance of all the different weather we experience in Colorado’s high country. Get a better understanding of storms, rainbows & sunshine. We will also discuss the different ecosystems and climate zones found in the local area.
2. #2) “Food Factory” – Plants June 21-24
   Green things come in every size and shape. Take a close look at the variety in the Vail Valley. Discover how plants produce the food and oxygen everything else on earth consumes! Learn the different types and parts of plants. Explore a regenerating forest to see how a forest reacts to a fire or avalanche.
3. #3) “Interesting Insects” – Butterfly Pavilion June 28-July 1
   As the largest group of animals in the world, insects play an important role in our ecosystem. Search for insects and explore how they are adapted to the life they lead. Even in this tiny world, there are predators & prey, farmers & gatherers…and, well, some are just bugs. The Butterfly Pavilion will bring interesting and exotic insects that are sure to have you asking, “What is that?”
4. #4) “Pollination Station” – The Three Abeegos July 5-8
   Flowers, pollination, seeds and fruit...Plants meet, mate and provide new homes for their offspring in amazing ways. Get up close with local wildflowers and have fun watching pollinators at work. Meet a few middle school entrepreneurs from Paonia, “The Three Abeegos,” and learn how they partnered with the hard-working bee to make a business.
5. #5) “Feathered Friends” – Raptor Education Foundation July 12-15
   The Nature Center has a wonderful location for viewing local bird life: Hummingbirds, Hawks and everything in between. The Raptor Education Foundation will allow children to get a closer look at the beauty and power of Eagles, Owls, Hawks and Falcons – all birds of prey flying throughout Colorado and North America.
6. #6) “City Slickers” – Eagle River Water and Sanitation July 19-22
   Newsflash: Humans no longer live as hunters and gatherers. Our modern lifestyle does not allow us to harvest our meals from the forest, and there are simply too many of us to leave our trash to decompose. How do we get food and water to the table and how do we dispose of waste? Learn about the systems that help us preserve the natural world and the choices you can make to decrease your impact. Eagle River Water and Sanitation will help us see how water gets from the river to our faucets and back into the river – and how they get all the “yuck” out. 
7. #7) “Endangered Species” – US Forest Service July 26-29
   Our Rocky Mountain Region is home to several endangered species. What does it mean to be endangered or extinct? What can we do to help endangered species survive? Learn about species such as the Lynx, Gray Wolf, Greenback Cutthroat Trout and Whooping Crane. Learn about the relationship between these animals and their habitat. The USFS will teach us what it takes for these animals to survive in the Rocky Mountains and what humans can do to help them thrive.
8. #8) “Survival Skills” – Mountain Rescue August 2-5
   Learn the importance of low-impact camping, leave-no-trace and other skills. Mountain Rescue will visit to teach global positioning system and map & compass skills. They will discuss the correct gear needed for safe travel in the backcountry. Maybe they will bring along a rescue dog for a special guest appearance!
9. #9) “Wet & Wild” – Rivers and Streams August 9-12
   Be prepared to get your feet wet as we explore the shallow streambeds and the riparian habitat of Gore Creek. Search for aquatic plants, amphibians and insects as we discover the importance of our aquatic life and how to preserve our local rivers.
10. #10) “Mountain Magic” – Geology August 16-19 The land we stand on feels stable under our feet, but our world is in motion. Explore mountain building with sedimentation & volcanoes, and valley formation with glaciers, water & wind. See evidence of forces that made their changes many years ago and learn about forces that are still at work shaping our world.
     

Note: Topics and dates are subject to change