970-479-2291      |      Fax 970-479-2894     |      nature@vailrec.com 

Free Creekside Nature Tours, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sundays, June 17-Sept. 2, Depart from the Vail Farmers' Market
Join the Nature Center for a casual stroll along Vail's streamside paths. Tours depart from the Vail Nature Center booth at the Vail Farmers' Market Sundays throughout the summer. No reservations required.

Wildflower Walk, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 18 to Aug. 15
Join Nature Center staff on a leisurely one hour walk through the woods and meadows and learn about the flowers that carpet the mountains and the conditions they need to thrive. Costs are $3 or $2 for Vail Recreation District residents. No reservations required. 
 
 

Evening Beaver Pond Tour, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, June 18 to Aug. 30
Beavers are one of the animals that define the Rocky Mountains and Vail is lucky to have a healthy beaver population right in town. The evening begins at the Nature Center with a brief presentation about beavers, followed by a drive to a beaver pond where there is an active lodge. Bring warm clothes and a flashlight. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five. Reservations are required.


Family Fun Night Guest Speaker Series, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, July 11, July 25 and Aug. 1
An evening of discovery as the Nature Center hosts exceptional guest speakers from around the state. Family Fun Night will feature Apache dancers (July 11), raptor experts and live birds (July 25), and the Eco-Troubador, a live nature concert for all ages (Aug. 1). Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five. Call for reservations.

Morning Bird Walk, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 19 to to Aug. 16
Join Nature Center staff for a morning walk through the meadows and woods along the Gore Creek to learn about a great variety of birds, what they need and how you can attract birds to your own backyard. Costs are $3 or $2 for Vail Recreation District residents. No reservations required.

S'mores and More: Family Campfire Program, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, June 22 to Aug. 31
A warm campfire, exciting stories of woodland adventures and the sweet smell of burning marshmallows fill this family program at the Vail Nature Center. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five. Reservations are required.
 

Stories in the Sky: Stargazing 
8:45 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, June and July (beginning June 19)
8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays,  Aug. 7 to Aug. 28
From endless constellations, cascading shooting stars and full moons almost as bright as the sun, these are the realities in the mountains of Vail that should be experienced by all. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five. Reservations are required.
 

Wild Kid Nature Hikes, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 23 to Aug. 18
The Wild Kids Nature hikes will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for families with children five and older. Nature Center naturalists will take kids on fun, easy, and activity-filled hikes throughout Vail to discover the local flora and fauna. Themes and activities will change each week. Parents are encouraged to join the hikes. Cost is $15 per child. Reservations are required.
 

Nature’s Bounty Native Plants Workshop, 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, June 16 to Aug.11
In the Rockies, we are fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of beauty and biodiversity. You may have taken hundreds of pictures of that pretty little purple flower, but what is it called, and how do you tell the difference between that and the other purple flower? Learn the basic skills you need to identifying local plants, as well as fascinating information about their historic and modern uses. What berries are edible, what plants might save your life if you were stranded in the backcountry? Our expert naturalists will teach you. Cost is $30 per class. Adults age 16 and older. Reservations are required.