Twenty free programs offered by Boulder County Parks & Open Spaces in July
=======Gold Panning
Saturday, July 1, noon-12:30 p.m., or 12:45-1:15 p.m., or 1:30-2 p.m.
Nederland Mining Museum.==Ages 5 and older.
Try your hand at gold panning! This activity led to the European settlement of Boulder County as people sought their fortunes. Do you have what it takes to travel back in time and search for gold?
Registration required.Register
=======Wildflowers of Boulder County
Thursday, July 6, 6:30-8 p.m.
Ron Stewart Parks & Open Space Building==All ages welcome.
Join volunteer naturalists for a slide program to kick off the wildflower season! You’ll learn about the diversity of wildflowers in Boulder County from the plains to the alpine, where and when to look for them, and some interesting stories about some of our native plants.
Registration required.Register
=======Yoga on the Farm
Friday, July 7, 9-10 a.m.
Agricultural Heritage Center.==Adults and Teens; ages 12 and up.
Join Andrea Van Sambeek (certified yoga instructor) for a gentle yoga class and take in the views from your mat. Pause, breathe, and revitalize in this idyllic setting. After connecting with breath and movement, stay to explore all the Agricultural Heritage Center has to offer. Please bring your own yoga mat. All levels are welcome!
Registration required.Register
=======Hammering on the Farm
Friday, July 7, 10 a.m.-noon.
==Agricultural Heritage Center.==All ages welcome.
Drop by anytime from 10 a.m. to noon to watch the blacksmith work his craft. Listen to the clang-clang-clang of the hammer and the hum of the coal forge blower. Learn about blacksmithing tools such as hammers, tongs, anvil, swage blocks, and more.
Registration not required.
=======Summertime in the Foothills: Family Program
Saturday, July 8, 10 a.m.-noon.
Near Boulder. Location provided when registered.==
Minimum age 8 with accompanying adult.
Ever wondered who spends their summers in the foothills besides humans? Learn to be a detective and explore the clues that point us to discover which plants and animals we share these beautiful open spaces with.
Registration required.Register
=======Altona School Open House
Sunday, July 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Altona Schoolhouse at Heil Valley Ranch.==All ages welcome.
Drop by anytime during the open house to go inside the historic schoolhouse where students studied and played from 1880 to the World War II era. Volunteers will be on hand to share the school’s history and restoration with visitors. If time allows, you can take part in a game or spelling bee. Park at the Corral Trailhead at Heil Valley Ranch and hike 10 minutes on the Schoolhouse Loop to the Altona School.
Registration not required.
=======Hard Rock Mining Van Tour
Thursday, July 13, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Assay Office Museum.==Ages 10 and older with accompanying adult.
Tap into the towns, tools, and characters of our hard rock mining heritage by visiting mining sites of years gone by. Some walking required.
Registration required.Register
=======Fun on the Farm: Chicken Scratch
Friday, July 14, 9:45–10:30 a.m.
Agricultural Heritage Center==Ages 3-7 with accompanying adult.
Visit the farm for Chicken Scratch! Discover how chickens help out at the farm through stories, a craft, and a visitor to our resident chickens. This program is designed for children ages 3-7 with adult chaperones.
Registration not required.
=======Crepuscular Hunters
Friday, July 14, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Near Lyons. Location provided when registering.==All ages welcome.
Mountain Lions, red foxes, and coyotes all shine in the twilight moments of every day. Come learn with us about these animals and their hunting practices.
Registration required.Register
=======East Boulder Creek Site Visit
Saturday, July 15, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.==12339 Kenosha Rd, Erie.==All ages welcome.
We are a hosting a site visit at East Boulder Creek, a new open space park near Erie that is in the planning process.
We want you to see the site in-person and tell us what you think about the actions we are considering and what we should prioritize. Drop in any time during between 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free tacos will be available from a food truck between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. All ages are welcome and there will be games available for kids. This visit will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available.
Registration not required.
=======Assay Office Museum Open House
Saturday, July 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.===Assay Office Museum===All ages welcome.
Stop by the unique Assay Office Museum on this open house day. Learn about assaying, hard rock mining and families in the area long ago.
Registration not required.
=======Flowering at Altitude
Sunday, July 16, 10 a.m.-noon.
Near Nederland. Location provided when registered.==All ages welcome.
Follow us up the canyon and into the mountains in search of high-altitude bloomers. We will hike in the montane life zone looking for the reds, purples and yellows that come up from the ground. Learn about the special adaptations of these wildflowers and their pollinators that allow them to live in the cooler environments up top.
Registration required.Register
=======Moth Month Celebration
Wednesday, July 19, 9-11 a.m.
Near Boulder. Location provided when registering.==All ages welcome.
July is national moth month. Help us celebrate our hero pollinators and learn more about the invaluable service they perform for our ecosystems. Join us for hike in the foothills of Boulder County in search of moths, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Registration required.Register
=======Astronomy: Our Solar System
Friday, July 21, 8:15-10:30 p.m.
Near Lyons. Location provided when registering.==All ages welcome.
What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet or an asteroid and a comet? Join us to learn more about the objects in our own solar system. Followed by stargazing with telescopes provided by the Longmont Astronomical Society.
Registration required. Register
=======Dragonflies and Damselflies Slideshow Program
Saturday, July 22, 2-3:30 p.m.
Location provided when registering.=All ages welcome.
Have you ever been curious about those colorful gems flying over pond and stream? Join volunteer naturalists to learn about the amazing life of dragonflies and their damselfly cousins! We’ll cover their acrobatic flying, huge multi-faceted eyes, convoluted mating schemes, and behavioral quirks.
Registration required.Register
=======Heritage Morning at Walker Ranch Homestead
Sunday, July 23, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Walker Ranch Homestead.==All ages welcome.
Visit with costumed volunteers as they demonstrate chores and activities from the 1800s. You can also participate in some ranch chores and play historical games. If you like, bring a picnic and blanket— there are no tables at the homestead.
Registration not required.Learn More
=======Hikes for Seniors: History and Wildflowers
Thursday, July 27, 9-11 a.m.
Near Nederland. Location provided when registering.
Join us for an easy-moderate hike to learn about wildflowers and history. Along our hike we will stop to chat about the wildflowers we find and share information about homesteading and mining in the area. Expect uneven terrain.
Registration required.Register
=======Catfish Nights at Stearns Lake
Friday, July 28, 7:30-11 p.m.
Stearns Lake at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm. All ages welcome.
Fishing enthusiasts, come and cast your line under the stars at this year’s second Catfish Night! Stearns Lake will be open late so you can get some catfish on the line. Bring along family and friends for a relaxed summer night of fishing by the lake.
Registration not required.Learn More
=======Cobbles of Time
Saturday, July 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Near Nederland. Location provided when registered.=All ages welcome.
The story of Glacial Lake Devlin and evidence of its catastrophic demise is a fascinating and little-known chapter in the geologic history of Caribou Ranch. Join volunteer naturalists on this 4.5-mile moderate hike to learn about the evidence firsthand. We will also learn about some of the oldest rocks in the area and the valuable minerals that formed and were mined nearby.
Registration required.Register
=======
Registration is handled through Discover Boulder County, Parks & Open Space’s volunteer and event registration system. If you’re new to the system, you’ll need to create an account. But it’s easy and we only use your contact information to communicate about volunteer opportunities and events you register for. We will never sell or give your information to a third party.
