El Paso County’s Fountain Creek Nature Center and Bear Creek Nature Center announce the events and activities for September 2018 which includes: spiders, a bird count, volunteer training, grasshoppers and star gazing.
Fountain Creek Nature Center
320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817
719-520-6745, www.ElPasoCountyNatureCenters.com
Nature Adventures: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Thursday, September 6, 9-10:30 a.m.
Children ages 3-6, with an adult, will enjoy hands-on activities, puppet shows or stories, crafts and a hike. $3 per person including adults & siblings. Prepaid reservations required. Limit 20 participants.
2s and 3s Outdoors: Animal Talk!
Thursday, September 13, 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. Limit 20 participants.
Volunteer Environmental Education Leader Training
Thursday, Friday September 6 & 7, 12:30-5:30 p.m.
Train to become a volunteer Environmental Education leader for school field trip programs at Fountain Creek Nature Center. After your application & interview process, learn our unique 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.
Fall Bird Count
Saturday, September 8, 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Help record the number of bird species and populations found in Fountain Creek Regional Park. $5/person donation suggested.
Fall Night Sky for Beginners with Colorado Springs Astronomical Society
Friday September 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy an informative PowerPoint presentation indoors then go outside to enjoy gazing at constellations, galaxies, satellites and all manner of night sky objects with the Society’s telescopes. $3 per member, $4 per nonmember.
Raptor I.D.
Saturday, September 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
Debbie Barnes will present an information-packed program explaining how to identify Colorado’s eagles, hawks, falcons and kites. She is currently the program chair and a field trip leader for Aiken Audubon Society and volunteers for many park and bird organizations. $5 members, $8 nonmembers.
Creek Week Kickoff
Saturday, September 29, 8:30 a.m.
Kickoff this clean up week at Fountain Creek Nature Center! Bring your scout, school, and church groups to meet “Stan the Can” and clean up our waterways or participate in creek restoration by removing invasive species. Select any date, time and location during this week to volunteer or a cleanup, or participate in one of numerous public events happening in El Paso, Pueblo and Teller Counties. 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 8, 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, samples of honey and local honey available for purchase.
Free
Volunteer Environmental Education Leader Training
Tuesday & Wednesday September 11& 12, 12:30-5:30 p.m.
Train to become a volunteer Environmental Education leader for school field trip programs at Bear Creek Nature Center. After application and interview process, learn our techniques and programs for connecting students to the foothills and surrounding ecosystems. Contact Paula at 719-520-6745 or bcfcvolunteers@gmail.com.
Kids’ Saturday Lunch and Learn at Bear Creek
Saturday, September 15, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Drop your kids off at Bear Creek for activities, games, and an exploratory hike on the trails. Afterwards, we will cook our lunch over a campfire. For children ages 6-11. Prepaid registration required. $10 per member child/ $15 per nonmember child
Nature Explorers: Scaly or Slimy? Reptiles and Amphibians
Wednesday, September 19, 9:00- 10:30 a.m. & 1:00- 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. Prepaid registration required.
$3 per person including siblings & adults
Aiken Audubon Monthly Program: TBD
Wednesday, September 19, 7:00 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: Great Grasshoppers!
Thursday, September 27, 9:00- 10:15 a.m. & 1:00- 2:15 p.m.
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. $3 per person including siblings & adults
El Paso County Nature Bus Trip to Sand Dunes National Park
Saturday, September 29, 7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Take a ride on our comfy, worry-free motor coach bus to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We will begin with a guided exploration of the Visitor’s Center then an optional geology hike to the dunes led by geology professor Mark Izold. Call 520-6387 for details and registration. Limited space, $60 per person, which includes park admission and lunch. Ages 13 and up. Prepayment and preregistration required.