Learn everything there is to know about local birds. Participate in fun hands-on activities, learn bird watching tips, and compare wing spans with some amazing birds.
See the outdoor art exhibition celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by showcasing the symbolism of monarch butterflies and the iconic female figure known as La Catrina. Learn about this Mexican holiday through colorful and joyful large-scale sculptures created by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero.
Discover what makes snakes powerful predators of the grasslands. Online reservations required; use event code #910807. Ages 4-8.
Discover the legend of the leprechaun as you design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Each child creates a container garden to take home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Learn the art of fly fishing. There is one classroom session and an outdoor classroom and field trip. Ladies age 16 and up.
Learn what plants need to grow while digging in the dirt and helping plant and harvest veggies in WOW!'s garden.
Create your own miniature terrarium world, complete with a small plant, rocks, and colorful touches. Reservations required.
Bring a little green indoors this winter creating a beautiful terrarium to take home.
Dress as a favorite pollinator such as a bee, butterfly, or bird and dance and sing along with the musical guests. The concert features Eric West. Ages newborn to 12 and their parents.
Learn how to make healing calendula/lavender lip balm, ginger/rose hip honey, decadent chocolate chili clusters and an aromatic mulling mix for wine and cider. Recipes, light snacks and take home samples included. $54-$59.
Take the kids for a fun, hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of June 1: Plants in your Pizza; June 5: Sunflowers…
Attend nature programs provided for young explorers including a tot-size hike and a nature-based craft or game. Ages 3-5.
After dark. Come take a peek at the coolest celestial body in the sky.
Try your luck when Stearns Lake is usually closed and the catfish are biting. All ages. Anglers 16 years and up must have a current Colorado fishing license.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games or activities. Register online.
Take the kids to spend time outdoors connecting with nature. Register online.
Enjoy Reptiles & Birds Day. Volunteers are stationed along the Dinosaur Ridge Trail at significant interpretive sites, while many others staff booths and activities at the Main Visitor Center Complex for kids and adults of all ages. Visitors can hike at their own pace or take the shuttle bus at $4 per person on these…
Get into some habitats and see just what all is needed to keep animals (and ourselves) happy and healthy. Registration required. Ages 4-12.
Roast marshmallows around the campfire and learn about a different nature topic each night. Registration required. Park entry fee required. Dates and hours vary.
Watch for local birds and find out where they live, eat, and have babies. Ages 2-5. Register online. Located near Boulder; location provided to those registered.
Enjoy a slow walk along the High Line Canal to Spring Gulch Pond and discover some beautiful birds. Advance registration is required.
See how regional artist Counter explores how people understand the idea of the natural world though observation and memory, with small wood sculptures. Located in the Portal Gallery.
Explore the incredible world of invertebrates from land, air, and sea. Hold Rosie the tarantula, touch a starfish and crab, and walk among free-flying butterflies.
Enjoy a play about extraterrestrials, paying homage to classic science fiction stories from the 1950s, accompanied by an easy hike. Sponsored by Arts in the Open. Reservations required.
Write and sketch thoughts about the scenery and wildlife refuge that surrounds you. Age 12 and up.
Explore nature’s engineers that build their own homes at Standley Lake. Learn about how they drastically change their environment and the adaptations that help them create amazing structures.
Explore the lush vegetation, vibrant flowers and warmth of the tropics as you stroll through the Gardens’ tropical collections. This is a one-hour tour led by experienced docents.
Explore life as a predator or life as prey—run, hide, and try not to get eaten. Register online. Ages 8-14.
Climb, dig, and jump to explore nature. Registration required.
Enjoy an informative view of weather and climate at a science laboratory and explore interactive exhibits.
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week by exploring the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Event activities include archery, wildlife activity booths, and live animals.
Enjoy a program presented by the Butterfly Pavilion with puppets, music, and live bugs.
Take part in hands-on activities that explain how our days get longer and shorter on the weekend before the summer solstice.
Create your own miniature terrarium world, complete with a small plant, rocks, and colorful touches. Grades 3-12. Reservations required.
Experience up-close animal encounters, a nighttime exhibit tour, and invertebrate-themed crafts and games at a family sleepover. Age 5 and up. Reservations required.
Explore the many ways prairie dogs contribute to the ecosystem. Online reservations required; use event code #910806.
Unveil the adaptations that led the bald eagle to become America's national symbol and the complicated past the species holds.
Sat-Sun Sept. 16-Oct. 29, 12 and 3pm. Watch as Ms. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Joanna Watson solve the mystery of a curse that dooms each Baskerville male to be hunted by a demon dog. A hiking play by Arts in the Open. Age 6 and up. $17-$20.
Enjoy a fun-filled day that is all about trees. From real trees to trees of life to metaphorical trees, explore them all. The roots, the trunk, the bark, the branches, and leaves all have fascinating stories to tell of their 370 million years on planet Earth. Cake will be served in honor of Charles Darwin’s…
Entice your mind with the discovery of these magnificent raptors that call Standley Lake home. Enjoy learning about their life and create treasured memories by possibly viewing them in the wild. Registration is required and is limited to 20 spaces.
Explore the dark side of nature, look at the stars, listen for the sounds of nocturnal animals, and learn about the exciting things that happen when the sun goes down.
Bring your family, friends, scout group, and/or coworkers for volunteer projects. Enjoy a barbecue lunch and fun activities in the afternoon. Includes park admission for volunteers. RSVP necessary for groups of five or more by phone.
Explore the wisdom and playfulness of nature and celebrate Earth Day. In this two-hour family friendly program, take a gentle 3-mile walk along the Highline Canal with camera in tow. Registration is required one week in advance at highlandsranch.org/signmeup.
See the first feature art installation at the Gardens’ Chatfield Farms location. Dougherty’s immersive sculptures are created by weaving flexible saplings into complex and whimsical architectural forms. They'll remain on view until they naturally fall apart which, in some cases, has been years.
Enjoy a special day for homeschoolers and the whole family to explore the invertebrate diversity of wetland environments.
Coincides with “After School Club." Let a naturalist guide kids through outdoor weekly activities and adventures. Hike at a toddler pace, use all five senses, and encourage exploration. Ages 2-4 with adult. Register online.
Create a nature-themed masterpiece in this outdoor, instructor-led, step-by-step tutorial. Ages 5-12. Register online.
10am-noon and 2-4pm. Create miniature lands for mystical garden friends. Discover what plants fairies prefer as you design, plant and landscape a tiny oasis for a fairy. Each child will create a container garden to take home. Family Workshops are a great way for families to spend time together while discovering the beauty, diversity and…
Come to the farm to learn about seeds, hear stories, and try some seed activities. Ages 3-7 with caregiver.
Use artistic skills to discover animals, plants, and weather in a place where it is always warm, the tropical rain forest. Register online.
Visit the seasonal habitat that is home to hundreds of native butterflies, such as swallowtails, monarchs, mourning cloaks, and painted ladies.
Experience all of the displays and activities of the Butterfly Pavilion for only $5 per person.
See digital images of bears in Denali, Katmai and other National parks. Experience fly-fishing for rainbow trout, arctic char, and salmon. Presented by Bob Barber, professional wildlife photographer. Register online.
Learn about worms by exploring in the garden. Ages 3-6. Register online.
Explore and climb the forest canopy indoors at the museum’s hands-on exhibition. Discover the many habitats that trees provide for animals and people, too.
Create a coil pottery and sand painting while learning about the history of these traditional Native American art forms. Registration is required.
Learn why beaver’s feet are webbed, how coyotes can hide so well, and many more adaptations that allow animals to thrive in nature. Kids will also make an animal track plaster cast to take home. Children must be accompanied by adults. All ages must register for this class through the City of Westminster’s Activity Registration…
Join Chip Clouse, former Education and Outreach Director for the American Birding Association, for a morning bird walk at Tucker Lake. Meet at West Woods Elementary School.
Unveil the adaptations that led the bald eagle to become America's national symbol and the complicated past the species holds.
Enjoy a nature playdate. Register online.
Explore and learn through a variety of garden and pollinator-themed kids' classes, in a partnership with BVSD Lifelong Learning. Ages 5-11. Reservations required.
Explore the grounds of the historic gardens for free.
Bring the young ones to discover nature through play and interaction with other kids. Age 5 and under.
Join outdoor agencies and partners to try youth fishing classes, paddling activities, live music, rock climbing, and bike riding. Youth have the opportunity to earn their Junior Ranger Badge from the National Park Service and United States Forest Service.
Construct a wooden birdhouse to attract native birds to your house. The class involves using nails and screws, so parents of younger children should plan to stay with them for the program. Registration is required.
Find a great selection of organic and bee-safe tomato, vegetable, and herb starts that are grown in Growing Gardens’ greenhouses. All proceeds benefit Growing Gardens’ nonprofit agriculture education programs.
See more than 800 blooming lavender plants, creating a gorgeous backdrop for this family-friendly event. Lavender products made by local growers and artisans are available for purchase. There will be live music, food, drink, and craft vendors. Educational programs on lavender and related topics are available for an additional charge.
See The Chipotle Film Series, presented by Chipotle Mexican Grill, which includes three films relating to sustainable food practices, organic farming and community agriculture. Each evening includes food provided by Chipotle, a screening of the film, and a post-film panel discussion. “PolyFaces” follows an Australian family who use their life savings to travel to the…
Participate in hands-on exploration of the plant world, and develop an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of Feb. 27: The Alphabet Garden; March 6: Garden Tools and Trucks; March 13: Curious Clovers; March 20:…
Join Exploration Universe for hands-on science experiments and activities. All ages. Included with admission.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Paddle alongside the park naturalist and discover the rich history behind Standley Lake, and the oasis it provides for people and wildlife alike today. Age 8 and up. Limited to 8 people. Registration required.
Learn about different habitats by exploring the world and learning about animals’ food, water, shelter, and space. Age 5 and up. Space is limited.
Follow the trails of Lakewood's Bear Creek Lake Park and surrounding green spaces, led by a park naturalist guide. Registration required.
10am-noon and 2-4pm. Follow the journey of a cacao bean and discover how chocolate is made. Make hot chocolate from scratch and take a hot chocolate mix home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10. $17 child, $15 member child, $12 nonmember adult, $10 member adult.
Participate in an outdoor, step-by-step tutorial where parents and kids paint an acrylic-on-canvas masterpiece. Register online.
Explore the chocolate tree and its celebrated history. Follow the journey of a cacao bean and discover how chocolate is made. Then make hot chocolate from scratch and create a mix to take home. For families with children ages 5-10. All adults attending the workshop must register for the program.
Attend a fun, hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of April 3: A Log’s Life; April 10: Cool Season Veggies; April 17:…
Learn how birds survive the freezing temperatures during Colorado winters.
Discover leaf rubbings, animal games, and a love of nature in this after-school club that goes on weekly adventures. The Ladybug Club is for ages 2-5 with adult. The Dragonfly Club is for ages 6-12.
Experience a quiet and sensory-friendly visit before public hours. Connect with plants in a safe, restful location while engaging senses and providing social enrichment. Visitors can explore the gardens on their own or participate in hands-on activities in the sensory garden. Registration required.
Create artwork from natural items gathered in the open space. Ages 3-6. Registration is required one week in advance at highlandsranch.org/signmeup.
Enjoy a hiking play presented by Arts in the Open, featuring puppets, singing, mock combat, and more. The hike is approximately two miles in length; bring a camping chair or blanket to sit on while watching the scenes.
Dive into shark biology, touch shark jaws, teeth, and skin, play a few fishy games, and then spend some time roasting marshmallows.
Say goodbye to spring and celebrate the start of summer. Make s’mores, explore and play in the Mordecai Children’s Garden, and engage in nature-themed activities. Special guest storyteller Cliff Davidson will share family-friendly stories. Family Fun Nights are a unique opportunity to explore the Children's Garden after-hours. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner…
See live animals to learn the importance of these scaly creatures. Participants will get to meet Betty the bullsnake to get an up close look. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 5-8. Registration required.
Go on a small hike and enjoy a nature-based game, craft, or storytime. Online reservations required; use event code #910802. Ages 2-5.
Follow a park naturalist along trails and green spaces. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, dress for weather conditions, and bring water. Register in advance.
Discover some interesting relationships and little known moon facts. There will be refreshments after the hike. RSVP by phone. Age 6 and up.
Get the after-school energy out with an artistic exploration into animals. Registration is required online. Ages 6-14.
After dark. Look for Naturalists from Majestic View Nature Center and Lookout Mountain Nature Center down in Olde Town near the water fountain to look at the stars.
Join Open Space and Mountain Parks naturalist Dave Sutherland for a moderately easy hike on which you'll learn the stories that the rocks tell. Age 6 and up.
Learn about the prairie ecosystem and the cultural history of Colorado.
Shop the largest succulent sale in the state. Buy kid-friendly plants, learn about plant care from local growers, and attend free how-to workshops.
Come for hands-on self-guided exploration. Chat with an educator, and grab an exploration backpack of activities and supplies. Then head on out to the marsh to identify tracks, listen to songbirds, and catch critters in a net.
Enjoy the lush vegetation, vibrant flowers and warmth of the rain forest as you stroll through the Gardens’ tropical collections. All ages. $14, $9 student, $7 member.
Discover the wonders of the ocean’s invertebrates and get inspired to conserve them with this fun event for the whole family featuring live animal encounters, hands-on activities and games, and chats with real scientists. This year’s theme is preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.
Hike along a winding trail and learn about the flora, fauna, and history of the area from a park naturalist. Bring water and sunscreen. Register in advance.
Discover nature through curiosity using dirt, sand, and more. Open space west of Sand Creek Park; meet at the trail connection near 8801 Wild Iris Run. Ages 3-6. Registration is required one week in advance at highlandsranch.org/signmeup.
Greet the incoming migratory birds of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, an internationally recognized Audubon area, on this bird walk. Don’t forget binoculars.
Discover how to spot wildlife that loves the snow and play some winter animal I Spy. Register online.
Go on an outdoor BioBlitz to identify as many species as possible. For age 6 through 5th grade.
Explore the lush vegetation, vibrant flowers, and warmth of the tropics as you stroll through the Gardens’ tropical collections. This is a one-hour tour led by experienced docents.
Learn about ducks, skunks, moose, and muskrats through stories and crafts. Register in advance. Ages 3-6.
Discover the incredible world of honeybees and their important contributions to our world with this dynamic event featuring live animals, themed activities, crafts, and games.
Get up close and personal with a special friend from the Downtown Aquarium as you learn all about them and their adaptations. Register online.
Get help for beginning beekeepers. Workshops are taught by Mario Padilla, Butterfly Pavilion entomologist and knowledgeable beekeeper. Work alongside Mario and other learning beekeepers, developing the skills necessary to achieve thriving hives. For adults. Reservations required.
Register to dig into experiments and find out whether they are magic or science. Registration required. Ages 6-12.
Discover how native peoples of the southwest use plants in their everyday lives and explore the plants of the Sacred Earth and Dryland Mesa gardens. Investigate the uses of yucca and learn about traditional cooking tools. Activities are designed for children age 5 and up, but all ages are welcome to attend.
Participate in family-geared educational sessions on winter survival tips and mountaineering skills, guided hikes, and backcountry ski meet-ups.
See the annual exhibit that presents hundreds of colorful orchid blooms in the Orangery and Marnie’s Pavilion. Common and rare species are featured, some even so special they must remain behind the greenhouse glass.
Enjoy a fun, hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world, while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Topics vary by date including Cool Season Veggies, Painting with Plants, Earth Day, and…
Enjoy fall fruits and vegetables and learn how honeybees help these foods grow. Meet the honeybees and taste their honey. Ages 5-11. Space is limited; reservations encouraged.
Coincides with “After Nappers Club”: Enjoy fun, nature themed activities and exploration with a Majestic View naturalist. Participate in fun, hands-on learning. Ages 5-10. Register online at www.arvada.org/nature.
Enjoy a nature playdate in the "Nature: Explore" space: climb on logs, jump stump to stump, build forts and more. Registration required.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Experience nature at the marsh, view exhibits, check out an exploration backpack, and more.
Bring kids to explore outside and get messy. Register online.
Attend a fundraising auction for Thorne Nature Experience, and celebrate founder Dr. Thorne’s 90th birthday. Cocktail attire suggested. Reservations required online.
Go on an adventure with Lookout Mountain Nature Center for nighttime discovery. Meet in Olde Town Arvada Square just west of the library.
Unleash your inner sculptor by going outside, discovering the perfect ratio of dirt to water, and making mud pies. Find a worm or a roly-poly, build a castle, or make a mud-painting. Ages 4-10. Pre-registration is required.
Help gardeners gain a new appreciation for the flavors, colors, textures, and imperfections that make heirloom vegetables worth growing. Learn which heirloom vegetables to plant, how to manage the kitchen garden, and tips for saving seeds to pass along to others.
Help beautify Standley Lake with trash pick-up, weed pulling, or other outdoor tasks. All ages welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Stroll through Walnut Creek Golf Reserve and seek out the migratory birds that travel through the Front Range. Park day entrance fee or pass required.
Visit the York Street location for free.
Enjoy a hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world, while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of March 6: Very Hungry Caterpillars; March 13: Carnivorous Plants up Close; March 20:…
Celebrate Earth Day and enjoy the outdoors. Learn about interaction with water, pick up trash, and make a recycled craft.
Learn about Colorado mining history and try your hand at panning for gold. Reservations required: 303-258-7332. Age 5 and up.
Explore the nighttime sky with Lookout Mountain Nature Center. Meet in Olde Town Arvada Square just west of the library.
Explore the carnivorous creatures that call Standley Lake home.
Attend an event especially for Cub Scouts for animal encounters, and outdoor explorations to meet adventure requirements centered on outdoor exploration, respect for plants and wildlife, and making our world a better place. Preregistration is required. Email Marissa at mcopan@butterflies.org for any questions.
Help clean up Highlands Ranch’s natural open space areas and parks. To volunteer, contact Kari Larese at 720-240-4909 or klarese@highlandsranch.org. After you register, you will be contacted with the location you will be assigned to.
Join Denver Botanic Gardens in celebrating Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with an exploration of the iconic and elegant female skeleton know as La Catrina.
Learn some tips and tricks to nature photography during the “Golden Hour” to capture nature landscapes surrounding the Majestic View Nature Center. Register online.
Celebrate Earth Day with Sustainable Resilient Longmont, featuring environmental education booths, hands-on activities for kids, and performers.
Dec. 2, 16 and 30, 2-3pm. Explore the lush vegetation, vibrant flowers and warmth of the tropics as you stroll through the Gardens’ tropical collections. This is a one-hour tour led by experienced docents. $14, $9 student, $7 member.
Dress as your favorite pollinator such as a bee, butterfly, or bird. Dance and since along with the musical guest, Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta. Ages birth-8 and their parents.
Explore the tools of gardening, put the garden to bed, enjoy fruits and vegetables, and save seeds for next year. Ages 4-11. Reservations encouraged.
Enjoy nature programs designed for the youngest of explorers. Activities include a hike and a fun nature-based craft, game, or story. Ages 3-5. Register online.
Discover how pikas store food, avoid danger, and thrive in the cold climate. Ages 5-10 with accompanying adult. Register online.
Discover the secret life of owls through crafts, activities, and interactive tables from many nonprofit partners and outdoor educators, along with local folk music and food trucks.
Explore the alphabet while you wander your way through the world of plants. Discover the first letter of many plants and flowers. Ages vary by date.
Walk your dog and learn about history. Take a historic and geological walking tour of North Table Mountain along the North Table Loop Trail to the Golden Cliffs. Visit website for exact location of walk.
Learn about the bugs of Bear Creek through stories, songs, and interactive programs. Ages 3-5 with adult. Registration required. Park entry fee required.
Escape the winter chill in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory with this tour of purported aphrodisiacs and learn about the secret romantic lives of tropical plants. This is a one-hour tour led by experienced docents. Tour participants receive a romantic souvenir to take home.
Practice the outdoor skills needed to survive a natural disaster and become a Jr.Survivor. Register for this class through the City of Westminster’s Activity Registration Webpage. Ages 9-12. Class is limited to 10 spaces. $8.
Learn about selecting and starting baby chicks, setting up a secure home, and keeping your growing chickens happy and healthy. Register in advance.
Visit the gardens for free thanks to SCFD funding.
Create miniature lands for mystical garden friends. Discover which plants fairies fancy as you design, plant, and landscape a tiny fairy oasis. Each child creates a container garden to take home. Designed for children ages 5-10.
Learn how to fish. Free fishing poles will be given to the first 100 kids to sign up. Meet at the boat ramp. Ages 6-14.
Explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups. Week of Feb. 6: Fabulous Fungi; Feb. 13: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue; Feb. 20 Tropical Fruit Salad; Feb. 27: The Alphabet Garden
Explore animal interactions, defense mechanisms, and extreme adaptations with hands-on activities. Reservation required.
Celebrate Pollinators Month by exploring the gardens at Civic Green Park for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Catch insects with nets and examine them. Age 6 and up. Advance registration required.
Go on a scavenger hunt to celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day. Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Register online. Age 4 and up.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Take an up-close look at wings covered in feathers, scales, and fur and learn what structures help them fly. Includes hands-on experiments. Ages 3-12.
Shop more than 70 varieties of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and herbs grown from heirloom and organic seeds. Farm tours are $5 per person age 2 and up. Saturday, May 19 is a SCFD Free Day and includes festival highlighting local vendors participating in Plant, Eat, and Get Local.
Join Dr. Cara Judea Alhadeff as she speaks about and signs her new book, Zazu Dreams, a tale about the adventures of a Sephardic Jewish boy and his imaginary friend, a malamute husky, who travels the globe experiencing the relationship between humans and their environments.
Attend the celebration of Colorado history, music and food featuring local chefs, tours and live music. Traditional Colorado dishes with regionally sourced ingredients are presented during this “strolling supper” on the farm. Participants can tour the organic vegetable and lavender fields, explore the historical Hildebrand Ranch house, and hear a talk on water conservation. This…
Celebrate the arrival of Spring with special activities, a parade, and the more than 15,000 tulips that adorn the Pearl Street Mall. Age 12 and under.
Register online to discover nature through fun, hands-on learning. Dress for the weather. Age 13 and up.
Take a nature walk through the gardens and then use seeds, branches, and greens to create a display of nature to take home.
See three films relating to sustainable food practices, organic farming and community agriculture. Each evening includes food provided by Chipotle, a screening of the film, and a post-film panel discussion. $5.
Explore the world of snakes and how they survive in Highlands Ranch. Meet our bull snake, Little Miss, and complete a fun craft to take home. Advance registration required.
Splash into this fun, artistic exploration of the deep blue sea. Create artwork inspired by the animals that inhabit the watery realms of our blue planet. Ages 6-14.
Solve real-life mysteries by learning how to recognize different animal signs like scat (a fancy word for poop) and tracks. Take home a cast of an animal track. Ages 7-12.
Experience a quiet and sensory-friendly visit to the Gardens before public hours. Visitors can connect with plants in a safe, restful location while engaging their senses and providing social enrichment. Visitors can explore the gardens on their own or participate in hands-on activities that inspire curiosity and awaken the senses, in the Sensory Garden. Registration…
Make observations about how structures and processes in nature solve problems. Meet CU Boulder students and community partners who are weaving together science, technology, engineering, art, and math to find innovative and sustainable solutions.
Explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of May 1: A Rainbow of Wildflowers; May 8: Garden Art; May 15: Inch by Inch; May 22: Life in the Pond; May 29: The Plants in Your Pizza.
Enjoy a free breakfast, and help clean Johnson Habitat Park with your family.
Take a break from the hectic holiday season with a relaxing and rejuvenating creative writing retreat at the Plains Conservation Center with Denver Botanic Gardens. $59, $55 member.
Enjoy a fun, hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants. Seedlings programs are offered for three different age groups and are modified to fit the developmental needs of each group. Week of July 10: Scrumptious Seeds; July 17: I Love Lavender; July 24: Edible…
Take a walk around the Spring Gulch Equestrian Area to sight tracks and identify which animal left them. Dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is required one week in advance.
Go on a tot-size hike and enjoy a fun, nature-based craft or game. Ages 2-5.
Learn more about bees and beekeeping. Register online.
Find hands-on learning about the three different types of rocks, how erosion shapes the landscape, and the moving power of uplift. Ages 5-12 with adult.
Explore a wide variety of garden settings for free.
Enjoy a day of playing in nature. Register online.
Celebrate by dropping by to enjoy live animals, free refreshments, and other family-friendly activities.
See pieces of art from the School of Botanical Art & Illustration.
Meet animal ambassadors and learn general information about a variety of different animals. Families with children 5 and under.
Become immersed in the expansive beauty of the Colorado prairie landscape while exploring the depth of your connection to this local environment. Guided sensory practices, nature connection activities, games, and explorations.
Journey through art and nature while engaging in a garden-wide exploration of the Calder: Monumental exhibition. Explore how art and science work together and make a work of art inspired by the exhibition. Activities are designed for children ages five and up, however all ages are welcome to attend. $12 child; one adult per child…
Enjoy nature play programs in which children will connect to nature, play outdoors, and learn, in the labyrinth area near the library. Parent supervision required. All ages.
Join a half-day volunteer project exclusively for families with children ages 6-12. Participants will help transplant native plants from the High Plains Environmental Center's greenhouse, learn about what it means to be a good steward, and go on a fun nature hike. Breakfast and lunch provided. Register online or by contacting Jamie Burke at jamie@voc.org…
Bring a smart phone and join a park ranger to search for hidden caches while discovering the Highlands Ranch Metro District parks and trails. Advance registration required. $10 Highlands Ranch resident, $12 nonresident.
Discover the predators of the Front Range. Online registration required.
Get into the holiday spirit by making pinecone ornaments. Ages 3-8. Register online.
Explore the weird and wonderful creatures that have populated our planet's oceans and streams. Compare real museum specimens, make observations, and create your own take-home crafts.
Look at the stars in the center square just west of the library.
Leave those flashlights at home for this unique hiking adventure. No dogs, please. Register online. $2; park entrance fee waived.
Walk alongside the park naturalist and discover the beauty of fall at Standley Lake. Limited to 15 spaces. Registration required.
Celebrate the transition into fall with nature crafts, face-painting, nature explorations with Thorne staff, and music from Jeff & Paige. Light refreshments provided. Ages 3-10. Reservations required online.
Visit the gardens in a rural setting for free.
Gaze at the night sky with fellow naturalists from Lookout Mountain Nature Center. $5, $15 family.
Learn about the special ways frogs survive the winter. Snack included. Registration required. Ages 3-5.
Learn about butterflies, frogs, raccoons and bears. Enjoy a glimpse into their worlds using books, stories, crafts, and games. Ages 3-6 years with adult. $18 for 4 week session.
Visit the Plains Conservation Center, including ecological and historical programming, wagon rides, games, and refreshments.
Become nature detectives and investigate ways in which you can understand which creatures have passed through the same trails, streams, and forests that people travel through. Includes hands-on science and art activities.
Create miniature lands for mystical garden friends. Discover what plants fairies prefer as you design, plant, and landscape a tiny oasis for a fairy. Each child can create a container garden to take home. Ages 5-10. All adults attending the workshop must register for the program.
Celebrate Plant Conservation Day with a pollinator plant sale, hands-on gardening activities, and family-friendly entertainment.
Discover how plant fibers become fabrics, investigate different types of wood and explore the journey of several plants as they become useful products we use every day. Activities are designed for children ages five and up, however all ages are welcome to attend.
Snowshoe from Red-tail Park up to Highlands Point to see the amazing views of the foothills and Denver Metro area under a blanket of snow. Bring snowshoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is required one week in advance.
Visit the Discovery Corner for a hands-on introduction to the world of science and nature. Examine museum specimens, make crafts, and hear a story.
Take the kids to enjoy nature and their imaginations with no screens.
See how fossils are studied and what things can be learned from them.
View a collection of 13,000-year-old stone tools known as The Mahaffy Cache that was found in a Boulder backyard in 2007.
Learn how to make snacks with garden-fresh produce, explore the abundance of the garden harvest and celebrate the harvest season through community in the garden. Ages 4-11. $15 child. Discounted price of $50 is available when you register a child for all 4 classes in one series.
Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with themed cocktails at Sacred Thistle – a flower and gift boutique - before going to the Gardens for a private tour of the La Calavera Catrina exhibit. Guests must be 21 years of age and capacity is limited.
Learn all about the sneakiest animals in Rocky Mountain National Park and what it is like to walk in their paws. Ages 4-6.
Take your child to listen to stories about the natural world. Ages 3-5 with adult. RSVP by phone.
Enjoy a nature playdate and have fun getting dirty. Register online.
Experience a moderate two-mile hike on the Enchanted Mesa Trail while scenes from the play are performed along the way, presented by Arts in the Open. Audience members are encouraged to bring camping chairs or blankets.
Learn about the role that worms and soil play for a healthy habitat and how to compost at home.
Play in the Nature: Explore space and climb, dig, jump, and dive into nature and connect with the world. Registration required.
Learn about wildlife, plants, and climate, meet birds of prey, hunt for prizes, enjoy children's theater, and more.
Explore fresh ingredients growing in the Mordecai Children’s Garden Chipotle Home Harvest Garden and make a special salsa treat from scratch. Each child plants a container garden that includes ingredients to make treats at home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Stroll pathways leading to various themed gardens for free, thanks to an SCFD free day.
Discover the wonders of pollinators like bees and butterflies and learn about their important contributions to our world. Get inspired to conserve them with this fun, weeklong celebration for the whole family featuring live animal encounters, hands-on activities and games, special tastings, and chats with real scientists.
Visit Denver Botanic Gardens' property at the Plains Conservation Center for free thanks to SCFD.
Discover habits of woodpeckers through hands-on activities and learn where to look for them. Ages 5-10 with adult. Reservations required online.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities. Just swing by and explore.
Join volunteer naturalists for a hands-on program to learn about local animals. Visit the historic ranch house after the program.
Learn “Wildscaping” with the Audubon Rockies as you walk through the different habitats in bloom in the garden. Age 5 and up.
Learn about the art and science of bird banding, gain skills in field identification, and more. Ages 11-15. Email gwen@thornenature.org for more details.
Discover the many uses of the mint plant in this sweet-smelling class. Age ranges vary by date.
Learn about these amazing birds and their corvid cousins. Register online.
Drop in for an afternoon of outdoor survival crafting.
Explore outside during these special outdoor nature playdates. Register online.
Explore the diversity of wetland invertebrates and learn about habitat conservation.
Play in a family-friendly, summertime croquet tournament for the Denver Botanic Cup. Prizes will be awarded each month and the finalists of each month will be invited to play in the grand final tournament in September. $15 participant, $5 for spectator.
Roast marshmallows and learn all about Colorado mammals. Register online.
Join the club by participating in self-guided tours and activities on different open space properties around Boulder County. Each Mystery Guide takes you on an exploration of a specific open space property. Ages 4-11.
Discover, design, doodle, and more, in the museum’s new and improved play space in which children can touch real museum specimens.
Participate in an event aimed at connecting children around the globe through the earth. Wear old clothes. Use sandbox toys and play in the mud. Reservation required.
Discover the plants that make pizza possible. Make a mini pizza to taste in class and plant a pizza herb garden to take home. For families with children ages 5-10.
Honor the legacy and achievements of Longmont native Vance Brand, an astronaut with the Apollo program, in a space-themed exhibit.
Discover what comes out at night at Star K Ranch. Age 4 and up.
Come learn why we shouldn't feed wildlife by playing some interactive games with a naturalist. Ages 6-12.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Learn camping skills during the day, and make treats at the firepit along the South Platte River. Age 6 and up.
Step back into history, with free admission.
Play outside, meet new friends, and try games that your great grandparents might have played. Ages 6-12 with adult.
Listen to a conversation about climate change with local officials, scientists, schools, and Channel 7 weatherman Mike Nelson. All ages welcome. The middle or high school with highest percentage of attendance will receive donated money for their science department or club.
Celebrate Earth Day with earth-friendly activities for kids, breakfast with the artists of the Our Planet exhibit, live music, food trucks, free yoga classes, and tree planting with the Greenwood Village Mayor, Ron Rakowsky.
Learn to draw and sketch animal cartoons to impress your friends or illustrate your room. Enjoy this after-school series with artist David Sullivan and bring a snack. Register online. Ages 6-12.
Learn more about black bears, natural residents of Evergreen.
Explore the Denver Botanic Gardens and more than 20 of Denver's world-class museums at night.
Enjoy a community atmosphere while learning about the birding world. Ages 6-15. Sign up by phone.
Learn fishing tips from Colorado Division of Wildlife experts. Fishing pole provided. Class tends to sell out quickly. Ages 6-11.
Learn tips and tricks to become a better wildlife watcher. Register online.
Learn the practice of landscape stewardship called “wildscaping,” wildlife-friendly landscape design with the Audubon Rockies. They will walk you through the gardens and point out different habitats in the Majestic View Gardens so you can create “wild” backyard habitats too. Registration required. Age 5 and up.
Investigate different Colorado mammals and discover what they might be up to during this cold season. Ages 3-6. Register online.
Learn the art of fly fishing. There is one classroom session and an outdoor classroom and field trip. Ladies age 16 and up.
Learn a little about the season and create a pumpkin. Explore the natural environment through stories and songs. Ages 3-5. Registration required.
Slither into WOW! for a special presentation all about snakes with My Nature Lab.
Enjoy Gem & Mineral Day. Volunteers are stationed along the Dinosaur Ridge Trail at significant interpretive sites, while others staff booths and activities. Visitors can hike at their own pace or take the shuttle bus at $4 per person on these special days (ages three and under ride free).
Explore technologies and art created by American Indians who have made the Plains their home. Discover hands-on science, art, and cultural activities. All ages.
Go on a short hike and enjoy a nature-based game, craft, or storytime. Online reservations required. Ages 2-5.
Learn about the epic, true story of explorer Henry Bates' fascinating 11-year journey through the Amazon rain forest.
Learn about native fungi species and bring in specimens for identification.
Learn and practice Vinyasa yoga. $5 suggested donation.
Take a virtual tour to Cuba with Joe McMillan. Register online. Age 10 and up.
Attend seminars on camping and off-roading, and participate in a team casting contest. During the show, visit The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Youth Fair, an area featuring hands-on activities designed to teach children about the great outdoors in a safe, responsible way including: catch-and-release fishing pond with free flies for kids, radio-controlled ATV track, a…
Surround yourself with exotic plants and beautiful butterflies, and meet other yoga enthusiasts in the community. Adults.
Explore the gardens, inside and out, for free.
Go on a playdate for an hour of fun in nature. Age 6 and under with adult/caregiver.
Make hand-dipped beeswax candles with beekeeper Tracy Bellehumeur. Learn how a beekeeper renders beeswax from start to finish and package candles with embellished gift tags. Reservations required. Ages 7-12.
Explore history outdoors while playing classic games and learning about native plants. Registration is required.
Learn about nature photography with the basics, discovering how to spot a great photo in nature. Ask questions about your mobile camera or just enjoy the majestic view while practicing outside during the “golden hour.”
Explore the adaptations chickadees have to survive, and create a winter bird feeder to help keep those chickadees chunky. Online registration required.
Discover the relationships between plants and pollinators, and learn how the gardens depend on pollinators to help it grow. Learn how to protect pollinators and create an insect hotel to take home with you.
Read books with a specific nature theme every month. November's book is Ann Patchett’s novel “State of Wonder”.
Learn about the different trees and plants that are adapted to grow along the South Platte River. Geared toward kindergarten to 5th grade.
Investigate the interactive natural world with special crafts, games, or activities, just swing by and explore.
Discover how telescopes work through interactive demonstrations and activities, and do some sky gazing. Bring a telescope if you have one. Meeting location, near Longmont, will be provided to registered participants. Age 5 and up.
Investigate the interactive natural world with special crafts, games, and activities.
See live raptors and discover which of these magnificent birds comes through Aurora in the spring. Age 4 and up.
Go outside to observe the constellations and listen for neighboring wildlife. Dress for the weather. Registration required.
See the photography of David Leatherman while learning about the food birds eat and what sustains them through the seasons.
Engage students in hands-on activities for up to three hours, focused on local food, organic gardening, and biodiversity. Reservations required. All ages and types of groups welcome.
Enjoy a night out and get to know the prairie that is right outside your door in a whole new way. Take a wagon ride and enjoy one of the best views of the Front Range sunset as you learn about the short grass prairie ecosystem. Finish your night with s’mores around the campfire. Adults…
Visit with costumed volunteers as they demonstrate late 1800s rural games and chores. Meet animals up close at the petting zoo and learn about the language of flowers.
Make hand-dipped beeswax candles with beekeeper Tracy Bellehumeur. Learn how a beekeeper renders beeswax from start to finish and package candles with embellished gift tags. Reservations required. Ages 7-12.
Learn why some plants produce essential oils and how the oils are sourced and produced. $34, $29 member.
Learn garden-design basics and planting tips from a Jefferson County CSU Master Gardener. Register online.
Try your hand with “Keep What You Find Gold Panning,” learn about Colorado's mineral and mining heritage, and take part in hands-on mineral identification.
Visit the York Street location for free.
Learn lessons from our wildlife friends on how to survive, what to pack, and skills that may help you out in a pinch.
Join Lookout Mountain Nature Center in Olde Town Arvada to see the stars. Meet in the center square just west of the library.
Visit Denver Botanic Gardens' rural setting, for an SCFD free day.
Learn about typical winter chores and indoor games while exploring the Walker Ranch Homestead. Call or contact Sheryl Kippen at skippen@bouldercounty.org for more information.
Learn about a few of the weirder members of the animal kingdom and how being unique can be a great thing. Ages 4-10. Registration required.
Join a native plant master and a park ranger on a hike up to Highlands Point. Advance registration is required. Age 8 and up.
Join volunteer naturalists for a slide program on butterflies, including information on the life cycle, behavior, host plants, identification tips, and more.
Shop for hundreds of bulbs and plants, and get expert advice from horticulturists.
Join in the annual Girl Scout Day and National Fossil Day too. Meet representative from area STEM organizations who will have activities for the girls. Register by October 12.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Investigate the interactive natural world from the Nature Center with special crafts, games, or activities.
Learn how to help combat plastic pollution that inevitably ends up in our parks, open spaces, and water sources. Age 12 and up. Reservations required.
Climb to the top of Westminster’s urban trees at Mushroom Pond in this entry level tree climbing class. Discover the importance of trees and enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape, nature, and wildlife. Ages 8-12. Class size limited to 12.
Photograph sunset on the plains, transitioning into dusk and a bit of night-time photography. Begin by focusing on the light streaming across the early spring grasses and historic structures and then concentrate on the night sky by capturing images of the Milky Way as it fills the sky. This class is weather-dependent.
Experience farm life with baby animals, tire swings, a zip line, and more. Free under 12 months. Reservations required online.
Discover Aurora’s true nature through puppets, kid-friendly activities, and discovery time on the trail. Age 5 and under.
Enjoy a fun hike with your canine friend along the Trading Post Trail while learning about the history of the best musical venue in the world. Meet at the Trading Post. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others, and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their…
Celebrate this awe-inspiring with telescopes and live feeds from other U.S. total solar eclipse locations. Build your own eclipse viewer and watch a planetarium show. Included with admission.
Join Open Space and Mountain Park’s Jeff Kagan, Paige Doughty, and Mark Wesson for evenings of children’s music and nature education. Includes an easy hike. Best for ages 2-8.
Learn how everything is connected in the world through hands-on activities, multi-media displays, and specimens from the museum’s collection.
Visit Denver Botanic Gardens' rural site, Chatfield Farms, for free.
Create miniature lands for mystical garden friends. Each child will create a container garden to take home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Open your ears to a new world of words as a local mom and native Russian speaker brings the language to life. Register online. Ages 3-5.
See the largest outdoor solo exhibition by the artist. Brightly-colored metal sculptures created within the pixelated aesthetic of “Pac-Man” and other 8-bit vintage video games are presented throughout the gardens. Pixelated explores the relationships between the natural world and the artificial world of digital media.
Take a closer look at nature through journal sketching and other art activities. Registration is required.
Learn what pioneer settlers did to prepare for Colorado’s long winters. See a working blacksmith demonstration and smell food being prepared on the wood stove.
Dress as a favorite pollinator such as a bee, butterfly, or bird and dance and sing along with the local musical guests. Age 12 and under, with parents.
Explore the similarities and differences between plants and fungi, investigate specimens from the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi, and explore the active life of yeast. Homeschool Days offer families the opportunity to explore plant-based themes through a variety of hands-on activities, tours, and take-home projects that families can do together.
Get ready for a Zoopendous overnight exploring the secret world of the Pavilion after dark. Enjoy a pizza dinner and breakfast sponsored by Snooze, an AM eatery. For families with children age 5 and up. Participants 16 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult, and a minimum of one adult per 5 kids…
Join urban forager, Kate Armstrong, and discover the edible and medicinal plants at Standley Lake and right in your backyard. Age 10 and older. Registration required.
Create intricate nature-themed art with the tangles technique and learn a little about the wild side of Bear Creek Lake Park with a park naturalist. Ages 10-17 with adult. Registration required. Park entry fee required.
Journey to the land of the rising sun and discover the unique features of the Denver Botanic Gardens' Japanese garden. Each child will design and create a miniature Japanese garden to take home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Jump into the gardens with a CSU master gardener to learn tips and tricks to make your garden buzz with bees, butterflies, and other Colorado pollinators. Discover why they are so important and what they need as you prepare your garden for spring. Registration required.
See the Polynesian Princess visit Butterfly Pavilion in search of heroes ready to fulfill their destiny. Enjoy songs, glowing scorpions, and free-flying butterflies.
Learn all about one of nature's greatest defenses - camouflage. Ages 3-6. $5.
Learn about Western and Mountain Bluebirds, build a Bluebird house, and take it home with you. Register online. Ages 6-adult.
Join Greenway Leadership Corps (GLC) for a free afternoon of snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Snowshoes will be provided. No experience is necessary. For high school students.
Make s’mores, explore and play in Mordecai Children’s Garden, and participate in nature-themed activities. Special guest storyteller Cliff Davidson will share family-friendly stories. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy.
Cozy up by a warm fire for storytime with a few good nature books. Ages 2-8.
Celebrate the Nature Center's 15th year with fun games, activities and information.
Relish a quiet hour of tripod photography in the tropical rainforest.
Discover the legend of the leprechaun as you design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Each child will create a container garden to take home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10. Preregistration is required and class size is limited.
View a collection of images of animals in their natural environment by 23-year-old nature photographer Bertie Gregory. He has mastered the art of capturing what binds animals and humans together.
Discover the legend of the leprechaun as you design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Each child creates a container garden to take home. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Capture the life and the seasonal characteristics of the prairie in the best light possible. Each expedition is led by David Winger, a renowned garden and nature photographer.
Join Bee Guru, Gregg McMahan, as he reveals the importance of bees for humans and nature alike. Age 8 and up.
