Durango Nature Studies - Environmental Education in Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners

UPCOMING
For more information or to register for any event, email Sally or call us at 970-769-1800.

Wednesdays in January- Naturalist Snowshoe Workshops

Place: Haviland Lake
Dates: January 11, 18, 25
Time: 10:00-noon
Cost: $5 members, $7 non-members, snowshoe rental $3

Join Program Director, Karen Hickerson, for this fun and energetic snowshoe exploration. Enjoy snowshoeing with others, while learning about local ecology and snow science. You can register for all three dates, or just come to them individually. (Note: Because the cost is under $10 you are not able to pay online. Please bring your payment to the workshop, or call to pay by credit card)

CONCLUDED In 2011

Mondays in February- Women's Snowshoe Clinic

Place: Haviland Lake
Dates: Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28
Time: 9:30 - 11:30
Cost: $5, $7 non-members, snowshoe rental $3

Join Program Director, Karen Hickerson, for this fun and energetic snowshoe exploration. Enjoy snowshoeing with other women while learning about local ecology and snow science. You can register for all four dates, or just come to them individually. Since there is no school on February 14, feel free to bring your kids this day.
(Note: Because the cost is under $10 you are not able to pay online. Please bring your payment to the workshop, or call to pay by credit card)

Introduction to Flyfishing

Place: Durango Nature Center
Dates: April 10
Time: 10:00 - 1:00
Instructor: Will Blandhard, Animas Valley Anglers, Visit the Animas Valley Anglers Website
Cost: $30 for Members, $50 for Non-Members
Bring a picnic to eat by the river or after class in the pavilion!!

If you've ever wanted to learn to fly fish, this class is for you. Will Blanchard, owner of Animas Valley Anglers and one of the most experienced guides in the region, will teach you everything you need to know to get started. The class will focus on what is behind the sport of flyfishing, entemology, gear, and casting techniques. Both classes will take place at the Nature Center along the Florida River. Space is limited to 8 per class.

Geology Workshop

Place: Durango Nature Center
Date: May 21
Time: 10:00 - 1:00
Instructor:John A. Campbell, PhD, Retired Fort Lewis College Geology Professor
Cost: $10 Members, $20 Non-Members

Learn the geology of the area and how to identify different kinds of rocks. The Nature Center is rich in geological history and a perfect place to hone your geological knowledge. Bring a sack lunch. Open to adults and families.

Breeding Bird Workshop

Place: Durango Nature Center
Date: June 4
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Instructor: Riley and Heather Morris, CO Bird Count Experts
Cost: $10 Members, $20 Non-Members

This workshop wil begin with an introduction about optics and birding in general, followed by a slow walk around the grounds both looking and listening for bird activity. Our focus will be finding birds and evidence of bird breeding, so we will be listening for male birds singing and watching for birds acting territorial, building nests, on nests, or possibly even feeding fledglings. Folks are encouraged to bring binoculars if they have them, but we will bring a spotting scope to help show birds as well.

Upper Animas Camping Trip

June 11 and 12
$200 per person (All proceeds go to DNS)
Durango Nature Studies is collaborating with Mountain Waters Rafting and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge to ride the rails up to and camp under the stars next to the Weminuche Wilderness.

The trip, called the Upper Animas Camping Trip, will begin on the historic D&SNG train to Needleton on Day 1 and continue to Silverton the next day. Mountain Waters Rafting will provide the camp, food, gear and guide – everything to make a camping experience easy and fun. During the day, a Durango Nature Studies naturalist will lead some nature walks that will include plant identification, natural history, simple wandering and storytelling.

To register, call 769-1800.

Botany 101 Workshop

Place: Fort Lewis College Botany Lab then a local trailhead
Date: July 8 and 9
Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm first day and at the discretion of the instructor the second
Instructor: Eilene Lyon
Cost: $20 Members, $30 non-members
Recommded: 10x hand lens (jeweler’s loupe), Flora of the San Juans by Susan Komarek ISBN 1882308069 OR Rocky Mountain Flora by William A. Weber ISBN 0870810685 (This one is more technical for serious botanists, but covers many more plants)

If terms such as “leaf margin,” “glabrous,” “calyx,” and “pinnately compound” have seemed incomprehensible to you in the past, this is your chance to figure it all out in a fun environment. On July 8^th, we will offer a basic systematic botany course to introduce you to the vocabulary, with plenty of examples. Participants will work in groups, using keys to identify specimens. Then, on July 9^th, we will head to a local trail (probably the Colorado Trail) to put our new skills to use “in the real world.” A walk down your street will never be the same!

Jeff Kagan and Paige Doughty, Children and Nature Songwriters, Returns to Durango