August 4
Meet reptiles with Free Range Reptiles
Get up close and personal with snakes, turtles and lizards, Aug. 4 from 1:30-2:30 p.m., at Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center, 20 Lakeview Dr. in Nederland. After a 20-30 minute kid-friendly presentation, everyone will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the animals. The all ages event has a $5 suggested donation. Visit wildbear.org or call 303-258-0495 for more information.

August 6
Trail building day at Hermit Park
The Estes Park Cycling Coalition is working with Larimer County to build a mountain bike trail at Hermit Park Open Space near Estes Park. Volunteers are needed for trail building day, Aug. 6 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Training and a free lunch is provided for all volunteers. The project, to be completed in two years, will need as many volunteers as possible. Arrange to carpool to Hermit Park, as space is limited, and meet at the gate house. The mission of EPCC is to promote and increase cycling of all kinds in the Estes Valley, through advocacy, education, partnerships and community building. The entrance to Hermit Park is 2.1 miles east of Estes Park on U.S. 36.  Sign up to help at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044fa8ab29a0f49-mountain. A rain date is set for Aug. 27. Visit http://www.larimer.org/openspaces20th and http://www.bikeestes.org or e-mail mayhewpj@co.larimer.co.us for additional information.

Wildflower and Forest Ecology Walk
Join an ecologist and naturalist for a 20th Anniversary Program Wildflower and Forest Ecology Walk through the forest of Hermit Park Open Space, located off of U.S.  36, two miles southeast of Estes Park, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. Participants will explore the many interesting ways in which flowers, shrubs, trees, and wildlife form intricate relationships with one another within these valuable forests. Learn what flowers and trees have to teach us. The three-hour program is free, but a $6 vehicle day-use fee applies. Registration is required at larimer.org/NRregistration. Call 970-619-4565 or e-mail dmarotti@larimer.org for additional details.

Dumont Community Picnic
Mill Creek Valley Historical Society holds its annual community picnic, Aug. 6 from 11:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., at the Dumont school. It is a potluck picnic, but hot dogs and hamburgers will be available. The picnic is one way to bring the community together and let people know what the historical society is doing, and hopefully get more people involved. Suzie and Gary Solomon will provide live music. A contest to name the MCVHS burro includes a prize for the winner. The group is always looking for volunteers.  Visit mcvhs.org to learn more.

Family Astronomy: More than Big Dipper
On Saturday, August 6th, explore the night skies with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute at its Family Astronomy: More than Just the Big Dipper class, which provides an introduction to exploring the night sky. Learn fun facts about our universe and experience the constantly shifting joy of seasonal sky-gazing. Get hands-on with interactive activities and, if the weather is nice, peak through a telescope at the sky above.  This class is designed for families with children ages 6 and up.  For more information or to register for this program, call 970-586-3262 or visit http://www.rmconservancy.org/learnwithus.

August 13, September 2
Habitats & Adaptations at Golden Gate
Join rangers from Golden Gate Canyon State Park and Nature’s Educators, Aug. 13 from 7-8 p.m., to learn about animals and their adaptations they have to live in different habitats. In this program, participants learn about adaptations animals have to survive in their environments. A raptor, snake, lizard, amphibian, invert and other ambassadors help demonstrate amazing adaptations for survival in various habitats. The all ages event is free with a valid park pass and takes place at the Amphitheater at Reverend’s Ridge Campground, 313 Reverend’s Ridge Road. Call 303-582-3707 or visit cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Golden
GateCanyon for more information.

August 16
Night Hike at Mud Lake
Join volunteer naturalists at Mud Lake Open Space near Nederland, Aug. 16 from 8-10 p.m., to explore the open space property at night. Participants will hike about one mile round-trip on an easy trail, enjoy the starlight, and learn about the nocturnal habits of critters that live here. For more details, visit http://www.boulder
county.org or call 303-678-6200.

August 20
Visit Assay Museum & ‘Peek in Mining Trunk’
The James F. Bailey Assay Office Museum, 6352 Fourmile Canyon Drive in the town of Wallstreet, helps tell the story of hard rock mining in this area. Visit the museum, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. If you visit between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. patrons can learn even more as cultural history volunteers share artifacts as you “peek into the mining trunk.” Visit http://www.bouldercounty.org or call 303-776-8848 to learn more.

High Altitude Flamethrowers Chili Fest
The High Altitude Flamethrower’s Chili Festival, Aug 20-21, at the Village at Winter Park Resort, 85 Parsenn Road, hosts chili chefs from throughout the state competing in this Colorado State Chili Cook-Off Championship. With the winners getting a spot to go to the World Competition and a Grand County Champion to be named, there will be no shortage of excellent chili sampling. The High Altitude District Championship will be held on Saturday with the Colorado State Championship taking place on Sunday. There are three categories including Red Chili, Green (Verde) Chili and Salsa. Admission is free with taste tickets for sale at the event. For details, visit http://www.winterparkresort.com or call 800-979-0332.

Winter Park Uncorked
The 2nd Annual Winter Park Uncorked, Aug. 20, at the Hideaway Park amphitheater in downtown Winter Park features an afternoon of wine tasting and food sampling accompanied by live music and a champagne cork-off. A VIP Pre-Wine Tasting event with private lunch and acoustic music by Weston Smith takes place from noon-2 p.m. while the main event is from 2-5 p.m. There will be a Chamapgne cork-off at 3 p.m. and enjoy live music by Andy Hackbarth Band from 3:30-5 p.m. General admission tickets are $35 or $40 at the event and VIP tickets cost $55 or $60 at the event. Entrance tickets without food or drink are $10 in advance or $15 at the event. For more information, visit http://www.playwinterpark.com.

Nederland Seniors’ 20th Anniversary Picnic
Everyone is invited to appreciate the Nederland community’s older adults at a celebration at Chipeta Park Pavilion, Aug. 20, at noon. The event includes a picnic and games. Burgers, brats, and soft beverages will be supplied, but bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. Call 303-258-0799 or e-mail NederlandArea
Seniors@gmail.com to learn more.

August 27
Life & Breath for Alexis Disc Golf Tournament
The 3rd Annual Life & Breath for Alexis Disc Golf Tournament, dedicated to raising funds for Childhood Organ Transplant Association in honor of Alexis Stansbury, takes place Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. at the Ghost Town Disc Golf Course, 190 Russell Gulch Road in Russell Gulch. The event is $40 in advance or $50 on the day of the event. The day includes beer, food, live music, silent auction, professional photos, and players packs will include a custom stamped tournament disc and many other goodies. Visit http://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Life_and_Breath_for_Alexis_2016 for details and registration.

Team Adventure Race
Explore a scenic area of Colorado while testing navigational skills and meeting new people at the RGR Adventures race in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. The six-hour, two-person race is a timed event where teams have an allotted amount of time to find checkpoints on a cross-country course.  It is up to teammates to plot those points on a map and find as many as possible in the allotted time, using just a map, compass and protractor.  The team with the most amount of points at the end of the time wins. An award ceremony and party takes place at 3:15 p.m. Entry is $50. Register at rgradventures.squarespace.com/race-registration.

August 28
Arts on the River & Sounds of Lyons
Arts on the River is a Boulder County Artists group show held along the North Saint Vrain Creek in Lyons at River Bend, 501 W. Main St., Aug. 28 from noon-5 p.m. Artists of all mediums will be selling their work at the event and there will be food trucks and libations. There will be at least 20 Boulder County visual artists in addition to food from Sugar Pine, Button Rock Bakery, The Fork, Oskar Blues and Garnish along with libations from Spirit Hound Distillers and B Town Wine + Spirits. This year, the event is held in conjunction with Sounds of Lyons, which takes place from 1-5 p.m. and features classical musical performances and an interactive session where participants can express the listening experience through brush and canvas.  Visit http://www.bouldercountyarts.org or call 303-447-2422 to learn more.

September 3
Hard Rock Mining Tour
Boulder County Parks & Open Space presents a three-hour journey, Sept. 3 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., to explore the towns, tools and people of local hard rock mining heritage by visiting mining sites of years gone by. The tour is free and open to ages 10 and up. Some walking required and space is limited. Participants will meet at the Nederland Park N’ Ride, 300 Jackson St. Visit http://www.bouldercounty.org to learn more.

National Park Service celebrates Centennial

ESTES PARK
On Aug. 25, the National Park Service turns 100. The Centennial will celebrate the achievements of the past 100 years, but it is really about the future. It’s about kicking off a second century of stewardship for America’s national parks and for communities across the nation.

The National Park Service and National Park Foundation are working closely with partners and stakeholders across the country to ensure that the Centennial is more than a birthday. The organization wants people everywhere to embrace the opportunities to explore, learn, be inspired or simply have fun in their 407 national parks, as well as understand how the National Park Service’s community-based recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs positively impact their own communities.

In celebration of the upcoming National Park Service Centennial, the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service kicked off the Find Your Park movement to inspire all people to connect with, enjoy, and support America’s national parks. We invite those who already know and love the parks and also the next generation of visitors, supporters, and advocates to join the movement at FindYourPark.com and by using #FindYourPark on social media.

Colorado has dozens of ways to discover federal lands across the state, including four national parks— Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison—eight national monuments, 11 national forests, three national historic sites, two national grasslands and more.

Visit nps.gov to learn more about the National Park Service and Colorado’s parks.