ESTES PARK
Winter presents many challenges for the plants and animals that call Rocky Mountain National Park home. For visitors to the park, it seems that survival in these conditions is near impossible, but for the wildlife the secret to survival is hidden just under the surface of the Colorado snowpack.

Learn how plants and animals survive the winter in RMNP with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute on Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, March 4 or March 18 on the Winter Ecology Snowshoe Trek for Kids and Families. This four hour snowshoe adventure will take participants through scenic areas of Wild Basin as the group looks at how different trees, understory plants, and animals all adapt to the winter climate in the park.

The properties of snow play a large role in these species survival and participants will learn what those properties are. By the end of the hike participants will have an understanding of how species adapt to winter and how humans can also stay safe while hiking at this time. Hike’s will be led by Dominic Rickicki, current Olson Family Fellow. Originally from Buffalo, NY Dominic went to Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondack Mountains, but has spent three summers in Estes Park, and loves enjoying all that winter offers.

To register, go online to www.rmconservancy.org and click on the Learn With Us tab, or call the office at 970-586- 3262.