970-479-2291      |      Fax 970-479-2894     |      nature@vailrec.com 

New! Adventure Wednesdays  
Enjoy a variety of activities with the Vail Nature Center. Upcoming activities, for ages 16 and older, include:
July 20 - Take a Llama to Lunch. Spend the morning on a leisurely hike, getting to know these gentle, intelligent and curious pack animals while they carry your gear. Cost is $89 and includes llamas and guides and picnic lunch. 
July 27 - Ducky the Colorado River. Moderate paddle trip, no experience required. Cost is $55 and includes transportation and all river gear.
Aug. 3 - Horseback in the Flat Tops. Enjoy an easy and informative ride with great views of scenery and Ute pictographs. Cost is &50 and includes transportation, guided horseback ride and lunch.
Aug. 17 - Croquet at Ford Park at 11:30 a.m. A fun, friendly competition that's free - unless you lose or cheat (in which case you owe the Nature Center a donation!)
Aug. 24 - Bowling Night at 5 p.m. Bring your friends and join us at Bol Vail in Solaris. Cost is $25 and includes lane and shoe rental.
Call to reserve a spot!

Free Creekside Nature Tours, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sundays. Depart from the Vail Farmers' Market
Join the Nature Center for a casual stroll along Vail's streamside paths. Tours depart from the Vail Nature Center booth at the Vail Farmers' Market Sundays throughout the summer. No reservations required.

Wildflower Walk, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays, June 20 to Mid-August
Join Nature Center staff on a leisurely one hour walk through the woods and meadows and learn about the flowers that carpet the mountains and the conditions they need to thrive. Costs are $3 or $2 for Vail Recreation District residents. No reservations required.
 
Evening Beaver Pond Tour, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 16 to Mid-August
Beavers are one of the animals that define the Rocky Mountains and Vail is lucky to have a healthy beaver population right in town. The evening begins at the Nature Center with a brief presentation about beavers, followed by a drive to a beaver pond where there is an active lodge. Bring warm clothes and a flashlight. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five.

Family Fun Night Guest Speaker Series, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 29, July 6, July 20 and Aug. 3
An evening of discovery as the Nature Center hosts exceptional guest speakers from around the state. Family Fun Night takes place Wednesdays throughout the month of July and will include raptor experts, bee keepers, Native American history speakers and more. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five. Call for reservations.

Morning Bird Walk, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 14 to Mid-August
Join Nature Center staff for a morning walk through the meadows and woods along the Gore Creek to learn about a great variety of birds, what they need and how you can attract birds to your own backyard. Costs are $3 or $2 for Vail Recreation District residents. No reservations required.

S'mores and More: Family Campfire Program, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, June 17 to Mid-August
A warm campfire, exciting stories of woodland adventures and the sweet smell of burning marshmallows fill this family program at the Vail Nature Center. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five.

Stories in the Sky: Stargazing 
8:45 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, June and July, beginning June 21
8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays,  August 
From endless constellations, cascading shooting stars and full moons almost as bright as the sun, these are the realities in the mountains of Vail that should be experienced by all. Costs are $5 per child, $10 per adult or $30 for a family of five.

NEW! Wild Kid Nature Hikes, Noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 25 to Mid-August
 The Wild Kids Nature hikes will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for families with children 7 and older. Nature Center naturalists will take kids on fun, easy, and activity-filled hikes throughout Vail to discover the local flora and fauna. Themes and activities will change each week. Parents are encouraged to join the hikes. Cost is $25 per child.

NEW! Nature’s Bounty Native Plants Workshop, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, June 18 to mid-August
In the Rockies, we are fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of beauty and biodiversity. You may have taken hundreds of pictures of that pretty little purple flower, but what is it called, and how do you tell the difference between that and the other purple flower? Learn the basic skills you need to identifying local plants, as well as fascinating information about their historic and modern uses. What berries are edible, what plants might save your life if you were stranded in the backcountry? Our expert naturalists will teach you. Cost is $35 per class. Adults age 16 and older.