Nature Walk N' Talks - June 16th

8181 South Parker Road,Centennial CO 80016

16 June, 2021

Description

Meet us at the Arapahoe County Open Spaces 17 Mile House for a fun, family-friendly nature walk! Join experts with Arapahoe County Open Spaces, CSU Extension, Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners, and Denver Audubon for a new collaborative series of nature programs! The nature walks will take place at the 17 Mile House Farm Park, a 155-year old farm which served as an important resting stop for pioneers traveling on the Cherokee/Smoky Hill wagon trails in the 1860’s. Each program will include interpretative hikes perfect for families of all ages. All three hikes will cover topics centered around the local ecosystem including native plants, insects, birds, watershed health, history of the 17 Mile House, and wildlife. We will discuss how to improve our observation skills by using our eyes, ears, hands, and nose and through journaling. Content will be different at each program. Feel free to join us for one hike or attend all of them! Nature Walk N' Talks will take place on: May 26th – 6-8pm June 16th – 6-8pm July 7th – 6-8pm Please wear appropriate shoes, sun covering or sunscreen and bring water. Feel free to bring a hand lens or magnifying glass, a nature journal, and/or binoculars. For the safety of all participants, all students and trainers will follow Tri-County Health guidelines at all times during the class including, but not limited to, wearing masks and adhering to appropriate social distancing. Meet Your Instructors: Each course will include three instructors each with a unique expertise. Together, they will provide a big-picture view of the prairie ecosystems in our community. Casey Davenhill and Elena Smith with the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners will provide education around the importance of watershed health, and the history of the 17 Mile House. Lisa Mason, Horticulture Agent with CSU Extension will share knowledge about insects, arthropods, and native plants in the area. Kate Hogan, Community Outreach Coordinator at Denver Audubon will have their eyes and ears open to teach participants about birds in the area, identification tips by sight and sound.