Nature and Raptor Center

11/22/2024

Recent photos from Earthkeeper Nature School.

🌿The best school is a nature school!

11/22/2024

Every year, our River Campus experiences at least one severe summer thunderstorm - but usually at least three - resulting in dangerous flash floods. This happens when rainfall beats down on the prairie bluffs above us, and large amounts of water and mud race down to cover the land. This video is from just one of the floods we got last year, in August 2023.

These floods damage our irrigation systems, uproot our gardens, and cause water to seep into our main buildings. Repair and clean-up is time-consuming and costly. As a hard-working non-profit with a small Maintenance team, these floods really set us back, and we often have to close our entire campus before we can become operational again.

It doesn't have to be this way. We are raising $10,000 through our Colorado Gives Day campaign to strategically and proactively address these floods. With your help, we can enact crucial flood prevention measures like water diversion routes, landscaping, and drainage! We love our River Campus and want to ensure it can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come.

Learn more about our cause and donate here: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Ebmv5f

11/22/2024

Come learn more about the charming history of the Beulah Yule Log Festival by checking out this festive exhibit on the third floor of the Rawlings Library! The Beulah Yule Log Festival has been held almost every year since 1952, but how much do you know about its rich history? Learn more about one of Beulah's longest running traditions by checking out this exhibit on the third floor of the Rawlings Library! This exhibit will be on display from November 8th through December 31st.

11/21/2024

Colorado Gives Day is 12/10. Give the gift of nature this giving season!

This year, NWDC is reaching high with a fundraising goal of $65,000! With your help, we know we can achieve this.

https://app.robly.com/archive?id=45d7fc9ab0e772ab2ac98476470b3246&v=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawGtsz9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHV3eJXZATWHIV5NmE-LCYiQb6DpPd9wBeCCy6kxPvb40ChhXemDNKqVAYA_aem_f0RQf4pnv5-gsfR9efANBg

11/21/2024

Join the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society on Saturday, November 23, at the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center River Campus for an enjoyable outing to view and identify a variety of birds. Suitable for families and birders of all levels. BYOB! Bring Your Own Binoculars.

Learn more: https://hikeandlearn.org/programs-and-events/15338/avas-4th-saturday-bird-walks/

This program is FREE, and registration is not required. A $5 parking pass is required to park in the Main Parking Lot of the River Campus. All proceeds support our injured bird of prey rehabilitation efforts at the Raptor Center.

Date: 4th Saturday of every month

Time:
8 am - 9 am from June - September
9 am - 10 am from October - May

Meeting location: River Deck, NWDC River Campus, 5200 Nature Center Road, Pueblo, CO 81003

11/20/2024

🙌🏻 Community Spotlight: Schakara & Muki, Youth Program Scholarship Recipients!

Muki is one of our beloved Earthkeeper Nature School learners! He and his family benefit from an NWDC youth program scholarship to help with his annual tuition.

We are currently raising money for more scholarships through our Colorado Gives Day campaign, which culminates on Tuesday, December 10th. With your help, more children than ever can receive scholarships in 2025. Every dollar counts towards this amazing cause!

DONATE NOW: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Xfbpbg

Q: Why did you choose Earthkeeper Nature School for Muki's nature school experience?
A: Earthkeeper aligns with our family values, fostering a deep connection to nature, hands-on learning experiences, and a focus on holistic development. It aligns with our family beliefs of nurturing creativity, independence, and environmental stewardship.

Q: Why is being a part of a nature school so important to you and your family?
A: For my family, it ensures my son has the opportunity to grow up with a sense of wonder, balance, and respect for nature, while also developing essential life skills through outdoor exploration. It ties into my value of soul care and spirituality, living in tune with the world around you.

Q: What is one of your favorite stories Muki has brought home to share with you?
A: Hearing his nature school experiences every day brings me so much joy. I love seeing his excitement to go to school every day. He truly enjoys his Rangers and friends. His favorite campus is the River Campus; he looks forward to playing with water and interacting with the river.

Q: How has receiving a scholarship has impacted Muki and your family positively?
A: Many ways; access to opportunities gives him an enriched education. Financial relief easing pressure and freeing up resources for family needs. A sense of gratitude and community knowing others believe in this program and our children.

Thank you for your kind words, Schakara! Muki’s bright personality and love for nature inspire his friends and our Rangers every day.

📸: Mad Fresh Productions/Javier Quinones

If we meet $20,000, we can provide more students than ever with outdoor educational programs.

11/20/2024

Join us on 12/21 for our FREE Winter Solstice Celebration! We will have a wild owl release, luminaria walk, drum circle, holiday carols, and more!

Register now: https://forms.hikeandlearn.org/np/clients/nwdc/event.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&event=3

Learn more:
https://app.robly.com/archive?id=d2b517fa970db914dac58fb940114abb&v=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawGrR4dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSuHhQ_oDm5KqJ_tHolBeB8P9Hnr_R4P3WI-rJle2dkC2oYDpsqwvV8_SA_aem_v_Yz7TT35_9hFBhdxCl5JA

As a sponsor, YOU can support this signature event. Your generosity makes it free and accessible for all! Email [email protected] to learn more.

11/19/2024

🌿 From the Field

“One cold morning while walking near the River Campus, I noticed a small group of mallard ducks on the Arkansas River. Why wouldn't these ducks migrate for the winter like so many other waterfowl species do? Luckily, they have several adaptations that allow them to survive living in Pueblo for the winter.

First, these mallards spend most of their time searching for food. This large time spent eating creates a small fat reserve which they then live off of when conditions are really harsh. Secondly, the ducks also spend a lot of time resting which conserves energy. While resting, the mallard will bring one foot up towards its body and bury it in the feathers. Just like that, they have eliminated nearly 50 percent of their heat loss. It also twists its neck toward its back and buries its bill into feathers.

Finally, the mallard has a unique heat exchange between arteries and veins in their feet. The arteries and veins are so close together that the warm arterial blood actually warms up the cold venous blood coming from the foot so that the duck's body isn't "shocked" by cold blood. Remember, that duck's foot might be in close contact with ice! A slight warming of the venous blood can keep the foot from developing frostbite. With this system, having a foot temperature closer to the outside temperature actually conserves heat.

So, what can humans learn from these adaptations that a duck has to help us be more comfortable in cold conditions? On cold days, our bodies require more food as we are burning energy just to stay warm. Get something easy to snack on like nuts, dried fruit, or protein bars while hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing. Like a duck, you have permission to eat all day long!

Humans don't have a unique heat exchange system in their feet or highly insulated feathers covering our bodies, but we can easily dress in layers including our feet, hands, neck, and head. By covering any exposed skin, we can minimize heat loss and stay warm. The adaptation that I most enjoy taking on in winter is resting a lot to conserve energy. In fact, I feel a nap coming on right now!”

- Ranger T

11/18/2024

If you haven't done one of our public guided raptor tours yet, what are you waiting for?

Starting at just $3/ticket, you can explore our raptor enclosures, meet our incredible resident birds of prey, and learn their backstories! We host these tours just about every other Saturday, including November 16th and 30th.

Book your tour now: https://hikeandlearn.org/programs-and-events/category/weekendraptortours/

Our team of staff and volunteers are friendly, knowledgeable, and excited to share fascinating facts about these majestic creatures, from their hunting habits to their unique lifestyles. Each bird has its own personal story, making this tour truly special. Come on out to our Raptor Center, and make memories with your family that will last a lifetime!

11/16/2024

🌿 Tips & Tricks From the Field

The Outdoor Explorations Program (OEP) is our supplemental nature-based homeschool program for children ages K-8th grade. Kids in OEP spend their day with us learning a stem-based curriculum, in the great outdoors! Here is a helpful tip from Ranger Sarah on how your child can stay well-fueled throughout a full day of exploration.

“Packing enough food for lunch and two snack times can be difficult! How do you choose the right foods to fuel your child through the day? How do you know if they’re going to be ravenous today or not have much of an appetite? Lunch box packing can be downright stressful!

When I pack my lunch for the day, I am often thinking first of what food I have leftover in the fridge that needs to be eaten. Portable leftovers can be a great foundation for lunch! If I don’t have leftovers, I’ll often go for a sandwich. PB&J is safest and easiest for me! Then I look through what other portable foods I have! I usually try to have a grain, a protein, a fruit, and a vegetable if possible. I pack extra of these just for snack time!”

11/13/2024

"A solid choice for a picnic and hike around the park that's appropriate for little ones. The playground, beautiful views, and serene atmosphere will keep us coming back." - LXG

Have you visited the Pueblo Mountain Park recently? It's waiting for you! A peaceful walk through nature is just a few footsteps away.

The Pueblo Mountain Park is open:

May 1 – September 30
6:30 am – 9 pm

October 1 – April 30
6:30 am – 6 pm

11/12/2024

NWDC offers Environmental Excursions for ALL AGES! Book a hike, raptor presentation, or challenge course program today.

https://app.robly.com/archive?id=28f4edef692636c4fab9c232895c7c41&v=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawGoiOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZPAnR9sGgqDQ4CcYrN2ONnB8llRB888kalRuLoqg6lWiljY39cmpV6ZiA_aem_lVX0k8splndEiHlbGkteTQ

11/12/2024

It's giving season, and what better gift to give than access to the great outdoors? This year, NWDC is reaching high with a fundraising goal of $65,000! With your help, we know we can achieve this. Every dollar raised for NWDC will go towards programs and items that are essential for further connecting our community to nature, as well as the future success of our organization.

DONATE NOW: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/NWDC

Fundraising Breakdown:

🌱 $10,000 for flood prevention measures at the River Campus.
🌱 $20,000 for youth program scholarships.
🌱 $35,000 to help us implement our strategic plan.

As a special incentive, ALL donations made toward our Colorado Gives Day campaign will be entered into prize drawings!

🌱 Any donation: NWDC-guided hike for a group of 10.
🌱 $100+ Donation: 1-hr raptor presentation at our scenic Riverside Pavilion on the banks of the Arkansas River.
🌱 $250+ Donation: Raptor release with an NWDC-catered picnic lunch.
🌱 $500+ Donation: Overnight stay at the Horseshoe Lodge, with a guided hike, picnic lunch, and raptor presentation.

11/11/2024

🌿 Updates From the Field

"24-25 Earth Studies Off to a Strong Start"

After the rush of in-class visits, District 60 fifth graders are starting to complete their first Earth Studies visits with us! This year, we switched things up. Their first visit is at the River Campus rather than the Mountain Campus. The change has allowed students to ease into outdoor adventures (sometimes for the first time!) in a more familiar and less challenging environment.

So far, the students and I have enjoyed morning hikes in the shortgrass prairie of the River Campus before the heat gets too intense. Check out one of my groups enjoying the view from the top of a prairie hill, and the baby praying mantis another of my groups was observant enough to find!

- Ranger Sarah

Earth Studies is a comprehensive, outdoor-based nature education program that explores different life zones and ecosystems at our 611-acre Pueblo Mountain Campus near Beulah, CO and near the banks of the Arkansas River at our River Campus in Pueblo. The program currently consists of several full days of experiential education spread over the school year. Lessons are built around natural science themes and cover state and district educational standards in all the major academic fields. Earth Studies strives to serve every fifth grade student in Pueblo District 60 (averaging over 1,000 students per year).

Check out our November Ranger Ramblings for more program updates and a look ahead at December: https://hikeandlearn.org/media/ranger-ramblings/november-2024-ranger-ramblings/