The Roxborough Rambles

Naturalist-guided Activities at Roxborough State Park

July- August– September 2020 4751 East Roxborough Drive. Roxborough, CO 80125 (303) 973-3959

The Friends of Roxborough supports nature education and special projects at Roxborough State Park.

Park Hours July 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. Daily August 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Daily September 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Daily

Visitor Center Hours July, August, and September 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Weekends

Sunrise Park Openings Enjoy early openings to get in a refreshing hike or take some early morning photos. Early openings include: Everyday in July at 5 a.m., everyday in August at 6 a.m. and September 19 at 6:30 a.m.

Park Passes A Colorado State Parks Pass is required on all vehicles entering the park. Daily passes are $9. Annual passes are $80 or $120 (hang-tag) and are good at all 40+ Colorado State Parks for twelve months.

Cosar Card Purchase one or five year Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue cards at the Visitor Center.

Roxborough Ride

Fridays, Saturdays, and the first Sunday of the month May through October at 10 a.m.

Take a naturalist guided tour in this five passenger electric golf cart around the Fountain Valley Trail. Reservations on Eventbrite are required for all rides. All children must be accompanied by an adult and small children must be in a car seat (not provided).

Special Rox-Ride Monday & Tuesday with Advance Reservation

Roxborough is beautiful in the summer, take a naturalist guided tour around the Fountain Valley Trail and enjoy the season. Call Angel Tobin at (303) 973-3959 to schedule. A two week notice is required to secure a driver. Donations are requested for vehicle maintenance.

Registering Procedure for Public Programs

Due to COVID-19, we have precautions in place for hikes and programs. We are limiting group size to 10, there must be a 6ft. distance between people, but you can stand together if you live in the same household. You must wear a mask. If you do not want or can’t wear a mask, please consider not signing up for any events and wait until the restrictions are lifted. Roxborough State Park uses Eventbrite to register for most of our public programs.

You will still call or mail in payment to reserve for Moonlight Hikes.

Please sign up for all other programs through Eventbrite. A link to Eventbrite can be found on our website http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Roxborough, and on our events Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/roxboroughstatepark.

We do not take phone reservations, but please do call if you need assistance.

As always, our program dates and events can be found on our website, in our Rambles Program Guide, and on our Facebook page.

In Progress: Legacy Garden

Last August, a team of volunteers and staff started working in the area immediately to the west of the Visitor Center, creating a Legacy Garden; a space to honor the dedication of individuals – past, present and yet to come – who have left a legacy of caring and making this a special place.

New features will include additional benches, samples of local rock formations, native trees and seasonal wildflowers. A handicap accessible brick path will lead from the patio to the Fountain Valley Trail. The garden will include a tribute to Vickey Trammell, whose early work shaped the volunteer and educational programs.

Make environmental protection and education part of your legacy by donating to the Friends of Roxborough State Park Legacy Fund. For more information stop by the front desk at the Visitor Center.

Funding for the printing of the Roxborough Rambles is provided by the Friends of Roxborough State Park.

Roxborough Rambles July—August—September 2020 (303) 973-3959 E-mail: roxborough.park@state.co.us Page 2 Website: www.cpw.state.co.us

Roxborough Revealed Naturalist Led Hikes & Programs

Reservations are required.

Saturday, July 4 Walk & Talk Through History Naturalist Roger White 9 a.m.

Saturday, July 11 Whoo’s Watching You: Inside Naturalist Linda Lawson 9 a.m.

Saturday, July 18 Nature Hike Naturalist Kevin Schaal 9 a.m.

Saturday, July 25 Animals of Roxborough: Inside Naturalist Sue Klinke 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 1 Wildflower Hike Naturalist Ann Sarg 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8 Lyons Overlook/Fountain Valley Trail Naturalist Juli Brant 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15 Walk and Talk through History Naturalist Roger White 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug 22 Lyons Overlook/Fountain Valley Trail Naturalist Juli Brant 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 29 Pleistocene Mega Fauna: Inside Naturalist Betsy Healey 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 5 Walk and Talk through History Naturalist Roger White 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12 Ecosystems & Important Species at the Park: Inside Naturalist Betsy Healey 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19 Bears Get Ready for Winter: Inside Naturalist Linda Lawson 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26 Meditative Walk Naturalist Kathy Ford 9 a.m.

History & Geology

Stephen Long’s Expedition 200th Anniversary Tuesday, July 7 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Join Naturalist Sue Schleuder in the auditorium to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Stephen Long Expedition’s arrival. This is a fun, fast-paced hour-long video presentation written and produced by former Roxborough Volunteer Bob Heapes.*RR/VC Historic Persse Place Open House Sunday, Aug. 2 & Sept. 6 Noon - 3 p.m.

Hike the Fountain Valley Trail to this nationally registered historic home. Naturalists on-site will show you around and share stories of days past.

Celebrate Geology Day! Saturday, Sept. 19 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Geology is fun! Join a presentation in the auditorium, check out the park’s collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils and take a hike with a geologist to discover what makes Roxborough a geologic wonder. Don’t forget to check out the paleontology exhibit inside the visitor center.*RR/VC for Hikes. Geology Hike: South Rim 9 a.m. This is a 3-mile hike with a 300ft+ elevation gain.

Geology Presentation in Auditorium Noon Family Geology Hike: Fountain Valley Trail 1 p.m. This is a 2.2 mile hike with slight elevation changes.

Overlook Deck Rentals

Roxborough rents out our two overlooks for weddings and other events. The Fountain Valley Overlook is a very short walk from the Visitor Center and the Lyons Overlook is a half mile hike down the Fountain Valley Trail. Both allow for a beautiful back-drop. It is truly beautiful!

Both decks have a maximum capacity of 25 people.

Call the Park at (303) 973-3959 for more information.

*RR= Reservations required for most hikes on Eventbrite. VC = Meet at Visitor Center.

Guided Bird Walks

Sunday, July 19 & Aug. 16 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 7:30 a.m. Naturalist Jill Holden

Grab your bird book and binoculars and join us for bird watching adventures. These hikes are for all ability levels. Dress for changing weather conditions. *RR/VC

Roxborough Rambles July—August—September 2020 (303) 973-3959 E-mail: roxborough.park@state.co.us Page 3 Website: www.cpw.state.co.us

* RR= Reservations required for most of these hikes on Eventbrite. VC = Meet at Visitor Center.

Photographing Roxborough’s Landscapes and Flowers

Sunday, July 12 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Join Naturalist Bob Rabito for a day of photographic adventures! Bob is an award winning, professional photographer of 42 years. Start with a presentation in the auditorium to learn how to visualize your subjects as a photographer would and discuss various techniques such as cropping, composition, lighting, and background in order to get the final image you want. A hike will follow to photograph the beautiful flowers and landscapes of Roxborough using the approach and techniques you just learned. *RR/VC

Just for Kids

Junior Ranger & Naturalist Program

Become a Junior Ranger and Junior Naturalist!

Families can spend time together as they discover the many wonders of Roxborough State Park. Gain knowledge of nature in this outdoor wonderland.

Kids can earn a Certificate of Completion in one visit or continue on for their Junior Ranger Badge (ages 3-6) or official Junior Naturalist Patch (ages 7-12) which will require multiple visits! One Naturalist led hike required for badge and two Naturalist led hikes are required for patch. Ask for a booklet for more details. Reservations for all programs required on Eventbrite.

Junior Ranger: Where Eagles Fly-Storytime Saturday, August 15 1-2 p.m.

Join Naturalist, author and illustrator, Paula Scirati as she reads her children’s picture book, Where Eagles Fly. This story about Golden Eagles is set in beautiful Roxborough State Park. Learn about what makes birds of prey so special and different from other birds. End with a hands-on activity. Geared for ages 3-6. *RR/VC

Junior Naturalist: Forecast for Fountain Valley Fun Saturday, September 19 1 to 3 p.m.

Hang onto your hats, this hike will be blowing in a senior meteorologist major from Metro State of Denver! Kaylee Reynolds, a storm chaser and broadcaster of weekly weather reports at Met Media, will be bringing in a "front" of info about how weather affects wildlife, weather patterns at Roxborough State Park, our time spent outdoors and more! Join Naturalist Sally Anderson for this "right as rain" time! Geared for ages 7-12. *RR/VC

Junior Naturalist: Whoo’s Who in the Owl World Sunday, Sept. 20 1- 2:30 p.m.

Join Naturalist Ann Sarg and learn all about owls. Discover how they see in the dark, have great hearing, and fly silently. Discover what they eat and dissect an owl pellet. What's an owl pellet? Join us and find out! Geared for ages 7-12. *RR/VC

Junior Ranger: Falling Rainbows: Hike Friday, Sept. 11 11 a.m.

Join Naturalist Alex Stockon for a short story of a rainbow falling out of the sky and onto the trees, flowers and ground. Go on a short hike to discover the colors and shapes in nature Geared for ages 3-6. *RR/VC

Weed Awareness

Information Table

Saturday,

Come

Center patio to see and learn

weeds found along the Front Native Plant Masters

will be available to answer Bring your

Rambles Mailing List Email: roxborough.park@state.co.us. Email us and request to be on the Rambles distribution list.

Mail: 4751 East Roxborough Drive. Roxborough, CO 80125 Attn: Rambles Mailing. Please send four self-addressed, stamped envelopes.

Online: Go to cpw.state.co.us, go to Roxborough and download a copy of the “Rambles” located on the right side.

Poison Ivy

Note: Contact us if you require reasonable accommodations due to a disability 7 working days prior to the event you want to participate in.

Poison Hemlock

A Meditative Walk in Nature Saturday, July 11 8:30- 10 a.m. Join Naturalist Kathy Ford on a meditative hike in the park to discover what natural wonders have to teach us about silence. Reservations are required on Eventbrite.

Educational programming is funded in part by the Friends of Roxborough. Support Roxborough by joining today!

Roxborough Rambles July—August—September 2020 (303) 973-3959 E-mail: roxborough.park@state.co.us Page 4 Website: www.cpw.state.co.us

Educators

We have Naturalist-led hikes for all ages. Ask about our standards-based school programs. Call our Volunteer & Interpretive Services Manager, Angel Tobin at (303) 973-3959 X15 for more information and to schedule. Call today!

Friends of Roxborough

The Friends of Roxborough is a not-for-profit 501(c)3, and operates by the generous time of volunteers. Our mission since 1993 is to acquire land and support nature education here at the park. All proceeds stay in the park to further this mission. For additional information, email: friendsrspsec@gmail.com.

Additionally we are a proud partner with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. We are very excited to announce we achieved the Leave No Trace Gold Standard designation in 2018!

Moonlight Hikes– Friends Sponsored

Join Naturalists for an evening hike. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are restructuring to small groups and limited reservations. A fee of $8.00 per hiker is required. Call the park at (303) 973.3959 to confirm availability. Your spot is reserved at payment. You can send a check payable to the Friends of Roxborough to 4751 E. Roxborough Drive, Roxborough, CO 80125 until one week prior to the event or pay by credit card in person or by phone. No payments are taken the evening of the event.

There is an $9 gate entrance fee per vehicle entering the park. Children under 8 years old are not recommended and all others must be accompanied by an adult. We will send non-refundable tickets for confirmed hikes.

Moonlight Hike Dates: July 3 @ 7 p.m. Aug. 2 @ 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31 @ 6 p.m. Sept. 30 @ 6 p.m. Oct. 30 @ 6 p.m.

Summer Concerts– Friends Sponsored

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are postponing all concerts until 2021. Look to the Rambles next year for updates.

Partners with Leave No Trace

Roxborough State Park is a formal partner with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Supported by the Friends, we are using this partnership to integrate Leave No Trace principles into our educational programs which in turn will further educate our visitors and school groups in how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

*RR= Reservations required for most hikes on Eventbrite. VC = Meet at Visitor Center.

Leave No Trace at Roxborough Update

Since receiving Gold Standard designation in 2018, our Leave No Trace program has continued to educate visitors on the importance and the how’s of recreating outdoors responsibly. Leave No Trace is fully integrated into all that we do at Roxborough State Park and we are seeing the benefits. Some recent highlights: Big Foot Day 2019 (Big Foot is the mascot of Leave No Trace) touched over 400 people with the Leave No Trace principles.

We now have a fantastic puppet show on Leave No Trace principles geared towards 3 – 6 year olds.

Our recently “planted” trash garden is attracting a lot of attention and educating people on the impacts of leaving trash on our trails.

Our program model is being used at other CPW sites Being the first Gold Standard site in Colorado, Roxborough is setting the standard. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is using our model nationwide. Consider donating to the Leave No Trace initiative via Friends of Roxborough State Park and become a member of Leave No Trace at www.lnt.org.

Visit our Visitor Center bookstore. We have a large variety of nature titles, trail guides, and

clothing. Also ask to see our DVD presentations “Footprints of Past and Present” and

“Leave No Trace”.

Take a Hike! Roxborough has great hiking. Call us for

more information and trail conditions. We suggest planning your hike during the week or very early on the week-end. We have limited parking and

may go to capacity as early as 9 a.m!