Dave Sutherland, community naturalist
Award-winning environmental educator creatively guiding the Boulder community through the great outdoors
Dave has been a field naturalist for over 25 years in Boulder Colorado.
Now recently retired, he is serving his community by offering free nature hikes and programs in conjunction with local organizations, promoting native plant gardens, and writing natural history content on social media.
A Few Examples - Free Programs and Hikes
Below are some examples of programs Dave offers free of charge to community groups and schools in the Boulder area. Your group can request a program! If your group is interested in something not on this list, Contact Dave. He may be able to develop a program for you! What you see below is just a sampling.
See More: Wildflowers & Botany Programs • Wildlife & Birdwatching Programs • Rocks, Stars & Ecosystems • Nature in Music Hikes • Wish List to Improve Programs
Learn why gardening with natives benefits local ecosystems and how to grow Boulder’s native plants in gardens, so you can enjoy local wildflowers, shrubs and grasses in your own yard.
Venture into the world of owls as the full moon rises over the prairie. Leafless cottonwood trees become black twisted shapes against the sky. You won’t need a flashlight: by the light of the moon, you’ll see like an owl in the dark!
If you think geology is fascinating but just too hard, this is the program for you. Boulder’s rocks tell incredible stories that include dinosaurs, glaciers, vast swamps, oceans and ancient mountain ranges now vanished into the dust of time.
When spring springs, thousands of water birds leave their southern homes for the breeding grounds of the north. Take an early morning hike to spy on migrating ducks, geese and shore birds. Birders of all abilities welcome. (If you like this one, join us for the Hawk Walk in winter!)
Rich with meaning and memories, our favorite landscapes speak to us in many ways: joy, beauty, nostalgia, awe, even dissonance. How do composers capture the essence of the land in music? Hike and sample classical music that envokes our sense of place.
Visit a local hot spot to search for colorful migratory songbirds newly arrived from the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. We will use Birds of Costa Rica as our guide book in the field. - no joke!
