Best mid-May through end of June 

Take an easy hike into a Boulder birding hot-spot to search for colorful migratory song birds 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!

Best mid-March through mid-April

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.

Best December through March

Watch majestic birds of prey wheel and hunt over the prairie near Boulder Reservoir. Some of our raptors are year-round residents; others come to Boulder just to spend the winter. Bring binoculars, spotting scopes, guidebooks, and any level of experience.

Best on a full moon May through October
As a spooky full moon rises over the land, we’ll wander into the mysterious world of nocturnal animals. Explore your senses in the darkness: listen like a bat, smell like a moth, feel with your whiskers and learn to see by moonlight. Find out why the dark is not as scary as it seems.

Best May through July
Learn amazing stuff about Boulder’s favorite rodent on this short, easy hike. We’ll visit a prairie dog town to observe day-to-day life, this year’s babies, just emerged, and see how prairie dogs are an important part of the grassland ecosystem. Bring a camera for close-up photos!

Best December through March

Do all the best birds fly south for the winter? No way! Some of our most beautiful—and comical—residents stay here all year long. Join a winter bird watching safari to meet these little feathered marvels.

May through October
Wildflowers are in full bloom - fireworks in white, purple and yellow! And every flower has a crazy-amazing pollination story: :invisible colors, strange scents, flowers shaped just like a particular bug. Take a leisurely hike to look for pollinating insects in action and learn about the mind-blowing world of pollinators.

Best May through September
Insects are everywhere!  A million different kinds have been discovered and more are waiting to be found. We’ll catch and release many kinds of bugs for up-close study and learn what makes this ancient group of animals so successful.  You never knew bugs could be so cool!

Best August through October
In fall, Boulder’s black bears are actively feeding to get ready for winter. With a little luck, we might get to see them! Learn what to do if you meet one on the trail. Taste bear food (and if you’re really brave) sniff some bear scat! And find out how you can help keep Boulder’s bears safe and healthy.

Offered any season

Many would-be birders are intimidated by identical little birds with similar names. Can’t tell a Yellow-breasted Noddlehatch from a White-winged Towhagen? Come along for a fun, kid-friendly introduction to birds.

Best on a full moon January through March
Venture into the world of owls as the full moon rises over the prairie. Leafless cottonwood trees become black twisted shapes against the sky. This is the world of the great horned owl, -- a powerful and mysterious nocturnal predator.