El Paso County Kite Festival Saturday, June 14, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastonville Road, just north of Falcon High School and Londonderry Drive Celebrate mother nature’s gift of wind and fill the sky with color! Bring your friends and family to fly a kite, create a wind propelled craft project, eat a delicious treat, explore vendors,…
Paint Mines Guided Hikes at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park 29950 Paint Mines Road, Calhan, CO 80808 9:30-11:30 am June 7 & 21 | July 5 & 26 | August 9 & 23 September 13 & 27 | October 11 & 18 Head out east to enjoy a 2-hour long journey through Paint Mines Interpretive…
Bunco at Bear Creek Nature Center Friday, August 29, 5:00pm 245 Bear Creek Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Let’s play Bunco in the Nature Center! Join us for a wonderful evening of excitement, laughs, and rolling dice. We will provide dice, score cards, food, and prizes. Unlike other Bunco parties, this Bunco party is for…
Saturday, June 21, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Artists of all abilities will enjoy a creative experience while supporting El Paso County Nature Centers! Join us at Painting with a Twist (Powers location) for an afternoon of drinks, snacks, and step-by-step instruction while creating a lovely landscape painting. Prepaid registration required. $39-49, per painter. Click…
Saturday, July 26, 2025 Spend a morning hiking around Fountain Creek Nature Center practicing photography basics and mindfulness. Bring your camera/cell phone or borrow one from Shutter & Strum (limited quantity available). Participants will select one photo to be printed and displayed during the month of October as part of the Rotating Art Exhibit! For…
Friday, April 11, 7:30 ~ 7:45 ~ 8:00 12791 Squirrel Creek Road, Colorado Springs 80928 Enjoy the wide-open skies of Kane Ranch Open Space after dark! Take a hike viewing open skies and listening to star stories along the way. Then, alongside the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, view the wonders of the night sky. $5…
245 Bear Creek Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-520-6387
Experience the therapeutic practice of Shinrinyoku and awaken your senses with a slow, mindful walk through the woods and a beautiful tea ceremony.
Prepaid registration required. $30 per person // $20 per member.
Get up close with the birds of Bear Creek with Dr. Claire Ramos and students from Colorado State University Pueblo at this one-day banding station!
Data collected at banding stations increases our understanding of migratory routes, health, and range as well as detailed information about a site or species. Once captured, birds are weighed, measured, and receive a small metal ID band on their leg for future scientists to track. Our flock welcomes all– no birding experience required. Binoculars and field guides available to borrow from the Nature Center.
$5/person. Recommended ages 8+. Prepaid registration required.
Little bunnies can still get into big trouble! Join Peter Rabbit on his adventure through MacGregor’s garden. This interactive play, designed for ages 0-10, gives young kids permission to touch, wander, and chant along. After the show, we’ll take a short hike and make a bunny craft. Hop to see you there!
$10/person, Prepaid registration required.
Children, ages 4-5 with an adult, will enjoy hands-on activities, puppet shows or stories, crafts, and a hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
This guided walk incorporates a short hike with stops where participants will be offered prompts and invitations to sketch, photograph, journal and explore the beauty & wonders of the Bear Creek trails. Offered by ANFT certified Forest & Nature Therapy Guide, Tati McAlister. $30/person, $25/member. Prepaid registration required.
Discover the world of nature with your 2 or 3 year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. Child must be accompanied by an adult. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
This workshop will prepare you to participate in the Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas: catch and photograph bumble bees, submit your data, and even start to identify them to species! Anyone with an interest in bees is encouraged to attend – no prior experience needed! Contribute to a growing database utilized to implement conservation efforts for imperiled bumble bee species. Mountain States Bumble Bee Atlas is large-scale community science- gathering data to conserve our native bumble bees. To participate in the program after the workshop, you will need an insect net, vials or jars, a decent camera (including cell phone cameras), internet access for data submission, and a way to get to your survey sites to participate. $5/person, $4/member. All program costs support the
Friends of El Paso County Nature Centers. Scholarships available.
Be a steward of our parks and join the Restoration Crew at Bear Creek Nature Center. Work includes trail maintenance, introduced species removal, fire mitigation, and habitat restoration. Varying levels of work available at each workday.
Email kyleetaylor2@elpasoco.com to join!
Paint the many shades of Bear Creek Nature Center in this single session watercolor workshop. We’ll create a small painting or two illustrating the Nature Center’s creek side habitat. Weather permitting, we may take the class outdoors. All experience levels welcome. Adults only. Pre-teens and teens welcome with adult. $40 per person, prepaid registration required.
Bring $5 to borrow supplies day of. Supply list:
Prang 8-count pan set (found at Michael’s and various other stores)
140 lb watercolor paper (Strathmore works well)
size 11 round watercolor brush, Taklon or other soft hair
graphite pencil, eraser, and pencil sharpener
clipboard
cup for water
paper towels or wash rag
medicine dropper or other liquid dropper
masking tape/painter’s tape
Children, ages 4-5 with an adult, will enjoy hands-on activities, puppet shows or stories, crafts, and a hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
Discover the world of nature with your 2 or 3 year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. Child must be accompanied by an adult. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
Practice mindfulness in nature with your child! Use all your senses to experience nature in new ways and connect with yourself, your child, and nature. Enjoy a tea ceremony following the hike and mindful time.
Prepaid registration required for child only, parent must attend.
$25 per child // $20 per member child
The Bear Creek Restoration Crew conducts quarterly restoration projects including fire mitigation, trail maintenance, and invasive species removal. Varying levels of difficulty for each project.
Email kyleetaylor2@elpasoco.com to join upcoming workdays!
Join naturalist and community scientist, Susan Crick, on the trail to discover our native bumble bees. We will learn how to identify common species and explore how bumble bees help our wildflowers (and gardens) bloom. Learn how you can create bumblebee habitat and help declining populations.
$5/person, prepaid registration required.
Experience the therapeutic practice of Shinrinyoku and awaken your senses with a slow, mindful walk through the woods and a beautiful tea ceremony.
Prepaid registration required. $25 per person // $20 per member.
Bear Creek’s bugs are brilliant! Come walk about Bear Creek Nature Center with Andrew Cronk of Cronk Art Co. on a guided walk to find and learn about insects not commonly found elsewhere.
$10 per person. Prepaid registration required at www.cronkartco.com
Children, ages 4-5 with an adult, will enjoy hands-on activities, puppet shows or stories, crafts, and a hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
Discover the world of nature with your 2 or 3 year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. Child must be accompanied by an adult. $3 per person including siblings and adults. Preregistration and prepayment required.
Observe the sun though special solar telescopes operated by CSASTRO members. These telescopes enable amazing views of surface features, filaments, prominences and flares on the Sun that can’t be seen with ordinary telescopes.
Drop-in program, $2 per person suggested donation
Walk the trails of Bear Creek Nature Center while reading a book together with family and friends! After your hike, complete a fun craft indoors.
Drop-in program, $2 per person suggested donation
Experience the therapeutic practice of Shinrinyoku and awaken your senses with a slow, mindful walk through the woods and a beautiful tea ceremony.
Prepaid registration required. $25 per person // $20 per member.
320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817
719-520-6745
Explore outdoor activity stations including dinosaur fossils, bug sweeps, kite making, pond critters, crafts, and more. Free slice of pizza for all participants from Papa Murphy’s.
$4/member, $5/nonmember.
FREE to active-duty military families with I.D.
Preregistration recommended.
Discover the world of nature with your 4 or 5 year old.$3 per person including siblings and adults.
Explore nature with your 2 or 3 year old through interactive activities, a story, and a short hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults.
Beginning to advanced birders count and record the numbers of bird species and populations found in Fountain Creek Regional Park during the height of spring migration. $5 donation recommended per participant to support our bird feeders.
Head out on a field trip for homeschool families! Learn about the wonders of the wetlands and explore in nature.
May 30– Awesome Arthropods, grades K-2
$4 per person, prepaid registration required.
Discover the world of nature with your 4 or 5 year old.$3 per person including siblings and adults.
Explore nature with your 2 or 3 year old through interactive activities, a story, and a short hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults.
Artists of all abilities will enjoy a creative experience while supporting El Paso County Nature Centers! Join us at Painting with a Twist (Powers location) for an afternoon of drinks, snacks, and step-by-step instruction while creating a lovely landscape painting.
Register at: www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/coloradosprings
$39-$49 per painter. Prepaid registration required.
The Fountain Creek Restoration Crew conducts quarterly restoration projects including trail maintenance and invasive species removal. Varying levels of difficulty for each project.
Email andytalley@elpasoco.com to join upcoming workdays!
Discover the world of nature with your 4 or 5 year old.$3 per person including siblings and adults.
Yes, over the years we’ve spotted lightning bugs in the wetlands by Fountain Creek Nature Center! Learn about the lives of fireflies, make a firefly craft, and hike to find these rare wonders in the park. Best for ages 5+. $4/member, $5/nonmember. Prepaid registration required.
Explore nature with your 2 or 3 year old through interactive activities, a story, and a short hike. $3 per person including siblings and adults.
Spend a morning hiking around Fountain Creek Nature Center practicing photography basics and mindfulness. Bring your camera/cell phone or borrow one (limited quantity
available). Participants will select one photo to be printed and displayed during
the month of October as part of the Rotating Art Exhibit! For ages 12+.
$20 per person/$18 per member. Prepaid registration required
Pre-registration is required for most programs. Space may be limited. General cancellation policy: No refunds are given for public program registrations unless the program is cancelled by the Nature Centers. In the case of severe or dangerous weather staff may deem the conditions unsafe and may reschedule or cancel an event or program. All refunds will be paid by check. Check refunds may take 3-4 weeks to process.
