Fireside Chats

Enjoy a campfire and marshmallow roast as you learn about the animals and ecosystems at Bluff Lake. Watch as nocturnal animals come to life while the sun sets slowly behind the mountains. In 2008, Bluff Lake is proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy and several other organizations to bring 10 Fireside Chats to Bluff Lake supporters. The chats will begin with a Spanish presentation on May 22, then occur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month through September.

Fireside Chats are free for members, but we ask for a $1 donation from each non-member.
All presentations will begin at 6pm.
These programs are fun for the whole family. Children of all ages are invited, but required to bring an adult.

May 22 – Bluff Lake en Español
Antonio Muñiz-Martinez, Bluff Lake Education Staff
Les invitamos a los que hablan español a aprender de la fauna silvestre que vive en Bluff Lake. La presentación sera completamente en español.
We invite all of our Spanish speakers to come and learn more about the wildlife at Bluff Lake. The presentation will be completely in Spanish.

May 29 – Meet the Natives
Jeff Tejral from Auora Water and Chris Story, Bluff Lake Site Manger
Many of the native species that grow at Bluff Lake are perfect for your yard and garden. Learn about these plants while children will have a chance to plant their own seeds to bring home.

June 12 – The Buzz About Bees
Liz Wickard from Morrison Nature Center, City of Aurora
Bees are more important than most people realize. Come and learn how these busy workers help us every day.

June 26 –Healthy Forests for People and Nature
Mike Babler from The Nature Conservancy
Fire, like rain and sunshine, has been an important part of our environment for millions of years, shaping the very nature of life on earth. Learn about steps that we can take to live in harmony with our natural world.

July 10 – Turkey Vulture!
Carin Avila from Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
Carin will bring a live Turkey Vulture from Fort Collins to show us all about the attributes of raptors that make them so special.

July 24 – Fields of Grass
Betsy Neely from The Nature Conservancy
Between the mountains and the seas, there are the grasslands. They enrich our world with epic wildlife that inspires us, food and water that nourishes us and time-honored ways of life. Learn about the plants and animals of the prairie, a small piece of which thrives at Bluff Lake.

August 14 – Bodacious Bats
Jody Morse from Bear Creek Lake Park, City of Lakewood
Many misconceptions surround these important little Colorado mammals. Bat mounts will allow you to see these fascinating critters up close and personal.

August 28 – Clever Canines
Sue Schafer from Fort Collins Natural Areas
Canines are smart, adaptable and beneficial to Bluff Lake and our world, and they’re not nearly as scary as you think.

September 11 – These Boots Are Made For Walking
Kristin Libberton, Bluff Lake Education Staff
Feet are neat! Find out how toes and feet make life possible for creatures large and small, feather and furred. (This workshop is hands, er, "feet-on"!)

September 25 – Prairie Dogs
Kathy Boucher from Prairie Dog Specialists
Come learn about these interesting critters that surround Bluff Lake and hear about the efforts to preserve their habitat.