Douglas Land Conservancy offers several guided hike and educational event opportunities throughout the year. All hikes and presentations are typically free and open to the public. DLC does suggest a small donation per person attending each hike or educational presentation (usually $10) to help us continue our mission of the protection of open space in our region of Colorado. All hike and presentation dates, times and locations are subject to change. Please check back often for updates or email [email protected] for more information or to reserve a spot for a certain hike.
Become a 2022 DLC guided hike sponsor
Guided Pop Up Hike at Sandstone Ranch Open Space
Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Please join us for a mid-week hike at Sandstone Ranch. Your guide, Marcia Cedars will share the cultural traditions of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah; good deeds, grateful spirit and wishes for a sweet New Year.Guided unset/Moonrise Hike at Prairie Canyon Ranch
Friday, September 9, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Prairie Canyon Ranch
4620 S State Highway 83
Franktown, CO 80116
Join Douglas Land Conservancy and our partners at Douglas County Open Space for a beautiful night on the ranch.
Prairie Canyon Ranch is fascinating any time of year, but when the sun is setting behind the wooded cliffs, and the moon is rising over the plains, it’s a treat to experience the sights and sounds of the evening.
Prairie Canyon Ranch gate will open at 5:00. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the hike. From 5:00-6:00 you are welcome to enjoy your picnic dinner and volunteers will be available to show you around the historic ranch barnyard. At 6:00 we will gather to hike cross-country through the outcrop rocks and Ponderosa Pines to watch the sunset over Cherry Creek Canyon and the Front Range. Accompany your guides to the high meadow along the ridge of the north canyon to view the full moon rise about 7:25 from the eastern horizon. Hike back to the ranch to enjoy roasting S’mores over the campfire by the pond and watch the full moon as it passes over the big barn. Take your moonlit ride home by 9:00.
Space on the hike is limited. Our hikes fill quickly. If the event is full, please contact DLC staff at 303.688.8025 or [email protected] to be added to the wait list.
The hike is free, but a $10 per person/$20 per family donation to DLC is suggested.
Hop Hunter Hike
Wednesday, August 24 | 9:00-11:30 am
at a private ranch in Louviers
directions will be to those that RSVP
Did you know that wild hops,
a key ingredient in the beer making process,
are native to this region?
Join us at a private property in Louviers where we will learn about
the beer making process and harvest wild hops.
Douglas Land Conservancy and 105 West Brewery are teaming up this summer to hunt wild-growing hops on conserved lands along Plum Creek. Join us as we learn a little about hops and brewing from a 105 West brewmaster, hike on a private conserved property in Louviers, and harvest local hops for a special brew.
Participants should wear long pants, hiking shoes, bring water, and garden gloves. Bags will be provided. No dogs are allowed on this hike.
What happens to the harvested hops you ask? They will be brewed into a delicious, local beer, of course! All viable hops harvested will be turned over to the brewmasters at 105 West Brewery who, in turn, will use the bounty to create a special brew. Douglas Land Conservancy will host a special “hoppy hour” when it’s time for tasting. Cheers! If you cannot attend the hop hunting event, please watch your inbox for the special tasting to be announced in the coming weeks.
Our events fill quickly. If the event is full, please contact DLC staff at 303.688.8025 or [email protected] to be added to the wait list.
Join Douglas Land Conservancy and the Town of Castle Rock as we dive into the characteristics that define our local wildlife, including raptors, reptiles, bats, insects and other species. Local wildlife experts, organizations and wildlife rehabilitators, such as Nature’s Educators and Denver Audubon, will be featured at these programs. Discover the various types of animals that live locally and all over the world. Find out what they eat, how they hunt, where they live and how they benefit the local ecosystems.
Details
- Family-friendly events; free to the public
- Amphitheater programs have outdoor seating up to 250; families are invited to bring a picnic dinner
- Indoor seating at the Millhouse will be limited depending on current State health orders.
- Donations to Douglas Land Conservancy are suggested as $10 per person or $20 per family
Please join us for our 4th in this series of 8 hikes in 2022 as we notice the changes at Dawson Butte Open Space, and in ourselves, as the seasons change. On June 21st, we celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Come hike with us and greet the beautiful flowers blooming along the trail and the birds singing in the trees. We’ll open with a guided mindfulness and a gratitude practice, and encourage you to notice what’s happening on your own personal journey.The hikes are offered free of charge, but a $10 per person donation is suggested so that we may continue to offer community events. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Donate Here.
Guided Wildflower Hikes
June 16th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
June 19, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
at Dawson Butte Open Space
Join Douglas Land Conservancy and Douglas County Open Space at beautiful Dawson Butte for a family friendly event to discover the wildflowers blooming at this time. Year after year, this is one of our most popular hikes. Therefore, again in 2022 we are offering the hike twice – on Thursday, June 16th and again on Sunday, June 19th.
The open space is home to many varieties of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees as well as providing great habitat for wildlife. Your guides are DLC & DCOS volunteers and Colorado Native Plant Masters. The trail is rated moderately easy and the pace will be slow due to stopping to learn about the wildflowers (and ooh and aah at their beauty).
Bring plenty of water, a snack, sun protection, and a camera if desired. There are picnic tables at the trailhead. Feel free to bring a sack lunch to enjoy after the hike. Long pants may be preferable as there is poison ivy in some areas of the open space, although we will definitely try to avoid where it grows. Dogs on leash are welcome.
Register here
for the hike on Thursday, June 16, 2022
9:00-11:00 am @Dawson Butte
***
Register here
for the hike on Sunday, June 19, 2022
9:00-11:00 am @Dawson Butte
*Please note, this is Father’s Day.
Our hikes fill quickly. If the event is full, please contact DLC staff at [email protected] to be added to the wait list.
The hike is free, but a $10 per person donation to DLC is suggested.
Meet Your Guides:
Sharon Sjostrom has lived or worked in Douglas County most of her life and currently lives west of Castle Rock near Dawson Butte. Sharon has an MBA and Master of Science degree in Mechanical engineering and has spent a career developing and implementing air pollution control technologies currently used throughout the world. She is a Native Plant Master, active in the Rotary Club of Castle Rock, on the Board of Directors of Douglas Land Conservancy, volunteers for Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board for the CSU Energy Institute.
Sharon Hines began watching birds when she was too little to hold binoculars. She has been a volunteer for what was the Colorado Division of Wildlife for many years as a Wildlife Watch Instructor and has worked for a couple of tour companies as a naturalist and bird guide. Sharon has a BS in Biology and her Native Plant Master Certificate and is a volunteer interpreter for Douglas County Open Space and Douglas Land Conservancy.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Spruce Mountain Open Space
Trail Work Day
Want to get your hands dirty? Join Douglas Land Conservancy & Douglas County Open Space for a Trail Crew Work Day!
Volunteers will assist in the re-seeding and slashing of disturbed areas (social trails) along the Spruce Mountain Trail and Spruce Mountain Upper Loop Trail. Work will entail using hand tools to rake in seed and cut slash materials to dress the seed and blend in the social trails to the natural surroundings. Volunteers should expect to bring boots, work gloves, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water. Water and snacks will also be provided at the time of the event. Space is limited. Note: You will be required to sign a County waiver to participate.
Register Here
Virtual Sessions
June 2 & June 9 | 6:00-8:00pm
Field Experience
June 12 | 7:30-11:30am
DuPont Open Space
Want to identify birds in your yard and elsewhere? Join Douglas Land Conservancy for our fourth annual, Beginner Birding program.
The program, designed for birding beginners or as a refresher course for intermediate birders, consists of two virtual classroom sessions and a field outing. Please be available for all three dates when you register.
Learn how to select an app, field guide and binoculars, bird identification and great regional birding locations for you to head out to on your own.
Space is limited. The Beginner Birding program is free, but a $30 per person donation to DLC is suggested due to the extensive classroom content being provided and so that we may continue to offer quality programs such as this.
Two classes will be offered over Zoom & the third class will be held in the field. Virtual classes will be held:
Thursday, June 2 from 6-8pm
Thursday, June 9 from 6-8pm
You will receive the link upon registration.
&
The field experience will be held at DuPont Open Space:
Sunday, June 12 from 7:30-11:30am
Field experience is suitable for beginner hikers.
Please be available for all 3 dates when you register.
RSVP
Our events fill quickly, if the event is full contact DLC staff at [email protected] or 303.688.8025 to be added to the wait list.
DONATE
The Beginner Birding program is free, but a $30 per person donation to DLC is suggested due to the extensive classroom content being provided and so that we may continue to offer quality programs such as this.
Meet Your Instructors:
Cindy Kristensen
Cynthia (Cindy) Kristensen is an Audubon volunteer and Master Birder. She retired from the practice of medicine in 2014 and has subsequently been immersed in the out-of-doors. She is the chair of her HOA’s wildlife committee and a mentor for the current Audubon Master Birder program. Outside of birding and hiking she enjoys travel, gardening (especially chilis and tomatoes) and opera.
Curt Frankenfeld
Curt Frankenfeld is an Audubon Master Birder and serves as President of the Board of Directors for Denver Audubon. He also volunteers as a naturalist for birding, botany, and exploring nature in Douglas County, Colorado. He is an active volunteer with Denver Audubon, Rocky Mountain Bird Conservancy, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, Douglas County Open Space, and Douglas Land Conservancy
Memorial Day Birding Hike
Monday, May 30, 2022
7 am – 11:30 am
DuPont Open Space
DuPont Open Space provides great nesting habitats for many different, beautiful species of birds. This family friendly hike is moderately easy and there will be many stops to talk and witness wildlife. Last year, hikers spotted over 50 species!
The event will be led by three local birding experts. DuPont Open Space is located in Louviers, in a wonderful riparian area along Plum Creek. The hike will begin at 7 am at DuPont Park, 8020 Main Street, Louviers. There is plenty of parking, restroom facilities, and a picnic shelter at the park. Pack a picnic lunch for after the hike, if you wish.
http://www.douglas.co.us/dcoutdoors/parks/local-parks/dupont-park/
This open space was donated to Douglas County by the DuPont Company, and is protected by a conservation easement through Douglas Land Conservancy.
Bring plenty of water, a snack, sun protection, binoculars, camera, and wear long pants as there is some poison ivy in the area. Dogs are not allowed on this hike.
Space is limited. The hike is free, but a $10 per person donation to DLC is suggested.
Our hikes fill quickly. If the event is full contact DLC staff at [email protected] or 303.688.8025 to be added to the wait list.
Meet your guides:
Tom Halverstadt
is the expert when it comes to birding in the Louviers/DuPont area. He has lived with his family in Louviers for many years and knows where the various species are most likely found. He is a Douglas County Open Space Volunteer, keeping an eye on the DuPont Open Space properties as he leads the Christmas Bird Count there and often takes other birders or rookies in search of elusive species throughout the year. Tom posts his findings on the CO-Birds mailing list and had birded throughout Colorado, the United States and in far corners of the world.
Sharon Hines
began watching birds when she was too little to hold binoculars. She has been a volunteer for what was the Colorado Division of Wildlife for about 15 years as a Wildlife Watch Instructor and has worked for a couple of tour companies as a naturalist and bird guide. Having moved to Douglas County 9 years ago, she is now a volunteer interpreter for Douglas County Open Space and Douglas Land Conservancy. Sharon has a BS in Biology and her Native Plant Master Certificate.
Jackie Sanderson
is the Natural Resource Specialist for Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources and lives just outside of Sedalia along Plum Creek. She has contributed to the Colorado Bird Atlas while living in Steamboat Springs and working for the Routt National Forest. While serving as the Naturalist at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, she became more acquainted with Front Range birds while leading hikes and accompanying the Tuesday Birders. DuPont is her favorite Douglas County Open Space property for birding.
May Pop Up Hike
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
8am @Lincoln Mountain Open Space
Photo by Bob Karcz
Interested in learning more about the spring birds in Douglas County? Join us at Lincoln Mountain Open Space for a hike along Cherry Creek under large Cottonwoods and then up into the Pine and Oak forest along the ridgeline. Discover different habitats that are home or shelter to a variety of interesting birds. Beautiful views along this 4.5 mile loop trail.
Remember to bring binoculars and a cell phone, if you’d like to download the free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dress for the weather. Bring water and a snack. Guides: Jody Walker, David Walker and Curt Frankenfeld.
For this hike, please leave your canine friend at home. We love dogs and we like to see them on the trail. However, we also like to see and hear birds. The birds may not love dogs quite as much as we do. Thanks!
The hike is free, but we ask for a $10 per person donation to support our programs. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff to be added to the waitlist. [email protected]
Discover Wildflowers Class – Virtual Program
May 12, Virtually, 6:30pm to 8:30pm and May 14, Hike at Dawson Butte Open Space 9:30-11:30am
It is easy to find beautiful wildflowers blooming along the trail when you are hiking on Douglas County Open Spaces or in other wild places in Colorado. Many of us may know common names of some of these flowers already. Would you like to begin to learn how to identify others?
If so, join us for this 2-session Discover Wildflowers class which will give you an introduction to plant identification. The first session will cover some basic botany information that is essential to know if you wish to learn to recognize plant families and identify wildflowers. The second session will help you learn the basic patterns of several of the common plant families found in Douglas County, as well as showing you examples of plants in each family. At the conclusion of the class, you will be given a list of plant names as well as a photo sheet of flowers that you can print at home. You will be able to go on a trip of wildflower discovery by yourself or with a family member or friend!
RSVP
Space is limited. Classes will be offered as a Zoom webinar. You will receive the link upon registration. Class dates and times are:
Thursday, May 12 from 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday, May 14 from 9:30-11:30am at Dawson Butte Open Space
Please be available for both dates when you register.
Our events fill quickly, if the event is full contact DLC staff at [email protected] or 3030.688.8025 to be added to the wait list.
DONATE
The Discover Wildflowers program is free, but a $20 per person donation to DLC is suggested due to the extensive classroom content being provided throughout the two-day class and so that we may continue to offer quality programs such as this.
Meet Your Instructors:
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor’s father was a botany professor, but much to his dismay, she pursued college degrees and a career in zoology, wildlife management, and technical communication instead of botany. It was not until she retired a few years ago that she finally started following in his footsteps and became a certified Colorado Native Plant Master® and an NPM instructor. Now she expresses her passion for land stewardship through volunteering as a naturalist for Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) and Douglas County Open Space, coordinating the DLC/DCOS Bluebird Project, and serving on the DLC Board of Directors. However, one of her favorite pastimes is leading wildflower hikes and sharing her love of wildflowers with others! Don’t get her started talking about wildflowers though, or you may not be able to get her to stop!
Heather Koch
Heather Koch has a Master of Science in Cell Biology and is a Certified Public Accountant. Since retirement she has focused her learning on the macro rather than the cellular side of biology, plants! Her volunteer work included the CSU Master Gardener Program, the Jefferson County Diagnostic Clinic, Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC), Douglas County Open Space, and teaching in the Colorado Native Plant Master® Program.
Barb Harbach
Barb Harbach is a volunteer naturalist for Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) and Douglas County Open Space. She is a wildflower enthusiast and a certified Colorado Native Plant Master®. She studied science in college, obtained a degree in commercial art, and worked for 25 years in that field. Now retired, she guides plant and naturalist hikes and monitors plants for Douglas County Open Space.
Douglas Land Conservancy is excited to offer a new Open Space Hike and Paint program. Several artists will guide a group adults in the art of nature journaling and painting outdoors (“plein air”). The program will be held at the various picturesque Douglas County Open Spaces. The beauty around you will inspire you to delve deeper and create a small frame-able painting or nature journal entry. DLC will provide the basic materials, and you will be asked to bring a few small items. The goal is to have fun, connect to our natural spaces in a different way, and perhaps learn something new. No “artistic experience” is necessary!
Our first event will be held at Sandstone Ranch Open Space on Thursday May 12 from 10 am to noon. We will meet at the parking lot and start with a short 15-20 minute
inspirational hike and return to the pavilion for a demonstration and guidance on your own art creation. Please bring a plastic water container for brush cleaning and an old wash cloth. We will provide the rest of the supplies including paper on board. If you have a medium you like to use such as your own watercolors or color pencils, you are welcome to bring them. You may also wish to do your work in a small 5” x 8” blank journal which you can get at a local art store or online. An example of a nature journal will be displayed from one of our artists.
Please wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring drinking water and a snack if you like.
RSVP
Space is limited. You will receive the link upon registration.
Thursday, May 12 from 10:00am – 12noon
Our events fill quickly, if the event is full contact DLC staff at [email protected] or 3030.688.8025 to be added to the wait list.
DONATE
The Open Space Hike & Paint program is free, but a $20 per person donation to DLC is suggested to cover materials and so that we may continue to offer quality programs such as this.
2022 Seasonal Journeys Hike Series
Please join us for this series of 8 hikes in 2022 to notice the changes at Dawson Butte Open Space, and in ourselves, as the seasons change. Along the way, you will learn about the historical seasonal festivals that are aligned with nature and agricultural practices around the world, notice what’s happening along our trail and participate in guided mindfulness and gratitude practices to notice what’s happening on your own personal journey. The hikes will occur approximately every 6 weeks. Registration will be for one hike at a time. The hikes do not contain cumulative information. You may participate in just one or all the hikes.
Hikes in the Seasonal Journeys Series;
Seasonal Journeys Hike #3 @Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space
May Day
Monday, May 2, 2022
1:00-3:00pm
Please join DLC for a May Day hike at Dawson Butte Open Space. This marks the third in our series of 8 seasonal hikes in 2022. It’s almost the Merry Month of May. Please join us to celebrate May Day, the mid-point between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The early flowers will be blooming and the grasses will be sprouting. Perhaps something new is starting to grow in your life?
Your guide for the journey will be Naturalist and DLC Board Member, Sharon Sjostrom. This hike is over 2 miles and rated moderate in difficulty. Dress for the weather. Bring water and a snack. Dogs on leash are welcome.
Click here to register for the Seasonal Journeys Hike #3.
Coming soon:
Summer Solstice
First Fruits
Fall Equinox
Halloween
Winter Solstice
The hikes are offered free of charge, but a $10 per person donation is suggested so that we may continue to offer community events. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Signs of Spring, A Slow Hike Through Pasque Flower Paradise
If you haven’t seen a Pasque flower yet this spring or you have never seen a Pasque flower or you would just like to see some pasque flowers in bloom, then this hike is for you! This will be a slow hike just a bit over 2 miles long in search of signs of spring, but we hope that the main attraction will be the Pasque flowers. We will be walking slowly and should have plenty of time for photos, so if you like to photograph wildflowers, please bring your camera. Every Pasque flower turns its face to the sun, just waiting to be photographed. Note that your guide has been searching for the first Pasque flowers of spring for over 70 years, ever since she was a small child in South Dakota where the Pasque flower is the beloved state flower. Guides: Elizabeth Taylor and Curt Frankenfeld
The hike will be just over 2 miles of relatively flat terrain. Dress for the weather. Bring water, snack and camera. There will be plenty of photo stops. Bring binoculars, if you would like to look for birds.
For this hike, please leave your canine friend at home. We love dogs and we like to see them on the trail. However, we also like to see and hear bluebirds, and there are 12 bluebird nest boxes along this trail. The bluebirds may not love dogs quite as much as we do. Thanks!
The hike is free, but we ask for a $10 per person donation to support our programs. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff to be added to the waitlist. [email protected]
Register Here for the Pop Up Hike
DLC Virtual Presentation | Wildscaping 101: Native Plants for Birds
Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Photo credit: Curt Frankenfeld
Spring is here. If you are dreaming of your garden, join DLC and our partners at Denver Audubon for this presentation!
Go ahead and get to WILDSCAPING!
Understanding the complexities of wild bird diets will help attract a more diverse collection of birds to your backyard landscape. Utilizing native plant choices, Denver Audubon will guide you through the process of designing a wildlife habitat, including the potential to certify through the Habitat Hero program offered through our partner organization, Audubon Rockies.
This is the first time DLC has offered this program. We hope you can join us! Register Now
Douglas Land Conservancy offers programs such as Wildscaping 101: Native Plants for Birds to the community free of charge as a part of our outreach. We do suggest a $10 per person or $20 per family donation, so that we may continue providing educational programs.
The presenter for Wildscaping 101: Native Plants for Birds will be Kate Hogan, Community Outreach Coordinator for Denver Audubon. Kate is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Denver Audubon, whose mission is to “inspire actions that protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through education, conservation, and research”. She manages the Audubon Nature Center and Native Plant Gardens at Chatfield State Park, in addition to maintaining and growing community partnerships, and sharing her love of local wildlife and native plants with others through our outreach presentations and events.
Valentine’s Day Pop Up Hike
Sandstone Ranch Open Space
Monday, February 14, 2022
9:30am-12:30pm
Photo credit: Jim Guerra
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a time to spend with people we love. However, it is also a wonderful time to visit those special places we love and share them with friends. We invite you to join Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) on a Valentine’s Day hike at Sandstone Ranch, one of the wonderful Douglas County Open Spaces that DLC helps to preserve and protect. We plan to hike the Juniper Valley Loop and a short side trail, which will offer lovely views of this historic ranch and the Pike National Forest bordering the property.
We will meet at the Sandstone Ranch Trailhead parking lot at 9:30 AM on February 14, 2022. This hike will be approximately 4 miles and is rated moderate in difficulty. While the weather forecast is for a warm, sunny day (high of 51 degrees), please be prepared for changes in the weather and dress appropriately. (After all, this is Colorado!) We hope that most of the snow and ice on the trails will have melted by then, so trekking poles are optional. Bring water and a snack. Dogs on leash are welcome.
Your guides on this hike will be Elizabeth Taylor and Curt Frankenfeld, who can’t think of anything they would rather do on Valentine’s Day than go for a hike with friends—and that means you! Please join us!
Douglas Land Conservancy offers hikes to the community free of charge as a part of our outreach. We do suggest a $10 per person or $20 per family donation, so that we may continue providing these activities.
Wooed by WoodpeckersVirtual PresentationFebruary 15, 2022, 7-8pm
By Dick Vogel
Join DLC and our partners at Denver Audubon, for an informative program on woodpeckers. This is the first time DLC has offered this program.
Not only are Colorado’s woodpeckers fun to watch, but they serve a vital purpose in our ecosystem by controlling pests and providing homes for other birds. In this interactive presentation, you will hear about the amazing woodpecker species that live along the front range. We’ll learn how they differ from other birds, how to identify them, and how we can live peacefully alongside them.
Register HereDouglas Land Conservancy offers programs such as Wooed by Woodpeckers to the community free of charge as a part of our outreach. We do suggest a $10 per person or $20 per family donation, so that we may continue providing educational programs.
Groundhog Day Pop Up Hike
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
9:00-11:30am
@Spruce Mountain Open Space
Will we see our shadows? Celebrate Groundhog Day with a hike on the lower trail at Spruce Mountain. We will enjoy a winter hike with our expert guides, Elizabeth Taylor and Curt Frankenfeld. While it’s extremely unlikely that we will see a groundhog, we will be on the lookout for other mammal activity. This hike is approximately 3 miles and rated moderate in difficulty.
Snowshoes or spikes may be needed. Trekking poles optional. Dress for the weather. Bring water and a snack. Dogs on leash are welcome.
The hikes are offered free of charge, but a $10 per person donation is suggested so that we may continue to offer community events. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
2022 Seasonal Journeys Hike Series
Please join us for this series of 8 hikes in 2022 to notice the changes at Dawson Butte Open Space, and in ourselves, as the seasons change. Along the way, you will learn about the historical seasonal festivals that are aligned with nature and agricultural practices around the world, notice what’s happening along our trail and participate in guided mindfulness and gratitude practices to notice what’s happening on your own personal journey. The hikes will occur approximately every 6 weeks. Registration will be for one hike at a time. The hikes do not contain cumulative information. You may participate in just one or all the hikes.
Hikes in the Seasonal Journeys Series;
Seasonal Journeys Hike #1
Brigid’s Day
@Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 10am-12pm
This hike will focus on the seasonal tradition of purification, preparation of the land for planting, start of lambing season. Other cultures reference the time as Imbolic, Candlemas, Imblog, Groundhog Day, Disting or Disablot. Your guide for the journey will be Naturalist and DLC Board Member, Sharon Sjostrom. This hike is over 2 miles and rated moderate in difficulty. Dress for the weather. Bring water and a snack. Dogs on leash are welcome. Click here to register for this Seasonal Journeys Hike.
Coming soon:
Spring Equinox
May Day
Summer Solstice
First Fruits
Fall Equinox
Haloween
Winter Solstice
The hikes are offered free of charge, but a $10 per person donation is suggested so that we may continue to offer community events. If the hike is full, contact DLC staff at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Tuesday, January 11th
Owl Presentation with Nature’s Educators
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm / Virtually
Douglas Land Conservancy is teaming up with our partners at Nature’s Educators and Douglas County Open Space to bring you a virtual presentation about owls in our region. Our evening will begin with a special presentation by Nature’s Educators. There will be live owls to view and the experts will teach us about their special features used for hunting and the necessary role of the owl as predator in our local ecosystem. There will be time for Q&A. Then Jackie Sanderson, Natural Resource Specialist for Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources, will share information on owl species that have been seen at local Open Space properties, as well as habitat types that would likely host certain owls. She will share recordings of owl calls that will help you learn what to listen for in your own neighborhood. Douglas County Open Space properties are not open after dark, but owls can be seen roosting in the daytime and moving in the twilight hours, if you know where to look! Space is limited. The presentation is free, but a $10 per person or $20 per family donation to DLC is suggested. Click here to register for the Owl Presentation We have a limited number of log-ins Zoom link will be sent with confirmation of registration In a Zoom webinar format attendees can see and hear presenters as in a lecture hall format and may type questions for the presenters.