To get to Mud Lake, head west up Canyon Boulevard (Boulder Canyon) to Nederland.  When you reach the “roundabout” continue West on HWY 72 toward Estes Park.  The Hwy will turn to the north.  You will pass the Fire station on your left, the Community Center on your right.  Pass Ridge Road on your right.

You will see a sign that says, “Caribou Ranch Open Space”.  Turn left here on County Road 126.  The first left will bring you to the parking lot at Mud Lake.

Click here for a map.

Click here for a map of Mud Lake.

Mountain Grasshoppers & Climate Change 

Thursday, February 16, 6:30-7:30pm

All ages:  Free  at Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center

presented by Cesar Nufio, post-doctoral fellow in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado.

Did you know that grasshoppers are helping scientists to understand the impacts of climate change in Boulder County?  Join Cesar Nufio as we will explore how climate has changed from the prairiesw (Chautauqua Mesa) to the subalpine (near the Mountain Research Station), and how grasshoppers are helping us to understand the impact of climate change on organisms in local ecosystems.

For more information, contact registrar@wildbear.org or call 303-258-0495

All Ages, Free at Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center

presented by Steve Williams, Weather Scientist.

Thursday, February 2, 6:30-7:30pm

Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream……Bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Planet Earth

Saturday, February 25, 1pm-5pm   Join us in exploring the most critical concerns of our times. Are you willing to be inspired and moved to action, and to be introduced to a thriving community of committed people, and to discover new opportunities to make a real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet?Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia segments, participants of this 4 hour experience are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a contribution toward a culture of peace, sustainability and peace.Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and spiritual minds in the world, the Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future.
It is an exploration of four questions
*    Where Are We? – an examination of the state of environmental, social and personal well-being
*    How did We Get Here? – tracing the root causes that lead to our current imbalance
*    What’s Possible for the Future? – discovering new ways of relating with each other, with the Earth and looking at the emerging Movement for Change
*    Where Do We Go from Here? – considering the stand we want to take and the presence we want to be in the world and our personal and collective impact

click here to see other adult and family workshops!

Winter Solstice Celebration! December 21, 2pm-7pm drop in at any time!

Join us for this open house to create special gifts, enjoy beautiful music and entertainment and gaze at the night sky through telescopes!  All ages are invited!

2:00-3pm “Kristina Murray”, singer/songwriter and alternative country music. Boulder based, from Atlanta.

3:30-5pm,  “Lynda Bell and Friends” singer/songwriter who enjoys playing folk music with a touch of blues. From Jamestown

5:30-6:30, Father Winter will share his magic!  Come on in from the cold, enjoy a hot drink and enjoy the show!!

Crafts for gift making all day:  Bath salts, Herbal eye pillows (lavender and peppermint), lip balm,  and dip bees wax candles.

Hot Chai and Cocoa and desserts will be available all day to celebrators!

$20/family in advance, $25 day of.  Contact us to preregister!

Join us for this open house to create special gifts, enjoy beautiful music and entertainment and gaze at the night sky through telescopes!  All ages are invited!

2:00-3pm “Kristina Murray”, singer/songwriter and alternative country music. Boulder based, from Atlanta.

3:30-5pm,  “Lynda Bell and Friends” singer/songwriter who enjoys playing folk music with a touch of blues. From Jamestown

5:30-6:30, Father Winter will share his magic!  Come on in from the cold, enjoy a hot drink and enjoy the show!!

Crafts for gift making all day:  Bath salts (use mini clay jars or wrap iin recycled n cellophane), Herbal eye pillows (lavender and peppermint), lip balm,  and dip bees wax candles.

Hot Chai and Cocoa and desserts will be available all day to celebrators!

$20/family in advance, $25 day of.  Contact us to preregister!

During the summer months, it is a parent/child workshop held on Wild Bear’s property at Mud Lake from 10:30-noon on Wednesdays. During the Fall, Winter and Spring, Bear Cubs is based out of Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center in downtown Nederland. Every Wednesday and Friday, parents drop off their Bear Cub to enjoy hands-on nature!

Contact us to register in advance. $15/child advanced registration, $20/day of.

BEAR CUBS WINTER/SPRING 2012

January 4 & 6 ~ Tracks in the Snow

Is that a bunny track in your yard? Find out who’s been playing in the snow! Compare your tracks to coyote, rabbit, and moose tracks and make your own plaster track to take home.

 January 11 & 13 ~ Snowflakes                  

Every snowflake is special and unique, just like every Bear Cub! Let’s go outside and catch some snowflakes, then come back in and create our own special snowflakes to take home.

January 18 & 20 ~ Backbone Bonanza

What’s so special about having a spine? Learn about the animals called vertebrates and visit some of these amazing creatures at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Shelter! 

January 25 & 27 ~ Mystery Trek

We’re going on a treasure hunt! X marks the spot. Use your treasure map and learn the four directions to find help you find your way.

February 1 & 3 ~ Moose & Elk

Let’s get to know some local wildlife! Learn to identify the many kinds of antlers in the wild, touch a real elk pelt, and meet the many relatives of the deer family.

February 8 & 10 ~ Coyote & Fox

Do you have a pet dog at home? Learn about its relatives that live in the wild! Can you outsmart these two clever Colorado canines?

February 15 & 17 ~ Owls

WHO is that swift, silent hunter in the night sky? Can you hear an owl flying through the forest? Let’s take a closer look at these mysterious nighttime creatures.

February 22 & 24 ~ Mountain Lions

Have you ever seen a mountain lion? Learn what to do if you come across one in the woods. Become a mountain lion and discover what prey this feline predator hunts in the woods.

February 29 & March 2 ~ Beavers

Can you build like a beaver? It’s not easy chewing down all those trees! Learn about these amazing animals and what they do to stay busy, busy, busy!

March 7 & 9 ~ Musical Bears

This week is all about keeping the beat and making new sounds! Explore all kinds of instruments and the sounds they make, from drums to harps to maracas. Learn a song or two to share at home, and dance like the trees in the Spring time breeze!

March 14 & 16 ~ Animal Sounds

Did you know animals talk to each other? Elks bugle, turkeys gobble, and frogs croak. Let’s find out what they are saying, and try to make animal sounds just like they do!

March 21 & 23 ~ Sounds of Nature

Listen to the wind blow, the creek trickle, and the rain fall. What is your favorite nature sound? Today, we will listen to the sounds of nature and make wind chimes to welcome the new season!

March 28 & 30 ~ SPRING BREAK (NO BEAR CUBS)

April 4 & 6 ~ Grow as we Go

Spring is the time for new life! Today we will learn all about the baby insects and animals just being born. Get out the magnifying lenses and look closely at insect eggs and cocoons. Maybe we will see one hatch!!

April 11 & 13 ~ Butterflies & Moths

There are so many beautiful winged creatures on Earth. Let’s learn about moths and butterflies and the how we can tell them apart. Check out a cocoon and chrysalis up close!

April 18 ~ Insect Predators (NO BEAR CUBS APRIL 20^th)         

We know that bears and birds like to eat insects, let’s find out who else preys on these tiny creatures. Did you know that some plants feed on insects? It’s true! Come find out more and meet some of these predators up close.

April 25 & 27 ~ Milton the Millipede

Have you met our friend Milton the Millipede? He is very friendly! Meet him up close, try to count his legs, and draw a portrait of him to take home.

May 2 & 4 ~ Seed Need

The days have gotten longer and leaves are returning to the trees. Search outside for seeds, take a look up close, and learn about their very important jobs. Plant your own seed to take home!

May 9 & 11 ~ Wiggling Worms

Can you find a worm in the mud? Let’s go outside and look! Make a new friend and learn what gifts these amazing creatures give to us and to the Earth.  Watch how they move, learn how they feel, and even have a worm race!

May 16 & 18 ~ Wildflowers in Bloom

Let’s get to know some of the flowers that bloom on our mountains! Take apart a flower and discover they many important parts that help it bloom.  Learn the right way to collect, and make a flower press of your own to use all summer long!           

May 23 ~ Sun Celebration

The warm weather is finally here! Let’s go outside to celebrate the sun and say thank you for all the gifts that the sun gives to us. Play games, sing songs, and paint a rock for your garden at home!