Dear Friends of BLNC,
Hello to you all from a chilly Bluff Lake! We hope you are all enjoying the winter weather as much as we are. For our team, the cooler weather doesn't stop our enjoyment of the outdoors, it just changes things up a bit.
For those curious about what to do outside during these months, we have some inspiration with Environmental Educator Lauren's Winter Activities. And if you're thinking about how to make sure the kiddos get out there too, we still have some spaces available for our upcoming after school session and Spring Break mini camp.
Our Land Manager, Erickson, also has some great footage of some of the animals who are also still out and about in the snow.
Happy February!
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Rachel (Crouch) Hutchens
BLNC Executive Director
rachel@blufflake.org
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Winter Activities Inspired by Nature |
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Feeling stuck inside and need some fun ideas on activities to do outside with your friends or family? These ideas below will have you actively involved in the outdoors, even in the Colorado cold and snow! |
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Frozen suncatchers are the perfect winter decoration to hang outside your home! To start, you’ll need to collect some natural materials you want to incorporate into your suncatcher. |
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Make your own pine cone bird feeder! Birds have a much harder time finding food in the winter because many of the food sources (i.e. seeds, berries, etc.,) are only available in the spring and summer months. |
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After School Sessions Start Tuesday! |
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Bluff Lake’s after school program is perfect for kids who need to get their energy out after school in a fun and educational way. Your child will engage in nature themed activities, crafts and hikes with Bluff Lake’s nature educators.
- Ages 5-12
- $95 for 5 weeks
- Three day/time options:
- Tuesdays 4:30-5:45PM (Drop off/Pick Up at Bluff Lake Nature Center)
- Wednesdays 3:30-4:45PM (Drop off/Pick Up at Bluff Lake Nature Center)
- Thursdays 1-2:15PM (*Starts at Isabella Bird Community School)
*Thursday sessions meet directly at Isabella Bird Community School at time of school dismissal (1PM). Our counselor will meet your child, and the group will walk together over to the Bluff Lake site. A parent is NOT required to be present at school dismissal. Pickup is at Bluff Lake Nature Center (2:15PM).
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Our Spring Break Mini Camps are the perfect opportunity for your child to explore Bluff Lake with our nature educators. Enjoy games, activities, crafts, exploration, learning and lots of fun during these short mini camps.
- Session 1: March 18, 12-3PM (APS Spring Break) Price: $50
- Session 2: March 31 and April 1, 12-2PM (DPS Spring Break) Price: $100
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Drop your child off on Saturday morning while you run errands! Your child will spend this Saturday morning learning about the animals, plants and more that Bluff Lake seeks to protect. This mini camp is FREE for all, sign up now! Only 4 spots remaining!
- Saturday, March 19 from 9AM-12PM
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Summer Camp- Junior Counselor Program |
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We are looking for teens ages 13-17 years old to participate in our Junior Counselor program. Junior Counselors will assist adult leaders in facilitating games, creek play, activities, and nature demonstrations throughout summer. Gain leadership experience while having fun outside! Application required.
All educational programs are free for students who attend Title I schools. For more information please contact Education Manager, Heidi Pfeiffer at heidi@blufflake.org.
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Updated Bluff Lake Birdwatching Page! |
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Exciting additions to our birdwatching page include eight new species of birds sighted in the last year, three new photo stories by George Ho, Jr., ideas for getting the whole family involved with birding, and an article suggested by Hailey (age 11, of the Lyndhurst STEMettes) about her favorite bird.
First-time sightings on e-bird included a Golden Eagle (Ric Olson), Barrow's Goldeneye (Nathan Goldbaum), Wood Thrush (L. Pera), Hammond's Flycatcher (Kathryn Kay), Red-eyed Vireo (Sofia Prado-Irwin), Long-billed Dowitcher (Michael Dougherty), Sagebrush Sparrow (Chris Rurik), and Willet (L. Pera).
Monthly Saturday bird walks are announced during the first week of the month. Contact George Ho, Jr., at hogeorge@yahoo.com for updates.
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Is it winter or spring at Bluff Lake? In the last 10 days, we’ve seen temperatures as low as -3 F and as high as 50 F! The fluctuating temperatures have also created some challenges, including muddy trails, so be prepared when you visit the site: make sure to wear footwear you’re ok getting muddy! Please stay on the trails even in these conditions. The more pairs of feet that walk off trail to avoid the mud, the wider the trails and muddy areas get, and the harder it is for plants along the edges of the trails to survive the winter!
While January snows have kept some visitors at bay (about 3,000 less than December!), the animal community at Bluff Lake has been far from quiet. Our wildlife cameras have captured some wonderful footage of Bluff Lake’s residents: check out some of the footage at the link below!
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Monthly Guided Walks
These FREE programs are facilitated by BLNC volunteers and reservations are required. Please email info@blufflake.org to reserve your spot.
- Bird Walks
- Saturday, March 5, 8-10AM
- Saturday, April 2, 8-10AM
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Bluff Lake is here when you need us.
Come visit our site and connect with nature in the city!
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