Vail Nature Center announces summer program

The Vail Recreation District's summer activities lineup continues to expand with the opening of the Vail Nature Center Saturday, May 25. The Nature Center will join the Tennis Center, the Vail Golf Club, youth services summer day camps, youth sports camps, adult sports leagues and an array of other offerings taking place throughout the summer.

Considered one of Vail's best kept secrets, the Nature Center offers unique, world-class programs including plant and animal exhibits, wildflower and morning bird walks, evening beaver pond tours, a summer speaker series, a hiking club, fly fishing and stream ecology classes, nature photography classes, youth programs, creekside tours, campfire storytelling and stargazing and more.

The Nature Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day weekend and is located adjacent to Ford Park and across the street from the Vail athletic fields.

Returning this summer, the Nature Center will bring back several popular programs with the schedule as follows:

Adult Full Day Nature Hikes
7 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 4 to Sept. 26
$50 or $45 for Vail Residents
Adult Half Day Wildflower Hike
8:30 a.m. Fridays, June 21 to Sept. 6
$35 or $30 for Vail Residents
Art in Nature for Kids
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, June 21 to Aug. 16
Ages five and older, cost is $45 and includes materials
Morning Bird Walks
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 11 to Aug. 29
$5 per person, $3 for Vail residents or free for ages 12 and younger
Learn to Think Like a Trout: Fly Fishing for Adults and Children
Schedule to be announced, call for details.
Photo Safaris
8 a.m. to Noon Mondays, June 11 to Aug. 29
Ages 16 and older, $45 per person
Wildflower Walks
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 10 to Aug. 14
$5 per person, $3 for Vail residents or free for ages 12 and younger
Boy Fly FishingEvening Beaver Pond Tours
7 to 8:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, June 17 to Aug. 29
$6 per child, $12 adults or $35 for a family of five
Guest Speaker Series
7 to 8:30 p.m. July 10, 24 and 31
$6 per child, $12 adults or $35 for a family of five
S'mores and More (Family Campfire)
7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, June 21 to Aug. 30
$6 per child, $12 adults or $35 for a family of five
Stories in the Sky Stargazing
8:45 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, June 18 through July 30
8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 6 through Aug. 27
$6 per child, $12 adults or $35 for a family of five
Free Creekside Nature Tours, Departs From the Vail Farmers' Market
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays, June 16 through Sept. 8

The Nature Center is also seeking volunteers to assist with facilitation of programs from early June through August. Volunteers are needed for trail work, gardening and greeting visitors. Volunteers will receive discounted access to the Nature Center's programs throughout the summer.

The Nature Center is operated by the VRD and is located on seven acres of land adjacent to the Gore Creek. The VRD is an equal opportunity service provider and operates under special permission from the White River National Forest.

Programs and activities are subject to change. To volunteer or for program rates and reservations, call 970-479-2291 or click here.