Nature association offers youth classes in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain Nature Association continues its series of seminars for youth with two half-day seminars on July 19 and one on Aug. 7. Supported by the Next Generation Fund, these youth seminars are affordable (only $15 each) and designed to help young people connect with nature in a variety of ways — through discovery, detective work, observation and writing.
Mary Taylor Young will be teaching two seminars for youth in Rocky Mountain National Park on July 19. Animal Tracks Detectives (for children ages 7-10) is scheduled for the morning from 9 a.m. to noon and Rhymin’ and Rappin’ in the Rockies (for children ages 7-14) in the afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. Dr. Mary Jean Currier will teach Cougar Clues and How to Read Them on Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. All three seminars will to help children and adolescents observe and make personal connections to nature.
Animal Tracts Detectives begins in Hollowell Park where children will begin their search for animal tracks. Animal-track detectives will learn to sort out the mystery of who left tracks, which way they were going and what they might have been up to. Kids will learn to recognize and understand the various tracks they may come across in Colorado and then, be encouraged to measure and draw what they see. According to Young, “We need to slow down, look closely, and try to deduce the ‘story” told by the tracks.’”
During the afternoon class, Rhymin’ and Rappin’ in the Rockies, kids will record their experiences of nature and the outdoors in words. They will explore the woodlands and meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park, and then write about it. Kids will incorporate the day’s discoveries and experiences in their writing. A notebook, pencil or pen, a willingness to look and the desire to write about are all that’s required.
On August 7, Cougar Clues and How to Read Them will help kids discover amazing facts about mountain lion, lynxes and other members of the cat family. They will learn and practice what to do if they encounter a mountain lion and how to look for lion signs in nature. Currier and class will go an expedition to look for lion signs behind the Rocky Mountain Field Seminars Conference Center.
Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminars is also offering a free opportunity for families to get outside and explore Estes Park and nature while learning about geo-caching. Each Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Kids Co. on the River Walk, families can get a brief how-to session on how to use a basic GPS unit, geo-caching, and geo-caching ethics on public lands. Families can then check out a GPS unit and explore various geo-caches around Estes Park.

Estes Park Central provides lodging and information on Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park.