Albuquerque Open Space Events

SUNSET SERIES: OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Double Shelter
7:00 PM
Learn the art of capturing the outdoors on film with professional photographer, Bob Barton. Bring your camera.

May 27
SUNDAY HIKE: WILDFLOWER HIKE
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

Enjoy the wildflower identification expertise of USFS volunteer, Pearl Burns.
June 2
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
A national day of reverence for the paths that lead us to, into, over, under and through all the wonders of the outdoors. Good trails don’t just happen, they must be planned, designed, built and maintained--Open Space achieves this with the help of volunteers. Celebrate outdoor access and conservation with a McCleod. What is a McCleod? Find out at National Trails Day. Registeration starts May 4th at REI. Call 247-1191 to register. Event takes place at the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area. Call 452-5210 for details.

June 2
SUNSET SERIES: TWO ROSES
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Double Shelter
7:00 PM
Enjoy a soothing evening with flute and harp music by Bonnie Schmader and Donese Mayfield.

June 3
SUNDAY HIKE: NATURE JOURNALING
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM
Expand your observation of the environment around you, start a nature journal. Ray Kreise will guide you on the art of recording your experience.

June 9
SUNSET SERIES: TALKING TALONS
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Double Shelter
7:00 PM

Learn about local birds of prey and bats and see one up close. Talking Talons is a not-for-profit youth development organization that rehabilitates injured birds of prey. Youth learn about these animals and then teach others about the animal’s story and science. Visit
www.talkingtalons.com Leaving www.cabq.gov, click for disclaimer for more information.
June 10
SUNDAY HIKE: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

Open Space’s very own GPS/GIS guy, Erik Zsemlye, will teach you how to find your unique place in the world using a device that communicates with satellites. Please bring your own GPS unit if you have one. A limited number of GPS units will be available for the training.

June 16
SUNSET SERIES: WILDLIFE WEST NATURE PARK
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM
Wildlife West Nature Park is a wildlife preserve and “enhanced zoo” located in Edgewood, NM. Learn about local wildlife and ecosystems. Visit their website at www.wildlifewest.org for more information.

June 17
SUNDAY HIKE: BIKE MAINTENANCE 101
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailheal
9:00 AM
Biking is exhilerating and freeing, but it isn’t any fun if you have to wait for it to be repaired by the bike shop. Learn how to maintain your bi-wheel vehicle yourself and be back on the trail in no time!

June 23
SUNSET SERIES: FLINTKNAPPING
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM
Master flintknapper, Luther Rivera, demonstrates the ancient art of turning stone into tool.

June 24
SUNDAY HIKE: ORIENTEERING WITH MAP & COMPASS
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM
Okay, so you know how to use a GPS unit. What if the batteries go dead? Paul Daily will teach you how to orienteer with the no-fail map & compass.
June 30
SUNSET SERIES: GHOST HUNTING 101
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM
New Mexico has a rich history and many ghosts. Learn how to find them. Southwest Ghost Hunters Assocation is comprised of skeptics and believers who research areas experiencing inexplicable phenomena.
July 1
SUNDAY HIKE: TRACKING
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM
Wildlife are smart--they avoid people as much as possible. Tracking allows you to “read” what the critters were doing when we weren’t looking. Casey McFarland will teach you how.

July 7
SUNSET SERIES: ANCIENT WEAPONS
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

Atlatls, spears, stone tools, projectile pointes and other ancient American Indian tools will be presented by archaeologist, Ron Fields.

July 14
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
Elena Gallegos Kiwanis Area
10:00 am
Play an important role in the protection of Open Space--become a volunteer. Everyone that goes through the orientation is considered a Trail Watch Volunteer. Learn about Trail Watch responsibilities and other opportunities at www.cabq.gov/openspace/twv. Everyone must PRE-REGISTER. Call 452-5210 for information and to register.
july 14
SUNSET SERIES: RATTLESNAKES!
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

The rattlesnake is a feared, yet respected, animal. Have all your snake questions answered by Bob Meyers of the Rattlesnake Museum (www.rattlesnakes.com).

July 15
SUNDAY HIKE: A HIKE THROUGH TIME Archeaology of the Foothillhs
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

Guided by Dr. Matt Schmader, this is a tour into the pre-history of the Sandia Mountains.

July 21
SUNSET SERIES: THE WAY OF THE DRUM
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

While demonstrating steps in constructing the famous Cochiti drum, Mr. Herrera tells about tribal political structures, language, ceremony, clans and moiety membership, roles of men, women and children, and modern Pueblo social problems. This journey covers the period from the 1940s to the present. This program is sponsored by New Mexico Humanities Council (www.nmum.org) and the Open Space Alliance.

July 28
SUNSET SERIES: NIGHT PREDATORS Owls and Bats
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

Learn about the magnificent hunters of the night sky from Open Space Environmental Education Coordinator, Bill Pentler.

July 29
SUNDAY HIKE: TRAIL SAFETY & GEAR
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

What is the basic knowledge and gear that you need to be safe in the wilderness? Find out at this instructional hike.
August 4
SUNSET SERIES: ROLLING RIVER
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

The Ciudad Water and Conservation District’s Rolling River simulates a watershed with miniature hills, valleys, houses, streets, cars, animals and trees. Hidden plumbing pumps water into the tiny environment to show the effects of flood and drought. This is hands-on and a lot of fun.

August 11
SUNSET SERIES: WHAT'S IN THE SKY TONIGHT?
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

A guided trip through the Summer night sky with Judy Stanley. Bring binoculars.

August 18
SUNSET SERIES: STORYTELLING & MUSIC
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

A princess who marries a wolf, an old hag who steals the sun and the moon, the first singer of stories, a magic rosemary plant, sea-ladies, dragons, air daughters--these are just some of the characters you may meet conjured by Scott and Johanna Hongell-Darsee. This program is sponsored by New Mexico Humanities Council (www.nmum.org) and the Open Space Alliance.

August 19
SUNDAY HIKE: GEOLOGY OF THE SANDIAS
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

Would you be surprised to know that Sandia Crest is made up, partly, of limestone? And that limestone is made up of sea creatures? How did sea creatures get there? Get that answer and more fascinating geologic history of the Sandia Mountains from geologist, Jack Babcock.

August 25
SUNSET SERIES: LIGHT & SHADOWS SKETCHING
Elena Gallegos Double Shelter
7:00 PM

“Learn to slow down and capture the human experience” with Leo Neufeld, known for his contemporary realist portraits and landscapes. Please bring a sketchpad.

August 26
SUNDAY HIKE: MAP & COMPASS FOR KIDS
Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead
9:00 AM

Okay, KIDS! Learn how to find your way out of the forest or desert or the city with a map & compass.

May 26