Staunton State Park Summer 2014 Visitor Programs

***Valid parks pass required for each day***
*All Programs meet at the Ranch Hand Group Picnic Area[/center:qu017o6z]

Wildflower Hike (Everyone)
10 am Every Tuesday in June
Meet at the Group Picnic area for a guided hike and discover Colorado’s wonderful wildflowers!

Kids Crafts (Ages 3-8)
10 am Every Wednesday
Starting June 11 through August
Bring the kids for an hour of interactive exploration of Colorado’s newset State Park! Each week offers a different outdoor educational adventure!

Second Nature (Active Adults)
9 am Every Thursday
Starting June 12 through August
This one and a half hour program is geared toward the active adult. Participant's will use “Nature Journaling” to explore the Park’s beauty. Weekly activities are designed to encourage the participant to observe, describe and record experiences in an out-door setting. Weekly activities include: botany; birds and other wildlife; geology; various ecosystems; hiking and much more. Please join us on as many days as you wish! We understand the busy nature of life and do not require weekly attendance.

Junior Ranger Programs (Ages 7-12)
12noon-3pm
Three Day Program held Wed, Thur, Fri
June 18, 19 and 20
July 9, 10 and 11
August 6, 7 and 8
The program will introduce children to the natural wonders of the park, hiking safety and their role in preserving nature for future generations.

Please fill out an application and choose one of three summer sessions prior to the first day of the session. Applications can be picked up at the Park entrance or completed on line at the Staunton State Park web site: http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stau ... unton.aspx
Drop your completed applications off at the entrance station or email them to:


Saturday June 7
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike (Adults and Families with children 8 and up)
11am
Join the Park’s Nature Interpreter for a 5-7 hr (round trip) guided hike to Elk Falls Overlook and experience breath taking views of Lions Head, Elk Pond and Falls, Conifer Mountain and Pikes Peak. Bring a backpack including lunch, water and rain gear!!

Sunday June 8
Nature Journaling and Hike (Families)
11am and 2pm
Participant's will use “Nature Journaling” to explore the Park’s natural beauty. Journals will be provided.

Skins and Skulls Presentation
10:30am-1:00pm
Learn about Colorado's Native Mammals!

Wednesday June 11
Kids Crafts (Ages 3-8)
10 am
Bring the kids for an hour of interactive exploration of Colorado’s wonderful wildflowers!

Thursday June 12
Second Nature (Active Adults)
9 am -10:30am
Participant s will construct a nature journal using pressed flowers and or leaves and then enjoy a hike along Staunton’s scenic trails.

Sunday June 15
Conifers Which is Which? (Families)
11am and 2pm
Participant's will learn the botanical differences of the Park’s conifers and hike a trail to identify the different species found in the area.

Wednesday June 18
Kids Crafts (Ages 3-8)
10 am
Bring the kids for a Bird Adventure. Kids will enjoy learning interesting bird facts as well as nesting and feeding behaviors.

Junior Ranger Candidates will meet June 18, 19 and 20th at 12 noon

Thursday June 19
Second Nature (Active Adults)
9 am -10:30am
Participant's will learn basic sketching to capture the essence of plants, animals and insects then enjoy an observational hike to use their new found skills.

Saturday June 21
Stargazing (Families)
8:30pm
Come enjoy the Summer Soltice! Reservations are required. Email or call the park to make a reservation. Meet at main Entrance Parking lot.

Sunday June 22
Bugs Bugs Bugs Hike (Families)
11am and 2pm
Participant's will learn the importance of native insects to the Park’s ecosystem and then take a hike along a Park trail to find a few of these small but essential creatures.

Wednesday June 25
Kids Crafts (Ages 3-8)
10 am
Bring the kids for an hour exploration and Nature Journaling.

Thursday June 26
Second Nature (Active Adults)
9 am -10:30am
Participant's will learn basic botany to assist in plant drawing and identification followed by a wildflower hike. Plant guides provided for the hike.

Saturday June 28
Geology Hike (Families)
11am and 2pm
Join the Park’s Nature Interpreter for a guided hike and explore the geological creation of Staunton’s majestic rock formations!!

Sunday June 29
History Hike
10:30 and 1:00pm
Guided Hike to Staunton Cabin

Sunday June 29
Colorado’s Birds (Families)
11am and 2pm
Participant's will explore Colorado’s most popular birds with a brief overview of interesting facts, nesting and feeding behaviors. Then armed with binoculars and birding guides visitors will be learn to ID the aviary population along Staunton’s scenic trails.

PLEASE CHECK FOR WEEKLY UPDATES:
http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stau ... unton.aspx
or call 303-816-0912

Not only do we have Kids Crafts tomorrow, but our first Junior Ranger 3-day class begins as well! If you haven't registered your budding Ranger for this fantastic experience yet, please do today. Applications can be completed on line at the Staunton State Park web site: http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/stau ... unton.aspx and emailed to Annie Thran at .

See you at the Park!

We've added 2 new History Hikes for Labor Day Weekend, in addition to our ongoing classes and hikes in August.

PARK HOURS: 7:00am-9:00pm
August 2014 Programs!

Friday August 1
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike 9am Join this 4-6 hr (10 mi. round trip) guided hike to Elk Falls.

Saturday August 2 10am -3pm
Medicinal and Edible Plants Table
Guided Hikes 12noon and 2pm

Sunday August 3
Wildflower Hike 10am and 12noon
Meet a real cowgirl and her horse 12non-3pm

Tuesday August 5
Wildflower Hike 10 am

Wednesday August 6
Kids Crafts 10 am
Beautiful Bountiful Butterflies!
12 noon Junior Ranger Candidates will meet at the Group Picnic Area

Thursday August 7
Second Nature (Adults) 9 am
Discover Colorado’s Birds!
12noon Junior Ranger Candidates will meet at the Group Picnic Area

Friday August 8
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike 9am Join this 4-6 hr (10 mi. round trip) guided hike to Elk Falls.
12noon Junior Ranger Candidates will meet at the Group Picnic Area

Saturday August 9
Wildlife Photography Class 9am-12noon

Sunday August 10
Butterflies, Bugs and Birds! 10am-3pm

Tuesday August 12
Bird Hike 9am
Wildflower Hike 10 am

Wednesday August 13
Kids Crafts 10 am Bring the kids for an hour of interactive exploration of mushrooms.

Thursday August 14
Second Nature (Adults) 9 am
Do you know where you are? Join an exploratory hike and learn to use a compass and map!
Guided Interpretive Nature Hike 1pm

Friday August 15
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike (Everyone) 9am Join this 4-6 hr (10 mi. round trip) guided hike to Elk Falls .

Saturday August 16
Guided Interpretive Hike 10am -12:30pm and 3pm Join a guided hike along Davis Ponds trail to explore the wonders of nature.

Stargazing 8:30-10pm

Sunday August 17 10am -3pm
Compasses and Maps, “Where are we?”

Tuesday August 19
Wildflower Hike 10am

Wednesday August 20
Kids Crafts 10 am
Owls!

Thursday August 21
Second Nature (Everyone) 9 am 
History Hike
Guided Interpretive Nature Hike 1pm

Friday August 22
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike 9am

Saturday August 23 10am-3pm
Geology of Staunton Rocks
Wildlife Photography Class 9am-12noon

Sunday August 24 10am-3pm
Medicinal and Edible Plants
Guided Hikes 11am and 2pm

Tuesday August 26
Medicinal and Edible Plants Hike 9am
Wildflower Hike 10 am

Wednesday August 27
Kids Crafts 10 am
Marmots!

Thursday August 28
Second Nature (Adults) 9 am
Owls silent birds of prey.
Guided Interpretive Nature Hike 1pm

Friday August 29
Elk Falls Overlook Day Hike (Everyone) 9am Join this 4-6 hr (10 mi. round trip) guided hike to Elk Falls.

Saturday August 30
History Hikes: Staunton Cabin 10am, 12:30pm and 3pm, Stone House 10:30am and 1:30pm: Shower House 10:30am and 1:30pm
Treasure Hunt 10am-4pm

Sunday August 31
Guided History Hikes 10:00am -2:00pm

Why in the world did the highway department mess up the highway at the bottom of Shaffer's Crossing? Do they really think that there is so much traffic turning to go to Staunton Park that this was necessary? The traffic is now funneled toward the oncoming lanes. Sooner or later there will be a head-on collision. How stupid can government bureaucracy be?

Does that justify the threat to human life that the bottom of Shaffer's Crossing poses currently because of such as configuration? Acceptable collateral damage, I suppose?
Whoever created the merging lanes is an idiot beyond belief.

Arlen wrote: Do they really think that there is so much traffic turning to go to Staunton Park that this was necessary?

Yes. There is currently no camping allowed in the park. In a few years there will be. Not just primitive hike in sites, but sites where folks will be able to roll in those big RVs and campers. Access for those types of vehicles were already anticipated in the design of that intersection. I agree with you that the current configuration sucks and that I hope they will address problems and fix it before snow flies this winter and increases the likelihood of a fatal accident. But I don't think it is the design of the 'merge' lanes as you suggest, but of the exit lane and the narrow and sharp curve of the through lanes to 285 south that are posing problems. That and speeding and distracted drivers.

I suggest you write your disapproval to where it would benefit the most:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From CDOT on 9/4:

"We are very aware of the issue with Shaffers Crossing. When the contractor initiated work about a month ago, they installed temporary striping to install the landscape median. The temporary striping was done poorly-and the removal of the old striping was also done poorly. The striping removal operation left grooves in the pavement that are unacceptable. The only feasible way to repair these grooves is to mill out the pavement and repave. The contractor is struggling to find a milling company to mobilize and perform that operation. It is a tough time of year to get one of the very small number of these subcontractors to come to this job.

It is our intent to get the interchange repaired and restriped as soon as possible. The tight curve on the inside of the through lane will be softened, and a "medallion" will be inlaid into the through lane indicating that the lane is the 285 through lane.

In the meantime, it is a very nice park and I hope the traffic issue does not dissuade you from visiting it.