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The Science Behind Container Gardening

April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

How to create your own herb container gardenAre you a plant lover with limited garden space?  Or, do you just love the creative look of blending plants in containers?   Maybe you just simply like plants as ‘your pets’ in the comfort of your home. If you would like to have plants succeed in containers over the long term with few complications, or if you’d like to simply experience rapid growth in our short summer season, this is a class you won’t want to miss!

Discover the keys to easy and successful growing in containerized spaces.  Colorado Alpines & Wildflower Farm strive to put the fun back into gardening-just like the good ole days.  Get inspired to successfully nurture, grow, and even harvest your favorite plants.  We will help you understand how to choose the right container, soil ingredients, and fertilizers to make your unique plants healthy, strong and happy for years to come.

All plants have unique needs to be considered including drainage needs, moisture needs, and nutrient needs as well as an ideal container size to nestle the plant into its own custom space.   You will learn how these unique needs can make a big impact on the overall health of your plant including its abilities to fend off the negative impacts of bad bugs and fungus.   The key is getting your potting soil to perform for your containerized plants – great SOIL helps the roots grow strong and produces healthier foliage too!

You will get to touch and feel different soil ingredient options and learn what role each of them play in helping to feed the plant.  The most beneficial soil supplements will be discussed and used in a hands on activity where you will ‘make your own soil’!   Custom recipes will be available for you to blend yourself.  The art of blending plants and mixing several plants into one container will also be discussed.  The class includes one 9” spring-colored environmentally friendly pot with saucer, plus a 3-plant bundle design which you will plant up during the class.  Plant bundle options will include houseplant foliage combos and herb combos.

Plants are similar to us humans – they need great nutrition and a healthy, functioning immune system to feel great and fend off problems quickly!  If you offer them soil that is similar to ‘coffee and doughnuts’ or ‘soda pop and chips’ as a primary diet, their immune system will not grow strong and healthy.  Please join us to learn how to make your containerized plantings a success this year.

The Science Behind series of classes highlights useful and fun skills that have underlying scientific principles.  Each class provides a hands-on, interactive component with instruction from a local subject matter expert and a Walking Mountains educator.  Classes are held once a month at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon.  This series is generously underwritten by Slifer Smith and Frampton Real Estate to enrich community experience and learning opportunities.

IF YOU GO…

What: The Science Behind Container Gardening
When: April 24th, 6:30pm
Where: Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon
Cost: $20 for take home supplies

Seating is limited, please call to reserve your spot today!  (970) 827-9725

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Walking Mountains Summer Camp Scholarships Available

April 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Eagle County Conservation DistrictWalking Mountains Science Center and The Eagle County Conservation District are partnering up to offer nine spots in conservation-minded Summer Science Camps this summer offered by the Science Center. The purpose of this opportunity is to offer a unique experience to students living in rural areas of Eagle County who may not otherwise get the chance to join their peers while exploring the Eagle River valley.

The camps chosen offer students the opportunity to experience their backyard in ways they may not be able to otherwise. Campers will hopefully learn something new about these beautiful mountains and valleys that they can bring home an share with their families. Full scholarships will be awarded to those who qualify as chosen by the Eagle County Conservation District.

To qualify, you must be an Eagle County Resident, complete the below form in its entirety, and return it to the included contact information:

Eagle County Conservation District Scholarship

If you have questions about the camps, please check www.walkingmountains.org or call Rose at (970) 827-9725 ext. 114.
If you have questions about the scholarship, please contact Scott Schlosser by email at scottes@vail.net.

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Conquering the English Channel with Dr. Tom Hackett

January 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Join us for an event in partnership with the Education Foundation of Eagle County (EFEC) on Wednesday, February 6th at 5:30pm.  Dr. Tom Hackett will be here to discuss conquering one of his lifetime goals, to swim across the English Channel – a mission he completed in August of 2012. Join Walking Mountains and the Education Foundation of Eagle County in raising funds for local school children.  100% of all donations go directly to EFEC’s Walking Mountains program, allowing new students to be exposed to a wondrous educational science experience for the first time this year.

On August 24, 2012, Tom stepped from the water onto the French coast, triumphant after a near 13 hour and 34 mile crossing of the English Channel.  His harrowing attempt included 6 foot swells, regular bouts of vomiting and nausea from seasickness, two tangles with stinging jellyfish and 62 degree water with no wetsuit.  Despite the obstacles his success was bouyed by an unfaltering belief that his energy was best spent on a positive focus.  “It takes more energy to think negative than positive – we are capable of tremendous feats if we set our minds to it!,” says Hackett.

In addition to being one of the few individuals to successfully swim the English Channel, Dr. Hackett was recently honored with Physician of the Year Award for VVMC.  He is the team physician for the U.S. Snowboard team and a medical consultant to the Colorado Rockies. Dr. Hackett was also just named one of the most handsome doctors in America by the NBC daytime talk show, The Doctors. Hackett is the face of October in the 2013 calendar, a benefit for the Red Cross.

The bottom line – this is one impressive man. Come find out how the power of positive thinking has helped drive him to success.

SPEAKER: Dr. Tom Hackett, Conquering the English Channel
WHEN: Wednesday, February, 6th, 5:30pm reception, 6pm talk
WHERE: Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon
COST: Suggested donation, $15 at the door (fee to send one child on a Walking Mountains field studies program!)

Reservations required, please call or email to save your space!  (970) 827-9725 or info@walkingmountains.org 

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: , , ,

Free Vail Snowshoe Tours Daily!

January 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Moonlight snowshoe tours on Vail MountainWalking Mountains provides naturalist guided snowshoe tours from the Nature Discovery Center on top of Vail Mountain and from the Science Center in Avon!

Nature Discovery Center, Daily at 2pm thru April 14th
Join a Walking Mountains Naturalist for an introductory educational snowshoe through the forest atop Vail Mountain. Learn about winter ecology and animal adaptations as you gaze at majestic mountain views. Please come prepared to spend an hour outside in the mountainous winter environment with appropriate clothing and water.  Snowshoes provided.  All ages, FREE.

Walking Mountains Science Center, Monday – Saturday at 2pm
Join a Walking Mountains Naturalist for a gentle educational hike through aspen and riparian communities.  Learn about the ecology and animal adaptations of this mountain environment. Walks will be conducted on snowshoes as necessary due to snow levels.  Snowshoes provided.  All ages, FREE.

For more information please contact the Nature Discovery Center at (970) 754-4675, or Walking Mountains Science Center at (970) 827-9725.

Filed Under: Environmental Education, Events, Family Activities, Fun, Kids Activities, Nature Discovery Center, Nature Tours Tagged With: , , ,

The Science Behind Stem Cell Treatment for Joint Pain

January 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Join Walking Mountains Science Center for a discussion on the Science Behind Stem Cell Treatment for Joint Pain on Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30pm. ThriveMD Medical Director, Scott Brandt, will explore how your own stem cells carry huge potential to restore an active, pain-free life.

Autologous (Self-Derived Adult) Stem Cell Therapy is one of the newest and most innovative avenues in Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Brandt will walk us through the minimally invasive procedure that works to relieve the pain and limitations of damaged joint cartilage — without resorting to an invasive joint replacement surgery.

The procedure involves harvesting a patient’s own stem cells found in fat tissue, most often from the abdominal region. The tissue is then prepared in a cell-processing laboratory and injected into the ailing joint an hour later utilizing fluoroscopic guidance. Once injected, the cells can sense proteins that have been generated from cartilage damage. In response, these cells have the ability to make chondrocytes, which are the type of cells found in healthy cartilage. Then through chondrogenesis (cartilage cell division) the damaged cartilage can be replaced with healthy cartilage tissue.

Dr. Brandt will also discuss the results he is seeing with Autologous Stem Cell Therapy and why he prefers using adipose (fat)-derived stem cells.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Brandt has specialized in interventional pain management and is now one of the few physicians in the country to be trained in a minimally invasive technique that is saving many patients from undergoing difficult joint replacement surgery.  He is board certified by the America Board of Anesthesiology and has been a diplomat of the American Board of Pain Medicine.

If You Go…
WHAT: The Science Behind Stem Cell Treatment for Joint Pain
WHERE: Walking Mountains Science Center
DATES: Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30pm
COST: FREE

Filed Under: The Science Behind Series Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mapping the Celestial Sphere: An Introduction to Spherical Astronomy

January 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Mapping the Celestial Sphere

JOIN US!  All ages welcome at this free program…

January 2013 Meeting of the Eagle Valley Astronomical Society
Thursday, January 10, 2013, starting 7:30 PM
Walking Mountains Science Center, Avon, Colorado
Mapping the Celestial Sphere: An Introduction to Spherical Astronomy

Presenter: John W. Briggs, HUT Observatory, Eagle, Colorado

Every sky watcher is confronted with the problem, “Where shall I look to see something special?”  The question is the same, no matter if the astronomer is working with a telescope, binoculars, or just eyes alone.  To make sense of the sky and to navigate around it, celestial mapmakers have long standardized how to plot stars, and early star atlases were often as beautiful as they were scientific.

Technical aspects of this mapping and measurement are now called “spherical astronomy.”  At the January meeting of Eagle Valley Astronomical Society, local astronomer John W. Briggs will present a hands-on demonstration that will allow both youngsters and adults to find, plot, and measure interesting objects on their own modern sky maps — a surprisingly interesting and useful exercise for anyone interested in the sky.  Handouts will be provided.  The presentation will be brief enough to allow actual observing with telescopes at Walking Mountains Science Center, weather permitting.

(970) 827-9725 for more information or visit us online at www.walkingmountains.org

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: , , ,

EVAS Taurus Watch and Telescope Show

December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

10-inch Newtonian telescope made by Cave Astrola Company of Long Beach, CaliforniaEagle Valley Astronomical Society will gather Thursday evening, December 13, starting at 7:30 PM at the Walking Mountains Science Center near the base of Brush Creek Road in Avon. Our speaker will be John Briggs, a regular presenter at Eagle Valley Astronomical Society. This month the Society received two excellent telescopes as donations from Robert D. Kern of Waukesha, Wisconsin. These instruments will be featured and explained in a show-and-tell session. Weather permitting, the show-and-tell will be brief, and we’ll use the telescopes to view celestial objects presently in our evening sky, with an emphasis on the constellation Taurus the bull.

The “star” of our December sky is the bright planet Jupiter, now located in Taurus. Jupiter will be rising high in the southeast, close to the bright orange star Aldebaran and the large Hyades star cluster. Not far away is the smaller but brighter star cluster called the Pleiades, or “Seven Sisters,” famous from Greek mythology. These objects, as well as the supernova explosion called the Crab Nebula, are within Taurus and visible in the newly donated telescopes. In event of cloudy weather we’ll use computer animation to tour Taurus and its celestial wonders, including a small gas cloud, New General Catalogue 1514. As John will explain for young and old, in the year 1790, the discovery of NGC 1514 by English astronomer William Herschel inspired entirely new and correct scientific ideas regarding “the construction of the heavens.”

A Note on the Future
Repeating from previous announcements, we hope that additional astronomers in the Eagle Valley area and beyond will hear about our meetings and join us, normally on the second Thursday of every month at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, Colorado. Astronomy clubs like ours always welcome folks, young and old, who are experienced or just starting an interest. The purpose of our organization is to share and encourage interest!  If you’re already involved with astronomy, you can especially help. We look forward to having more telescopes set up at meetings, additional speakers, more loaner telescopes, weekend star parties, and field trips. One of many active clubs setting an excellent example here in Colorado is the Denver Astronomical Society. It meets regularly at University of Denver and at the University’s historic and magnificent Chamberlin Observatory: http://www.denverastro.org/. Another organization of interest is the Front Range Astronomy Club, an email-based group that connects members of individual astronomical societies in the Colorado region.

These classes are open to all ages and are free to attend.  Hope to see you on Thursday!

Filed Under: Astronomy, Fun, Kids Activities Tagged With: , , ,

Are You a Weather Watcher?

December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Many of us find ourselves looking skyward these days, wondering when the next precious drops will fall from the way-to-blue skies. We end up feeling somewhat helpless, left to the mercy of the winds of chance. And while we may not be able to conjure up precipitation, there is a small way that we can be part of the solution. There is a nationwide network of weather watchers, known as CoCoRaHS (or the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network), that recruits volunteers to monitor precipitation on a nationwide scale. (Actually, the program is now available and active in Canada too.) Volunteering is simple. The first step is to sign up, which requires logging onto Cocorahs.org and submitting a volunteer form and request for a rain gauge, which involves a one-time cost of $25.00. (It’s free for schools.) They will send you the calibrated rain and snow gauge, along with links to the data collection procedures. Setting up the rain gauge involves the most basic of carpentry skills, along with just a little common sense.

Once your gauge is set-up, the goal is to record precipitation daily, although there’s an easy procedure to follow if you can’t collect every day. During the summer months, this simply involves reading the gauge at the same time daily (ideally before 9am), and submitting the rainfall amounts online. In the winter, in addition to recording the daily snow accumulation in inches, there is a procedure to melt down the new snow in order to measure its water content. Both of these measurements are important in helping scientists to understand precipitation patterns, drought, and climate change. The data that is collected daily, by ordinary citizens like you and I, is used by scientists throughout the world as part of the effort to understand large and small-scale changes in weather and climate. The data is also available freely, to anybody with a slightly curious nature.

Sign up at CoCoRaHS.org to volunteer and tell the good folks at CoCoRaHS that Walking Mountains sent you!

Filed Under: News, Weather Tagged With: , ,

Praise for Walking Mountains! Visit Us to Explore Your Curious Nature

December 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Haven’t had the chance to visit our new Science Center in Avon yet?  Here are a few words from the folks who have that might inspire you!  Not to mention, we have fantastic and extra geeky Christmas gifts for nature lovers and science fans at our gift store.  Make sure you stop by – here are driving directions if you’re not sure how to get here.

“Love it!  Great instructors.” ~parent

“Really impressive!  This is one of the most impressive nature centers I have seen.” ~out of town guest

“Very informative, what a nice educational facility.” ~visiting with family

“Fun, entertaining and educational!” ~local

“So wonderful to visit with Colorado grandkids ages 7 and 4.” ~out of town guest

“Love the facility and programs!” ~local

“This place is a breath of fresh air.  I love the attention to nature and helping the environment.” ~out of town guest

“Terrific trails.  We all loved it!  We enjoyed the mix of meadows, trees, creeks and the pond.” ~international guest

Walking Mountains Science Center is open Monday – Saturday, 10am to 6pm.  Admission to the center is free to the public.  Come on out and explore your curious nature today!

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

Colorado Gives Day A Success! THANK YOU

December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thanks to 80 generous donors, Walking Mountains had a tremendous Colorado Gives Day, raising over $114,000 – and that doesn’t include the bonus dollars we will receive from the FirstBank Incentive Fund!  Thank you so very much to everyone who stepped up on December 4th.  And to all of our donors – we couldn’t do what we do without you!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ,
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