The Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds

Yoga Hike
2016-08-29 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-08-22 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-08-15 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-08-08 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-08-01 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-07-25 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-07-18 09:00 - 10:15, 2016-07-11 09:00 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) and 5 more dates | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Yoga Hikes Every Monday through August 29, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Join a certified yoga instructor and a Park Ranger for a 1 hour and 15 minutes, 1 mile yoga hike. This will be a hike interspersed with standing yoga poses. This program is geared for beginner to intermediate yoga enthusiasts. Meet at the visitor center.

Plein Air Art Event
2016-08-27 08:00 - 2016-08-28 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Friends of the Fossil Beds Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 100th Centennial Celebration of the NPS Plein Air Art Event & Sale
After more than a year of planning, the Friends of the Fossil Beds and the Florissant Fossil Beds are pleased to be partnering with Ken Shanika, Director of the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters, to host the 1st Annual Plein Air Art Event & Sale, as part of the 100thCelebration of the National Park System. The theme of the event is, “Paint Your Park.” The event will be held August 27 & 28 at the Monument. Artists will be able to paint anywhere on the park property, and will have until August 27, at 4 pm to complete their work. All of the art will be displayed in the Visitor Center, and will be for sale. Portions of the proceeds will go to the Friends of the Fossil Beds, and the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters.
In addition, Plein Air artists will also be giving art demos and speaking on the subject in the amphitheater during the two day event.
The FOFB Plein Air Committee is currently seeking volunteers and sponsors for the event. Please contact Patty Glatfelter at 719 689 3174, or Karen Ports at 719 426 2918, if you can help out.

Fee Free Day at FLFO - National Park Service Birthday Weekend
2016-08-25 08:00 - 2016-08-28 17:00 (America/Chicago)

Wildflower Walk
2016-06-26 09:00 - 11:00, 2016-06-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2016-06-12 09:00 - 11:00, 2016-06-05 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Wildflower Walks, Every Sunday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Join Ranger Shawn for a weekly look at blooming flowers. This may be a 1 – 2 mile hike. Meet at the visitor center.

Night Sky Program
2016-06-24 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
Night Sky Program, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Join park staff and members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society for a look at the dark skies above Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Ribbon Cutting - New Geology Trail
2016-06-04 09:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Saturday, June 4, National Trails Day: Ribbon Cutting and Hike on the New Geology Trail Join community members, park staff, and paleontologists as we cut the ribbon and lead a hike on the new Geology Trail.
9:30 AM – Ribbon Cutting, meet behind visitor center 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM – guided hikes with park paleontology staff, meet behind visitor center, 1 mile round trip, 1.5 hours

Night Sky Program
2016-05-06 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
On Friday, May 6, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will host a night sky program for the general public. The program will feature a 30-minute indoor presentation followed by outdoor laser-guided constellation tour and telescope observations (weather permitting). Members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society will guide us on our celestial voyage as we explore our home – the Milky Way Galaxy.
Members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society will be on hand to share their love of the night sky and provide telescope viewing of the moon, star clusters, nebulae, and other celestial wonders.
The program will be held at the Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Please note that the telescope viewing is weather-dependent, and takes place only if clear. Presentations take place no matter the weather. Dress warmly in layers. Bring binoculars or a flashlight if you wish (red-filtered lights only please).
These programs are generously assisted by the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. For more information on this partnership, please visit their website: www.csastro.org .
Admission for the program is the regular park entrance fee, which is $5 per adult (16 years and older); children and federal pass holders are free. For additional information, please call(719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook at /FlorissantNPS

Fee Free Day at FLFO - National Park Week
2016-04-16 08:00 - 2016-04-24 17:00 UTC

Fee Free Day at FLFO - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2016-01-18 08:00 - 17:00 UTC

The Fall Sky
2015-11-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will host a night sky program entitled “The Fall Sky,” on Saturday, November 14. Join park rangers and members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society as we gaze at Princess Andromeda, Queen Cassiopeia, Pisces the fish, and perhaps view a galaxy (Andromeda Galaxy) that is 3 million light years away. Florissant Fossil Beds is just far away enough from city lights to also provide a chance to see other deep space objects.
Night Sky Programs begin with a short presentation in the Visitor Center, followed by stargazing with telescopes, binoculars, and laser-guided tours of the stars and constellations. Please note that the telescope viewing is weather-dependent, and takes place only if clear. Presentations take place no matter the weather. Dress warmly; nights can be cool even in summer. Bring binoculars or a flashlight if you wish (red-filtered lights only please).
These programs are generously assisted by the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. For more information on this partnership, please visit their website: www.csastro.org .

Admission for the program is the regular park entrance fee, which is $5 per adult (16 years and older); children and federal pass holders are free. For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook at /FlorissantNPS

Fee Free Day - Veterans Day
2015-11-11 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
The National Park Service will celebrate Veterans day with a fee free day at the parks.

Friends Annual Business Meeting
2015-10-17 09:30 - 12:30 UTC
The Friends of Florissant Fossil Beds and Pikes Peak Historical Society
It’s a Double Header on October 17th 2015
And no, it’s not Boys of October playing in the World Series.
It’s time for the Friends’ of the Florissant Fossil Beds annual general membership business meeting and the PPHS annual fundraiser auction. Both will be held on October 17th.
Start the day at 9:30 am in the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Auditorium for the Friends annual Business Meeting. Friends’ president Jeff Proper will recap the last year and discuss the way forward. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Superintendent Michelle Wheatley will highlight the monument’s accomplishments and how the Friends can help during the upcoming year. The formal meeting will end with election of new Board of Directors.
If you’ve ever wanted to be involved in the governance of a charitable organization, now is the time! The Friends are looking to fill several vacancies on the board with enthusiastic volunteers who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Upon completion of the formal meeting, Monument Paleontologist Dr. Herb Meyer and Trail Coordinator John Schwalbe will lead interested participants on a 45 minute geologic trail walk that will be highlighted by the new interpretive way station signage. The event will culminate in a potluck lunch starting at 11:30.
Continue your day by driving to the Lake George Charter School and attending the annual Pikes Peak Historical Society fundraiser auction. Doors open at noon for preview and the auction begins at 2:00 pm. There will be many gift certificates and miscellaneous items and a snack lunch available for purchase. Payment for items may be made by cash, check or credit card. The proceeds are critical to supporting the PPHS’s museum in Florissant, paying for utilities and the mortgage. Bid early, bid often!!
You do not have to be a member of either organization to participate, but non-members are encouraged to hit a home run by joining on the spot!

Night Sky Program: Total Eclipse of the SuperMoon
2015-09-27 19:00 - 21:30 UTC
Special Eclipse-Watching Night Sky Program: “Total Eclipse of the SuperMoon!”
Sunday, September 27, 2015 – 7:00-9:30 PM.
Join us for a rare treat: watching the Full Moon turn dark and red as it enters the shadow of the Earth! We will discuss the science behind this Total Lunar Eclipse as we watch it slowly unfold. The eclipse is visible to the unaided ey, but telescopes will be on hand for a closer view. In case that’s not exciting enough, this eclipse also takes place during a “Supermoon,” as the Moon will be at its closest to Earth and appearing slightly larger than usual. This is the fourth and final event of the current tetrad of Total Lunar Eclipses (and the only one to be “super”), so don’t miss it! The next Total Lunar Eclipse is in 2018.

Fee Free Day - National Public Lands Day
2015-09-26 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by visiting the Pikes Peak region’s closest national park area – Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument on Saturday, September 26, 2015. In honor of National Public Lands Day, fees will be waived at Florissant Fossil Beds as well as the 400 plus other national park units across the United States.
Calling all teens! Any teens (13-19yrs) that come to the park this day and complete a hiking challenge (The Hornbek Wildlife Loop, 4 miles round trip) receive a free t-shirt. The teen hiking challenge is part of the Trails4Teens program at Florissant Fossil Beds. This program encourages teens to explore the Monument’s trails through hiking, playing, serving, and working.
Public Lands Day will include the following programs:
10:00 AM Interpretive Talk: Join a Ranger in the amphitheater behind the visitor center for a 25 minute talk about the area’s natural and human history.
10:00AM – 4:00PM Teen Hiking Challenge: Sign up in the visitor center to hike the 4 mile Hornbek Wildlife loop. 2 – 3 hours. Complete the challenge and earn a t-shirt.
11:00 AM Ranger Guided Hike: Learn about the Monument’s trails on a 1 hour guided hike.
1:00 PM Awards Ceremony: Come to the amphitheater behind the visitor center and learn about and celebrate the success of the teens that worked and hiked at the Monument this summer. Cake, fruit, and refreshments will be served by the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds. 1 hour.
1:00 PM-3:00 PM Fossil Learning Lab: Join a Park Ranger in the Yurt (tent) in the picnic area of the visitor center and see how fossils are discovered in the fragile lake shales of the Florissant valley.
For more information please call the Monument at (719) 748 – 3253 ext 202 or email at flfo_information@nps.gov.
The Monument is located at 15807 Teller County Road#1 in Florissant, CO. The park is approximately 35 miles (1 hour) west of Colorado Springs off of Highway 24.
Follow us on Twitter at @FlorissantNPS and on Facebook/FlorissantNPS or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/flfo

Aspen Leaf Hike for fourth graders & family
2015-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
On Sunday, September 13, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will host a special aspen leaf hike for fourth graders and their families. As part of the nation-wide, Every Kid in a Park initiative (www.everykidinapark.gov), the monument will be distributing a free pass for all national parks for any fourth grader and their family.
Fourth Grade Friendly Aspen Leaf Hike:
10:00AM – 12:00PM, This kid-friendly hike will explore the changing colors of the aspen trees. On the hike participants will get to explore small pockets of golden wonder and learn up close about the aspen tree’s natural history. For example, did you know aspens can reproduce from sucker roots underground? Meet at the Visitor Center. Distance: 1–2 miles in length, Rated: Easy.
Reservations are required and participating fourth graders and families will need to download a free, paper pass from the Every Kid in a Park website, before they come.
The Every Kid in a Park pass is available to any fourth grader in the United States and their family, and is not just limited to this hike. Learn more at www.everykidinapark.gov
Space is limited; please call ahead for details at (719) 748 – 3253 ext. 202
Learn more about Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument at (719) 748 – 3253 ext. 122 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/flfo and visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/florissantnps
