OGDEN NATURE CENTER
Photography exhibit and sale by Tiffany Daines: Today through Dec. 23 in the visitor center. Regular admission rates are $2 for children, $3 for seniors, $4 for adults or free for members. Tiffany Daines of Salt Lake City is an award winning landscape, nature and wildlife photographer. To preview her photographs, visit www.naturespixels.com.
Wild Wednesdays: Weekly series at 3:30 p.m. Today's topic is "Wild Autographs". Can you walk like a bear? Are your feet larger than a skunk's? Get the answers to these questions and learn how to identify the amazing autographs that animals leave behind. Test your new skills and take a walk with a naturalist to identify animal tracks in the snow. Meet in the visitor center. $4 for adults, $3 for seniors over 65, and $2 for children. Members and children under 2 years old are free. Reservations are not required. To register, call (801) 621-7595.
Dec. 9: "Hiding Habitats: Forests & Prairies". Guided habitat walk -- meet Sampson the Red-tailed Hawk and learn about the places he calls home. Then venture out on the Ogden Nature Center's snowy trails to look for signs of wildlife. Take a peek in our mouse hole and discuss how animals adapt to the onset of winter.
Dec. 16: "Snow! Snow! Snow!" How many words can you use to describe snow? Come find out during this special winter program. Discover how animals use snow to travel, build homes, and even hide from predators. Don't forget your hats, gloves, and snow boots.
Preschool Discovery Days: "Plants and Animals Prepare for Winter". Choose a time on Thursday: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. Ages 3-5. Cost: $4 per child/adult chaperones are free. Migrate through nature in autumn and find out how your feathered friends generate energy during the cold winter months. Visit the bear den and get a feel for hibernation. Discover seed dormancy and why trees shed their leaves. Programs are one hour. Pre-registration is required. Please call (801) 621-7595 to sign up.
Holiday Open House: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission all day, free crafts and free gift wrapping with a natural flair. Enjoy refreshments, live music and shopping in The Nest at the annual Holiday Open House. The Ogden Nature Center¬¹s signature holiday swags, wreaths and table décor made from fresh evergreens will be on sale along with locally made and eco-friendly items. The Nest Gift Shop features nature related books, stationary, toys, games, art, bird feeders, jewelry, casual clothing and stocking stuffers galore. If there is snow on the ground, bring snowshoes or hiking boots and explore the wintery trails.
WEBER PATHWAYS
For a list of all Weber Pathways FREE guided public outings, please visit www.weberpathways.org and check out the Events Calendar.
Hound Hikes: 7 a.m. Saturday. Great exercise for you and your furry friend. Bring a leash, poop bags, water (for you and poochy), and a good attitude. Dogs must be kept under control at all times. For questions and meeting locations, please call Krista at (801) 391-2222. Also scheduled for Dec. 19.
Saturday Morning Hikes: 11 a.m. Dec. 12. Join us on some great fall/winter hikes. A great way to stay in shape during those winter months! Please dress warm; wear warm and waterproof boots. For those interested, we may grab a bite to eat after. For locations and more information, please call Polly at (801) 645-3236.
Moonlight Hikes: Dec. 29. Enjoy beautiful moonlight hikes throughout the fall and winter seasons! For exact times and locations, please email Dave at zcanyonhiker@gmail.com.
OGDEN SIERRA CLUB
Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Clinic: Saturday. Classroom clinic to be held at Weber State University Shepherd Union Building, room 316. For more information, call John H. at (801) 621-0196.
X-C Ski and Snowshoe Clinic: Dec. 12. Two hour instruction on technique in the field for beginner and intermediate skiers. Must come equipped. Suggested donation: $10. Meet at North Fork Park at 10 a.m. For more information, call Jock at (801) 394-0457.
Snowshoeing in the Snowbasin area: Dec. 19. This is a moderate round-trip trek that takes three to four hours and covers six miles. We will snowshoe to the Ogden overlook that has great views of Snowbasin, valleys, and Ogden. Call Larry at (801) 731-3701 for more information.
WASATCH AUDUBON
Bird Walk: Today at Willard Bay. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at McDonald's (1838 W. 2700 North, Farr West) for breakfast, or at 9 a.m. to carpool.
Bird Walk: Dec. 9 at Riverdale Parkway. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at McDonald's (Riverdale Road & 900 West) for breakfast, or at 9 a.m. at the trip starting point (From Riverdale Road, north on 700 West for two blocks, right on 4300 South, right on 600 West to the parking lot).
WAS Meeting: 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Ogden Nature Center (966 W. 12th St.). Guest speaker Keith Evans discusses winter birding.
Christmas Bird Count: Dec. 16 at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at 8 a.m. at McDonald's (1838 W. 2700 North, Farr West) for breakfast or at 8:30 a.m. to carpool.
Christmas Bird Count: Dec. 19 in the Ogden area. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Country Market restaurant (take 1100 West north from 21st St. to the Flying J/Conoco Plaza on your left) for breakfast and to get your assignment.
Bird Walk: Dec. 23 at Ogden River Parkway. Meet at 8:30 at The Village
Inn (322 12th St.) for breakfast, or at 9 a.m. to carpool.
Christmas Bird Count: Dec. 30 in Morgan County. Meet at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office (515 E. 5300 South, South Ogden) at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to breakfast at the Spring Chicken Inn in Morgan, or meet at the Inn at 8 a.m.
REI
Sandy location (10600 S. 230 West):
Snowshoe 101: 7 p.m. Thursday. Also offered Dec. 17. The ease of snowshoeing has led it to become one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Simply strap on a pair and go on a winter hike, backpack, or climb. Join an REI expert as they put on another of our famous "how to" clinics on the basics of snowshoeing. This presentation will also focus on the appropriate selection of gear and the initial skills needed to get you outside and on the trails. If you have ever thought about getting into snowshoeing, this is a great introduction to the sport.
Avalanche Awareness: 7 p.m. Dec. 10. The Wasatch Front is home to some of the world's finest winter backcountry terrain. However, the rise in popularity of backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling comes with an increased risk in avalanche danger. In this evening's presentation, a local avalanche professional will tell their story about close calls or accidents they have experienced in the backcountry and show a narrated video of avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches. This presentation will then focus on instruction on the basics of how to recognize avalanche terrain and obvious signs of instability, safe travel practices, basics of avalanche rescue equipment and self-rescue procedures, and where to obtain information about current avalanche conditions. This presentation by experts from the Utah Avalanche Center always fills to capacity, so please arrive early to ensure that you get a seat.
Salt Lake City location (3285 E. 3300 South):
Winter Wildlife Tracking: 7 p.m. Dec. 7. Get ready to add even more wow to your winter recreation. Join naturalist, educator, author and photographer Bruce Thompson for a magical evening to learn about wildlife in the winter environment, the tracks they leave and how they have adapted to what we consider a "harsh" environment. Bringing a deep sense of wonder and intimate knowledge of our regional mammals, Bruce's photographs, graphics and insights will leave you more enthusiastic than ever to get out into wintertime.
Avalanche Awareness: 7 p.m. Dec. 8. The Wasatch Front is home to some of the world's finest winter backcountry terrain. However, the rise in popularity of backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling comes with an increased risk in avalanche danger. A local avalanche professional will tell their story about close calls or accidents they have experienced in the backcountry and show a narrated video of avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches. This presentation will then focus on instruction on the basics of how to recognize avalanche terrain and obvious signs of instability, safe travel practices, basics of avalanche rescue equipment and self-rescue procedures, and where to obtain information about current avalanche conditions. This presentation by experts from the Utah Avalanche Center always fills to capacity, so please arrive early to ensure that you get a seat.
Snowshoe 101: 7 p.m. Dec. 9. The ease of snowshoeing has led it to become one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Simply strap on a pair and go on a winter hike, backpack, or climb. Join Tim Coats of Tubbs Snowshoes for this presentation which will focus on the appropriate selection of gear and the initial skills needed to get you outside and on the trails. If you have ever thought about getting into snowshoeing, this is a great introduction to the sport.
Know Before You Go: Avalanche Awareness for Youth: 7 p.m. Dec. 15. Just like students in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip tides and shore breaks at an early age, students in Utah need to learn about avalanches. Join the experts from the Utah Avalanche Center as they address this critical need for basic avalanche education. This evening will include a narrated video showing avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches. A local avalanche professional will tell their story about close calls or accidents they have had as they learned about avalanches. This will be followed by a PowerPoint presentation about the basics of avalanche safety, and where to obtain information about current avalanche conditions. This program is tailored for younger outdoor enthusiasts between middle school and college, though all ages and families are encouraged to attend.
MISCELLANEOUS
Season parking passes for the Monte Cristo Snowmobile Trailhead are available for $50. To purchase by mail, send a cashier's check or money order to Willard Bay State Park at 900 W. 650 North, Willard, UT 84340. To purchase by phone with a credit card, please call (435) 734-9494. Passes may also be purchased at Willard Bay State Park and at the trailhead when grooming begins. Funds derived from pass sales are used for maintenance of facilities and the trailhead parking lot.
Willard Bay State Park hosts "Fantasy at the Bay", a drive-through holiday light display, through Dec. 31. Display hours are 5:30-9:30 p.m. nightly and admission is $7 per vehicle. Utah State Park annual passes are not valid during light display hours. The Cottonwood campground is filled with animation, lighted trees, roadway lights and displays. Visitors may drive through the display or ride on a horse-drawn hay wagon at no additional cost. A concession service offers cocoa, hamburgers, chili, scones, s'mores and other items around a large campfire. The park is accessed from I-15 via exit 357. For more information, call (435) 734-9294, (435) 237-9506 or (435) 734-9494.
Antelope Island State Park hosts "Legends by Firelight" from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 12. Join us for an evening of oral tradition and learn how jackrabbit got his large ears, why coyote is so tricky, and other American Indian myths and legends. Bring marshmallows and sticks if desired.
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