BOULDER—Kick off Earth Day celebrations with Wild Earth Saturday on April 16 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free family event, co-sponsored by Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center, will be held at NCAR’s Mesa Lab, 1850 Table Mesa Drive in south Boulder.

Getting up close and personal with the wildlife at Wild Earth Saturday. (Photo by Randy Gietzen)

“Wild Earth Saturday is about connecting with the environment and creating awareness of the world around us,” says Laura Allen, an education and outreach specialist with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which manages NCAR. “We hope to see lots of kids and families learning about our planet as they explore the wide variety of activities we’ll have on hand.”

The day’s highlights include:

• Climb Avid4Adventure’s climbing wall

• Get your hands dirty and win prizes in the Wild Bear environmental obstacle course

• Learn about TV weathercasting with meteorologists from 7News

• Learn the language of the raptors

• Dance to the music of the Wild Okapi Marimba Band

• Play Earth Jeopardy with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

• Explore NCAR’s Mesa Lab, home of climate and weather research

• Take a hike on NCAR’s weather trail

• See a weather balloon launch

• Ask a scientist your environment questions

While there is ample free parking at NCAR, Allen says that in the spirit of Earth Day, people are encouraged to carpool and ride bicycles to the event. “Community Cycles will even be on hand to give your bike a free tune-up!” she adds.

NCAR’s Mesa Lab and outdoor weather trail are wheelchair accessible.

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