SUMMER SERIES 2008
Join the City of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division for a summer of family fun during our 2008 Open Space Summer Series! All Saturday Series programs take place at the Elena Gallegos Double Shelter Amphitheater. Entry to the Elena Gallegos Park is $2.00, the event itself is free.
The Elena Gallegos Park is located at the end of Simms Park Road, east of Tramway Boulevard, just north of Academy.
Sunday Hikes will take place in several different Open Space areas, and this year we’re partnering with the Nicodemus Wilderness Project and initiating our own “Leave No Child Inside” program in the hopes of getting whole families to experience greater aspects of the outdoors.
Call Bill Pentler at 452-5222 for more information!
Saturday SUNSET SERIES at the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area
The Saturday Sunset Series will feature talks, demonstrations and shows by some of Albuquerque's best speakers, teachers and performers at the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Amphitheater on Saturdays at 7:00pm.
May 24 Elhazar “The Flowers” – Middle Eastern Dancing by students of Millie Achramovitch.
May 31 Capture and Care – Animal Services – A Field Officer will give an educational talk and discussion about animals and job experiences.
June 7 Weather or not – Meteorology – An educational talk by Deidre Kann of the National Weather Service
June 14 Two Roses: Flute and Harp – Performance by Bonnie Schmader and Donese Mayfield
June 21 NM Reptiles and Amphibians – Animal demonstration and talk by Scott Bulgrin of the
NM Herpetological Society
June 28 History and Hauntings – Facts and stories of the area by the Southwest Ghost Hunters Assc.
July 5 Insects and Spiders of the Area – Educational talk by Sandra Brantley and David Lightfoot from the UNM Biology Department
July 12 Bat Chat – Educational talk by Rob Yaksich from NM State Parks
July 19 CumuloNimbus – Musical performance of flutes, drums and storytelling
July 26 Birds of Prey – Animal demonstration and talk by Denise Coil of Wildlife Rescue
August 2 Lights, Color, Kaleidoscopes – Educational talk by TK O’Geary of La Casita De
Kaleidoscopes
August 9 Folk Music, Storytelling and Dance – An evening of ancient tales and original music on guitar, fiddle and flute - Johanna and Scott Hongell-Darsee
August 16 Wolves – Wanagi Wolf Fund – Animal demonstration and talk by Stephanie Kaylan
August 23 Chris Nolan – One Man Band – Musical Performance
August 30 Ice Age Vertebrates of the Albuquerque Area – Educational talk by Gary Morgan of the NM Natural History Museum
SUNDAY HIKES - Taking place throughout Open Space
On Sundays, starting at 9:00 a.m., unless stated otherwise, knowledgeable guides and members of our community lead explorations and offer demonstrations in an assortment of fields and specialties. SEE BELOW FOR DIRECTIONS.
Hikes with an * will be included in our partnership with the Nicodemus Wilderness Project’s Apprentice Ecologist Initiative. We hope that those who attend most or all of the designated hikes will follow through with an Apprentice Ecologist Project and essay. The young, student author of the best essay could win a $500 scholarship. Our wish, for those who don’t want to participate in the full program, is to nudge you and your family to widen your horizons and begin a lifelong ritual of returning to your newly discovered favorite Open Spaces.
May 25 *Wild About Wildflowers – Pearl Burns, National Forest Service. Meet at the Elena Gallegos Pino Trailhead. This is a 2 to 3 hour hike.
June 1 Butterfly and Parking Area. This is a 2 hour hike beginning at 8 a.m.. Bring Binoculars
June 8 *Map and Compass for Families – Paul Daily. Meet at the Open Space Visitor Center for a 2 to 3 hour hike and demonstration.
June 15 *Bosque Bird Hike – Verne Huser. Meet at the Open Space Visitor Center. The hike will be 2 hours and begin at 8 a.m.. Bring Binoculars.
June 22 Bees and Bee Hives – Jerry Anderson. Meet at Candelaria Farms for a 2 hour demonstration and talk.
June 29 *Family Mountain Bike Ride and Clinic – Chuck Malogoti. Meet at Pueblo Montaño for a 2 hour session. Bring your bike for a light to medium ride.
July 6 *Petroglyphs of Piedras Marcadas – Dr. Matt Schmader, Open Space. Meet at the Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trailhead for a 3 hour hike.
July 13 *Volcanoes and Geology – Larry Crumpler, NM Natural History Museum. Meet at the volcanoes in the Petroglyph National Monument for a 2 to 3 hour hike.
July 20 Albuquerque Overbank Project 10th Anniversary Hike – Nancy Umbreit, Bureau of
Reclamation Biologist. Meet at the Bosque Gate on the west side of the river off Cesar Chavez. This is a 2 to 3 hour hike. Please pre-register (452-5222)
July 27 *Community Gardening – Ian Simmons of the Rio Grande Community Farms. Meet at Los Poblanos Fields for a 2 to 3 hour talk and hike.
August 3 Introduction to GPS – Erik Zsemlye, Open Space. Meet at the Elena Gallegos Double Shelter for a 2 to 3 hour instruction. Bring your GPS, limited borrowing. Pre-register by calling 452-5222
August 10 Basic Orienteering by NM Orienteers – Meet at the Elena Gallegos Double Shelter for a 2 to 3 hour instruction by NM Orienteers. Pre-registration Required
August 17 *Survival: Living Off the Land - Mike Bochnia, Survival Specialist. Meet at the Elena
Gallegos Double Shelter for a 2 to 3 hour talk and demonstration.
August 24 *Organic Farming – Monte Skarsgard of Los Poblanos Organics. Meet at Los Poblanos Fields for a 2 to 3 hour talk and hike.
August 31 *Tracking and Animal Signs – Casey McFarland, Tracking Specialist and Survivalist Mike Bochnia. Location to be announced. A 2 to 3 hour instruction.
DIRECTIONS TO EVENTS:
Elena Gallegos Park - The Elena Gallegos Park is located at the end of Simms Park Road, east of Tramway Boulevard, just north of Academy.
Pino Trailhead – Follow the road to the right of the entry booth and at the top of the loop, near a
restroom, is the Pino Trailhead. It’s marked by a small sign.
Double Shelter Amphitheater – Follow the road to the right of the entry booth two-thirds of the way around and the Double Shelter parking area will come up on your left.
Cottonwood Springs – Loop around the entry booth to take the northern road. It dead-ends in the
parking area for Cottonwood Springs Trail.
Open Space Visitor Center – Located at 6500 Coors Blvd. between Montaño and Paseo Del Norte. Look for the brown signs saying “Open Space Visitor Center” and turn east on Bosque Meadows Road.
Candelaria Farms – Located off of Rio Grande Blvd. on Arbor Road. Arbor Road is about 4 blocks north of Candelaria Road. Arbor dead-ends at the gate to the farm.
Pueblo Montaño – Located on the southeast corner of Coors and Montaño Roads. It’s the park that has all the wonderful carved sculptures by Mark Chavez.
Piedras Marcadas Canyon – Part of the Petroglyph National Monument. Travel on Paseo Del Norte to Golf Course Road. Turn North and drive for one half mile. Turn left onto Jill Patricia which is kiddy-corner from the French Mortuary. The parking area is behind the strip mall that includes Indy Cleaners, Empire Burrito and a Vet Clinic.
The Volcanoes - Part of the Petroglyph National Monument. Drive on I 40 West to Exit 149 – Paseo De Volcan. Proceed north 4.8 miles turning right on the unpaved road, which is a bit rough, to the parking area and trailhead.
Los Poblanos Fields – Drive west on Montaño from Fourth Street and turn north on Tierra Viva Road.
For the AOP Hike – We will likely meet at the northwest corner of the Hispanic Cultural Center parking lot and carpool to the gate which is located on the south side of Cesar Chavez Road
on the west side of the river.