Your summer guide to the outdoors is back! The Explorer is packed with free ways to connect with nature all season long. Choose from hands-on activities like Junior Naturalists, skygazing, stewardship projects, adaptive recreation opportunities, guided hikes, and more. You'll also find artwork by local artists, mobility-friendly and accessible experiences, and a handy guide to what to bring on your next adventure.

Find the Explorer online or pick up a printed copy at trailheads and libraries across Fort Collins.

Join us at FoCo EcoFest on June 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washington Park to explore the Our Climate Future plan and discover local conservation resources. Chat with an energy advisor about ways to make your home more comfortable and efficient, and connect with local organizations offering programs, services, and tips to help you live more sustainably.

Plus, don't miss the Xeriscape Garden Party, featuring the NoCo Native Plant Swap and expert tips for creating a beautiful, water-wise landscape. Enjoy food trucks and activities for all ages, including free sessions on topics like waste, energy efficiency and fire-wise landscaping.

You may have noticed that Dixon Reservoir water levels, at Pineridge Natural Area, were lower than normal recently. The reservoir was drawn down by the City of Fort Collins Parks Department for repairs to the reservoir’s dam. This provided a unique opportunity for Natural Areas to improve fish habitat in the exposed bottom of the reservoir.

Natural Areas partnered with the Parks Department, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Rocky Mountain Flycasters to build over two dozen fish habitat structures adjacent to the northwest shoreline. The structures will help provide sportfish with much needed habitat, while congregating them to enhance the fishing experience. The reservoir is currently full again, so fish on!

Do you want to learn more about producing sustainable energy or generating power on your own property? Have you ever wondered how to do that on a building with historic value? Then this bike tour is for you!

Join City solar and historic preservation experts on Monday, June 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for Pedals and Panels, a free guided bike tour through Old Town. You'll ride 3.25 miles at a conversational pace while learning how sustainable energy and historic preservation can go hand in hand. Bring a working bike, helmet, sunscreen, and water. Don't have a helmet? The City can provide one for you.

Space is limited, so be sure to register today!

A 45-mile connection. A decades-long vision. A celebration for all of Northern Colorado.

Join the community in celebrating the completion of the Poudre River Trail connection from Bellvue to Greeley on Saturday, June 13, at Timnath Community Park. The day kicks off with a symbolic ribbon-connection ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by a free community celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring partner booths, food trucks, yard games, family activities, and more!

Bring the whole family, invite your neighbors, and be part of this regional milestone. RSVP on Eventbrite today.

Fort Collins' 38th annual Summer Bike to Work Day is Wednesday, June 24! Swap a car trip for a bike ride and grab free breakfast at stations across town from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., or stop by an afternoon station from 4 to 6 p.m. on your way home. You don't need to be a commuter to join the fun, any destination counts, whether it's work, errands, or just a fun ride around town.

Expect a day full of smiles, waves and plenty of camaraderie on Fort Collins’ busy trails and bikeways. Explore the event details and be part of Fort Collins' biggest community ride!

• Natural Areas Inspired Songwriting on Wednesday, June 3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at Primrose Studio.
• National Trails Day Volunteer Event on Saturday, June 6, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at Pineridge Natural Area.
• Xeriscape Garden Party / EcoFest on Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Washington Park.
• Fort Collins Pride on Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at Library Park.
• Art and the Great Outdoors on Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Arapaho Bend Natural Area.
• Hike with a Planner: Arapaho Bend Restorations on Tuesday, June 9, 5:30–7 p.m. at Arapaho Bend Natural Area.
• Toddler Tracks on Wednesday, June 10, 9:30–10:30 a.m. at Ross Natural Area.
• Sunset “Just Be” Yoga and Meditation on Wednesday, June 10, 7:45–8:45 p.m. at Gateway Natural Area.
• Explore Bobcat Ridge on Friday, June 12, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area.
• Homesteaders of Soapstone Prairie on Friday, June 12, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
• Poudre River Trail Celebration on Saturday, June 13, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at Timnath Community Park.
• Let’s Explore: Arapaho Bend Natural Area on Saturday, June 13, 9–11 a.m. at Arapaho Bend Natural Area.
• Skygazing on Saturday, June 13, 8:30–10:30 p.m. at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area.
• Art and the Great Outdoors on Tuesday, June 16, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area.
• It’s a Beautiful Day in the Woods on Wednesday, June 17, 9:30–11 a.m. at Lee Martinez Park.
• Mountain Lions and Me on Friday, June 19, 7–8:30 p.m. at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area.
• Once Upon a Time: Explore 10,000 years of history in the Poudre River Basin on Saturday, June 20, 9:30–11 a.m. at Old FC Heritage Park.
• Raptors and Nature: Rocky Mountain Raptor Program on Saturday, June 20, 6–8:30 p.m. at Coyote Ridge Natural Area.
• Drop-in Community Nature Journaling on Tuesday, June 23, 9–11 a.m. at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area.
• Art and the Great Outdoors on Tuesday, June 23, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Old Town Library.
• Toddler Tracks on Wednesday, June 24, 9:30–10:30 a.m. at McMurry Natural Area.
• River Birds of Gateway on Thursday, June 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Gateway Natural Area.
• Campfire at Coyote Ridge on Friday, June 26, 6:30–8 p.m. at Coyote Ridge Natural Area.

Natural Areas News is published on the first Tuesday of the month with occasional special editions. Newsletter comments are welcome. Please contact Rachel Balduzzi, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Public Engagement Sr Supervisor, 970-224-6153 or rbalduzzi@fortcollins.gov

To learn more about Natural Areas, visit our website.