The most up-to-date information for the Roaring Fork Valley

Have some fun exploring Hallam Lake as a Little Naturalist! Discover the natural world as you learn about all the little things that grow around you. This one-hour program is every Friday of the summer with a different theme each week - bears, flowers, bugs& we'll cover it all! This KIDS-ONLY class starts right at 11am! Each individual class costs $7 per child. Ages: 4 - 5

Come get loco with ACES tiniest residents! Dig for worms in compost, dip for scuds in the lake, catch some flies with a net and get an up-close look at the secret world of insects. They are actually really cool! $30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 7 - 8.

In this Series, participants will learn about different natural building techniques: straw bale, light straw clay, cob, rammed earth, and adobe brick while actually constructing a traditional earthen bread oven. Basics of Mud - July 31; A Muddy Foundation - August 7; Form and Function - August 14; Finish it Clean! - August 21; We did it! Garden Pizza Party - August 28. Cost- $110.00 Members; $140.00 Non Members.

Stone Age Living Skills. 10-18 years, various age groups. $275.00 Members, $325.00 Non Members. Ages: 10 - 18. We will work together to create friction fires, flint-knap a stone to a razor's edge, shape pottery containers for cooking and water storage, make dyes, construct our own bow and arrow, and so much more!

$150.00 Members $175.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 6. Our little ducklings will get to learn the ins and outs of animal care at Rock Bottom Ranch.

Children begin the week by building a fort, which serves as a home base for a week's worth of adventure and exploration. Natural history, art, and storytelling are mixed with plain old fun and a sprinkling of surprises. $150.00 Members; $175.00 Non Members. Ages: 5 - 6.

$250.00 Members $275.00 Non Members Ages: 11 - 14. Discovering patterns in nature and learning about natural occurrences and cycles, the students will record their own observations in a hand-made field journal, as well as learn a wide variety of art making techniques, including painting, creating sculptures from found objects, jewelry making, and book binding.

$55.00 Members $65.00 Non Members, . Ages: 8 - 10. Learn basic navigating skills you can use your whole life! This hands-on experience focuses on compass use, maps, and the natural landscape. The group will travel to the top of Aspen Mountain on the gondola to practice their newly acquired skills. Each student will take home a compass so that they can continue their explorations.

$30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 7. Spend some serious time in the garden digging in the dirt, tending to all sorts of things that grow, and looking for wiggly worms. Make magic happen by learning how to turn a seed into a living, edible plant. Take some seeds home to start your own garden!

$45.00 Members $55.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. Beetles, dragonflies, cicadas, ladybugs, butterflies... The world is full of these little creatures! Join us in discovering the many places where insects thrive and learn about their intricate lives. We'll study the diversity of insects, look at them up close, and get creative with bug box building.

$40.00 Members $50.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. The Aspen Idea of connecting body, mind and spirit is an underlying theme of the people in this valley. Go a step further and add all living creatures to this notion - The ACES Idea!

$10.00 Members $10.00 Non Members Ages: 6 - 8. These two-hour programs help develop kids' natural skills even further - each class has a different focus and art project. From owls, insects, and bears to eagles and beyond - we'll cover it all!

This hike is an opportunity to learn more about one of Aspen's favorite trails with the guidance of an experienced naturalist. You will enjoy, learn about, and explore the varied ecological plant communities along the way. Among other things, we will identify wild-flowers in the aspen groves, and learn to recognize the song of the hermit thrush in the cool spruce-fir forest. Cost- $40.00 Members; $50.00 Non Members.

$150.00 Members $175.00 Non Members Ages: 11 - 14. Master the skills you need to produce delicious homegrown food and put it on your table! This hands-on experience will take us to Silt to camp out at Peach Valley Farm to get a glimpse of a true farm life.

$150.00 Members $175.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. Come prepared to explore the Roaring Fork River and learn about its importance to the life in this valley. During this three-day class you will get your feet wet with entomology, water science, river ecology, and water conservation. Learn about the Roaring Fork Watershed, where our water comes from and where it goes, and why it's such an important natural resource.

$30.00 Members, $40.00 Non Members. Ages: 7 - 8. Learn about our burly local friend, the black bear. Explore the life of this amazing animal and learn bear safety for mountain town living. Leave your whistles and spray cans at home!

Join Dave Storm and the Rock Bottom Ranch staff to learn the art of all natural beekeeping! Meetings will be held at the bee yard at Rock Bottom Ranch. Rock Bottom Ranch will provide the necessary tools and a beekeepers veil for each student. Cost- $15.00 Members; $20.00 Non Members

Join ACES naturalist, Rebecca Weiss on Thursday mornings throughout the summer to discover the abundant bird life of Aspen. Cost- $15.00 Members; $20.00 Non Members.

In this two-day course we will explore the rich fungal flora of Colorado, emphasizing the ecology, natural history, and general biology of fungi. With the expert guidance of mycologist Dr. Scott T. Bates (CIRES, CU Boulder), you will learn identification techniques, examine mushrooms in their natural habitats, as well as discover the incredible variety and beauty of organisms in the kingdom fungi. Cost- $110.00 Members; $125.00 Non Members.

$110.00 Members $125.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. Come learn how to make friction fires, flint-knap a stone to a razor's edge, make buckskin from hides, shape pottery containers for cooking and water storage, weave cattail hats and learn to sew with a bone awl and sinew. Each child will bring home its creations.

$10.00 Members $10.00 Non Members Ages: 6 - 8. These two-hour programs help develop kids' natural skills even further - each class has a different focus and art project. From owls, insects, and bears to eagles and beyond - we'll cover it all!

Have some fun exploring Hallam Lake as a Little Naturalist! Discover the natural world as you learn about all the little things that grow around you. This one-hour program is every Friday of the summer with a different theme each week - bears, flowers, bugs& we'll cover it all! This KIDS-ONLY class starts right at 11am! Each individual class costs $7 per child. Ages: 4 - 5

Medicinal Plants Past and Present - Their natural history and uses today. Over the millennia, plants have developed an array of chemical strategies to ward off predator attack and to entice those insects, birds and mammals that will insure pollination and reproduction. Find out which uses still prevail today. Location: East Maroon Creek. Cost- $55.00 Members; $65.00 Non Members.

$30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 7 - 8. Join us for a day of exploring around the forest floor for bugs, mushrooms, microscopic creatures, seeds and so much more. We'll check out the ACES annual Mushroom Fair in the afternoon to learn even more about the friendly fungi.

Come gain a hands-on appreciation of snakes! 'Monty' the four-foot ball python, 'Max' a seven-foot boa, and 'Bonnie' a five-foot black rat snake will show you how fascinating and friendly these scaly reptiles can be. This diligently prepared class taught by Barbara Rynearson will address everything from feeding patterns, skin shedding and blue eyes to appreciating the wide variety of snakes in the world. $40.00 Members $50.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 7

In this Series, participants will learn about different natural building techniques: straw bale, light straw clay, cob, rammed earth, and adobe brick while actually constructing a traditional earthen bread oven. Basics of Mud - July 31; A Muddy Foundation - August 7; Form and Function - August 14; Finish it Clean! - August 21; We did it! Garden Pizza Party - August 28. Cost- $110.00 Members; $140.00 Non Members.

MUD Building!. 10-18 years, various age groups. $275.00 Members, $325.00 Non Members. Ages: 10 - 18. Together we will design the bench, choose appropriate location, and physically construct it- literally from the ground up! We will also dabble in sealing, and painting with natural pigments.

$195.00 Members $225.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. Be in charge of rotational grazing of goats, pigs, chickens and cows while also having fun stomping through streams to navigate local river systems. Hike up the crown of Mt. Sopris and journey through the woods to become an expert orienteer and mapmaker. This class is a part of Farm and Wilderness Camp.

$250.00 Members $275.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. In-depth art projects will include drawing, mixed media, silk paintings, and a special surprise - please bring a blank light-colored T-shirt! This class has been very popular throughout the years, so sign up early!

$195.00 Members $225.00 Non Members Ages: 6 - 7. This class is a part of Farm and Wilderness Camp, which offers a variety of week-long programs for all ages to showcase the Best of RBR! Ducklings, Roosters, Goat Ropers, Trail Blazers, and Ranch Hands.

$195.00 Members; $225.00 Non Members. Ages: 6 - 7. This new week-long class is a perfect addition to our signature exploring around classes. Forget about fort building during this week - instead you will be given a blank map, which will serve as the key to unlocking the mysteries of Hallam Lake. Individual discoveries and group projects round up this week of adventures - parents, don't miss the group presentation at the end of the week.

$40.00 Members $50.00 Non Members Ages: 8 - 10. Imagine life as a miner in the silver mining town of Ashcroft over 100 years ago. Stories, exploration hikes, journal making, and creative writing bring together experiences of the past in the setting of the old ghost town and the surrounding wilderness.

$40.00 Members $50.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 7. This diligently prepared class taught by Barbara Rynearson will address everything from feeding patterns, skin shedding and blue eyes to appreciating the wide variety of snakes in the world.

Firs and Spruces, Aspens and Cottonwoods& how many trees do you know? ACES Director Tom Cardamone and Program Director Jim Kravitz will lead hour-long walks around the Hallam Lake neighborhood to identify the native trees. Cost- FREE.

Join wilderness junkies Robin and Mike for this two-day overnight outing. Backpacking, wilderness survival skills, making fire (friction fire and fire in wet conditions), finding shelter, decision making, outdoor leadership skills, recognizing medicinal and edible plants, basic orienteering and so much more! Cost- $120.00 Members $145.00 Non Members.

$10.00 Members $10.00 Non Members Ages: 6 - 8. These two-hour programs help develop kids' natural skills even further - each class has a different focus and art project. From owls, insects, and bears to eagles and beyond - we'll cover it all!

On this naturalist-guided hike we will follow Pine Creek up to Cathedral Lake surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks. Learn about wildflowers, geology, glaciers, and wildlife along the way. The trail rises 2,200 feet over 3.2 miles to this beautiful alpine lake. Cost- $40.00 Members; $50.00 Non Members.

$30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 6. Your household pets are not the only ones with paws and claws& Join us to learn more about the wild cousins of our friends the dog and cat!

$30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 7 - 8. This is your chance to sharpen your senses and understand what is it like to be a nocturnal creature! After the night exploring adventure, the group will gather around a fire for storytelling and sharing what darkness means to different people.

Join ACES naturalist, Rebecca Weiss on Thursday mornings throughout the summer to discover the abundant bird life of Aspen. Cost- $15.00 Members; $20.00 Non Members.

$10.00 Members $10.00 Non Members Ages: 6 - 8. These two-hour programs help develop kids' natural skills even further - each class has a different focus and art project. From owls, insects, and bears to eagles and beyond - we'll cover it all!

Have some fun exploring Hallam Lake as a Little Naturalist! Discover the natural world as you learn about all the little things that grow around you. This one-hour program is every Friday of the summer with a different theme each week - bears, flowers, bugs& we'll cover it all! This KIDS-ONLY class starts right at 11am! Each individual class costs $7 per child. Ages: 4 - 5

This primitive clay workshop is certainly not a lecture -you will be involved every step of this process: dig it, sift it, mold it, fire it, and marvel at the results! It won't look store-bought, but it will be very interesting, to say the least. After firing, we'll share an evening meal cooked in clay - stay if you can or leave if you need to! If you can stay, please bring your favorite vegetables. Cost- $55.00 Members; $65.00 Non Members.

$30.00 Members $40.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 6. Develop your tracking skills and become a tracking detective! Unseen animals leave clues for us to solve the mysteries of the world around us. Come learn how to find these clues, and what stories they tell us. Make your own plaster animal track to take home!

In this Series, participants will learn about different natural building techniques: straw bale, light straw clay, cob, rammed earth, and adobe brick while actually constructing a traditional earthen bread oven. Basics of Mud - July 31; A Muddy Foundation - August 7; Form and Function - August 14; Finish it Clean! - August 21; We did it! Garden Pizza Party - August 28. Cost- $110.00 Members; $140.00 Non Members.

Energy and Resource . 10-18 years, various age groups. $275.00 Members, $325.00 Non Members. Ages: 10 - 18. Students will discover appropriate solutions for energy needs in our ranch setting and learn to identify which source is a best fit for a specific location. Oil and fossils fuels should be considered alternative energy anyways!

$225.00 Members $250.00 Non Members Ages: 7 - 11. Did you know.....the patterns in flowers, snakeskin, butterfly wings, leaves, dinosaur skin and feathers are all inter-related mathematically and then there's planetary motion and chaos...We'll study these patterns and use them for inspiration with collage, sculptures, weavings, prints and photos.

$150.00 Members $175.00 Non Members Ages: 5 - 6. Our little ducklings will get to learn the ins and outs of animal care at Rock Bottom Ranch.

Children begin the week by building a fort, which serves as a home base for a week's worth of adventure and exploration. Natural history, art, and storytelling are mixed with plain old fun and a sprinkling of surprises. $150.00 Members; $175.00 Non Members. Ages: 5 - 6.

The flowers of our local native plants are indeed spectacular. However, as those lovely flowers fade, the wondrous progression of reproduction leads to an amazing array of fruits often overlooked - fruits so important to wildlife as well as the plants survival through seed dispersal, yet often offering a treat for hikers too! Location: Difficult Campground and Weller Lake area. Cost- $55.00 Members; $65.00 Non Members.

Spend a day hiking the rugged Lost Man Trail with an ACES naturalist to experience the ecological plant communities of the high country. This adventure is for the strong hiker who is eager for the opportunity to spend a long backcountry day with a seasoned naturalist. The hike totals eight miles on the trail, with an elevation gain of 1,300' up and over Lost Man Pass (12,815'). Cost- $40.00 Members; $50.00 Non Members.

Join Dave Storm and the Rock Bottom Ranch staff to learn the art of all natural beekeeping! Meetings will be held at the bee yard at Rock Bottom Ranch. Rock Bottom Ranch will provide the necessary tools and a beekeepers veil for each student. Cost- $15.00 Members; $20.00 Non Members

In this Series, participants will learn about different natural building techniques: straw bale, light straw clay, cob, rammed earth, and adobe brick while actually constructing a traditional earthen bread oven. Basics of Mud - July 31; A Muddy Foundation - August 7; Form and Function - August 14; Finish it Clean! - August 21; We did it! Garden Pizza Party - August 28. Cost- $110.00 Members; $140.00 Non Members.

Cooking in Nature's Kitchen! 10-18 years, various age groups. $275.00 Members, $325.00 Non Members. Ages: 10 - 18. Participants will discover how to cook and bake over an open fire and how to distinguish between different food preservation techniques: canning, jarring, dehydrating, fermenting, freezing, and smoking.

Come on a hike up Smuggler Mountain and down Hunter Creek trail to look at mountain pine beetle activity that is occurring in the area. On this three-hour hike you will get a first hand look at infected trees, learn how the beetle boars into the trees, and how to identify infested Lodgepole Pines. Led by forest experts, you will gain a deeper understanding of the forest ecosystem on Smuggler Mountain and Hunter Creek Valley in addition to learning about the various insects and diseases that effect that ecosystem. Cost- $15.00 Members; $20.00 Non Members.

In this Series, participants will learn about different natural building techniques: straw bale, light straw clay, cob, rammed earth, and adobe brick while actually constructing a traditional earthen bread oven. Basics of Mud - July 31; A Muddy Foundation - August 7; Form and Function - August 14; Finish it Clean! - August 21; We did it! Garden Pizza Party - August 28. Cost- $110.00 Members; $140.00 Non Members.