Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in denver, CO

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoic Adventure Opens September 18 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

September 07, 2009

National Geographic Dives into Lost World of Marine Reptiles with New IMAX Show
www.nationalgeographic.com/seamonsters

National Geographic's giant-screen film Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure premieres at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on Friday, September 18. Click here for ticket and showtime information.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure brings to life the extraordinary marine reptiles of the dinosaur age. From the giraffe-necked Styxosaurus and 20-foot "bulldog" fish Xiphactinus to the T. rex of the ocean-the 40-foot super-predator Tylosaurus-these wondrous beasts defy imagination.

The film, narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Liev Schreiber and with an original score by longtime musical collaborators Richard Evans, David Rhodes, and Peter Gabriel, takes audiences on a remarkable journey into the relatively unexplored world of the "other dinosaurs," the reptiles that lived beneath the water. Funded in part through a grant from the National Science Foundation, the film delivers to the giant screen the fascinating science behind what we know, and a vision of history's grandest ocean creatures.

Kenneth Carpenter, PhD, curator of paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, was one of three expert scientists who ensured accuracy of the film. A world-renowned expert on plesiosaurs, Early Cretaceous dinosaurs, armored dinosaurs, and dinosaur reproduction, Carpenter heads the fossil preparation laboratory at the Museum. As part of his PhD studies, Carpenter researched predator-prey relations among the fish and marine reptiles of the Cretaceous, as well as factors that may have influenced the fossil record of the seaway. He has published 11 books and authored more than 200 popular and scientific articles on topics including fossil preparation techniques, mounting of fossil skeletons, and dinosaur taxonomy, behavior, and diseases.

"It was exciting to be involved with the first giant-screen film about what lived in the water during the dinosaur age," said Carpenter. "Much of my studies are reflected in the flipper motion of the creatures seen in this immersive film, when these prehistoric giants practically swim off the screen and into the audience."

The Cretaceous world in Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure was very different from Earth as we know today. Eighty million years ago, places such as Colorado and Kansas were at the bottom of a great inland sea that divided North America in two. A warmer climate meant more of the globe was submerged. On this sodden sphere, cold-blooded seagoing reptiles flourished, and as these ocean giants died, their skeletons were left in locations that are now high and dry.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure weaves together spectacular photorealistic animation with standout finds from paleontological digs around the world-treasures that shed light on the film's incredible cast of characters.

The film follows a family of Dolichorhynchops, also known informally as "dollies," as they traverse ancient waters populated with saber-toothed fish, prehistoric sharks, and giant squid. On their journey the dollies encounter other extraordinary sea creatures: lizard-like reptiles called Platecarpus that swallowed their prey whole like snakes; Styxosaurus with necks nearly 20 feet long and paddle-like fins as large as an adult human; and at the top of the food chain, the monstrous Tylosaurus, a predator with no enemies.

Dolichorhynchops

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure is a remarkable visual journey that also educates audiences on the "how do we know that?" side of paleontology. Do scientists need full skeletons to learn about these creatures? Not always, as we learn from shark teeth found throughout the central United States, proof that these modern-day hunters were thriving during the Age of Dinosaurs when Kansas was at the bottom of the sea. How do we know what these creatures ate, and what pursued them? The shapes of jaws and teeth provide dietary clues, and occasionally paleontologists are lucky enough to discover bones of one species inside the remains of another. In fact, one fossilized Xiphactinus, a 17-foot-long predatory fish, was found with an entire six-foot fish inside-swallowed whole.

From fossil digs to larger-than-life visions of predatory chases in shallow seas, the film immerses audiences in a rarely explored environment during the dinosaur age. Merging ultra high-resolution graphics with National Geographic's trademark authenticity, compelling imagery, and powerful storytelling, the film is a perfect combination of subject and medium: ancient leviathans of the deep brought to life in the world's biggest film format.

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PLEASE NOTE: this film merits a PG rating for some intense wildlife images, including scenes of simulated predation.

Check it out! Bluff Lake Nature Center

May 26, 2009

I know that Colorado is known for it's naturey stuff, but it always surprises me when I find new and awesome things that are around to entertain and inform. Below is an article from Kristin, the volunteer program manager for Bluff Lake Nature Center in east Denver.

by Kristin

Bluff Lake Nature Center is a unique urban wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom in east Denver. The 123 acre refuge is adjacent to Sand Creek on the eastern edge of the Stapleton development. It offers a variety of native habitats including a seasonal lake, wetlands, short-grass prairie, a riparian zone and wetland woodland. Thanks to its 60 year history as an airport buffer, Bluff Lake has become an urban wildlife refuge for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds, deer, fox, beaver, reptiles, amphibians and other types of wildlife that visit or live at the site.

Bluff Lake Nature Center is much more than a place for plants and animals. It is an oasis in the city where people can come to view wildlife, appreciate the peaceful sights and enjoy the sounds of nature. It is also an outdoor classroom for thousands of kindergarten through fifth grade students each year. It is our goal to encourage childrens' and adults' interest in natural science and stewardship through curiosity, observation, activity and a sense of wonder.

Bluff Lake Nature Center offers a variety of ways for the family to get outside and get involved.  Week-long Jr. Naturalist  day camps allow children to explore the trails and learn about nature in-depth. Free Fireside chats offer campfires and marshmallow roasts as families discover the animals and ecosystems at Bluff Lake.  Volunteer opportunities let you give back to your community while learning new skills.

Our wildlife and volunteers make this a place worth visiting! Go to www.BluffLakeNatureCenter.org to find out more about us.

The Most Germy & Least Germy Places To Take Your Kids In Denver!

May 08, 2009

It's been kind of crazy watching the news lately huh? Fear of swine flu has made us wash our hands at an alarming rate. And while maybe the immediacy and access of news reports has driven the hysteria around H1N1 out of proportion compared to say, the REGULAR flu... it's still a good lesson for us all.

And something to think about when we take our kids out, especially kids who have compromised immune systems. For example, my neighbor is from Ireland - and his family was just visiting with kids in tow. I warned them! But they really wanted to visit the otherwise wonderful Children's Museum and expose themselves to all those American germs! Three days later they were in the emergency room with the worst cold of their lives and severe trouble breathing.

Now, don't get me wrong. Of course the Children's Museum makes every effort to keep the place clean and sanitized. They even ask that you place any toy that's ventured into a mouth in their convenient basket to be cleaned by staff before returning to play. But with that many kids in confined space, coming together from all over Denver, to share germs from every sector? It's unavoidable.

The other places it's unavoidable? The over-sized food at Cherry Creek mall. And especially, especially, any indoor playground at a fast food restaurant. BALL PITS! Oh my word.

So what can you do? As I mentioned, don't go when your child is sick or has a compromised immune system. And when you do go, bring your own cleaning supplies. These places really do try to supply you with wipes or hand santizer, but it's often gone in 3 seconds flat.

So where can you go that has LESS germs? Think big and outdoors. The Denver Zoo, outdoor parks like City Park and Washington Park, The Denver Botanic Gardens ... and afterward, STILL give a quick rundown with the wet wipes.

And speaking of, Wet Ones would like to help you out in that regard. Go here and get a $1.00 coupon for their Antibacterial Wipes. Awesome! Every bit helps, right?

More School Support - Montclair Plant Sale!

May 06, 2009

As we all know, Mother's Day is THE time to get planting in Denver. Officially "frost day" is May 7th this year - so we are free and clear to get shoveling by this weekend.

And I have a great place to send you to stock up on those plants, flowers, etc - AND help out a local public school in Denver.

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The 5th Annual Montclair Plant Sale
Saturday, May 9th, 2009
9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine
1151 Newport St.
Denver, CO 80220

Make your gardening dollars do good!

Your purchases:
    * Benefit the great kids at Montclair School
    * Supports a family-owned Denver nursery
    * Reduces your carbon footprint by buying plants that are grown in North Denver, not North Carolina!

They will have an expanded selection of perennials - plants that live for more than one year - AND proven performers for local gardens. If your gardening budget is tight this spring, consider investing in plants that will grace your garden for years to come. 

Get there early for best selection!

Getting Started With Organics

April 13, 2009

Before I get to organics, I have some housekeeping to do! Like giving away a free family 4-pack to Sesame Street Live "Elmo's Green Thumb!" Below is the proof of the randomness of our winner, Earon! Congrats! We'll be getting those tickets to you asap, and feel free to email me at aimee [at] greeblemonkey [dot] com if you have any questions.

NOW. Speaking of green thumbs the earth and stuff, I have a guest poster today. It's my friend Amy Peck (@fruitlady on Twitter - notice a theme?), who is much more knowledgeable on the subject of organics that I am. So I asked her to come over to Savvy Source today and talk to us about the in's and out's of a topic that can be really confusing, especially when trying to balance your budget and your life.

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Getting Started With Organics
by Amy Peck

Talking about organics can sometimes stir up as much controversy in a conversation as bringing up religion or politics. It's a topic with fervent followers and stoic skeptics, and after my children were born, I started leaning more toward the fervent follower side of things. Over the past few years my interest in organics has grown to the point where not only do I try to feed my family organics as much as possible, but I've started a business delivering organic fruits and vegetables to people's homes and offices, plus I write a regular organic gardening column for the Denver Examiner.

The decision of "going organic" is understandably not an easy one to make. There are so many choices about organics out there that it can seem overwhelming. And what does it mean to be organic anyway? The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

"Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards."

What Does That Mean For Us?
Does the benefit to the animals, plants and their caretakers translate to the consumer and our children in some sort of measurable context other than making a bigger dent in our wallets? In the April 2008 issue of Organic Gardening magazine a study from the University of Newcastle on Tyne was reported to have found that, "Organic fruits and vegetables contain up to 40 percent more antioxidants than non-organic produce." Project coordinator Carol Leifert told the BBC News that the ongoing study found that, "there are more of certain nutritionally desirable compounds and less of the baddies in organic foods, or improved amounts of the fatty acids you want and less of those you don't."

In the organic vs. conventional buying decision then there is always the "list" that people talk about when choosing which produce to buy. According to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research group, the top ten foods that retain the most pesticides are strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican cantaloupe, celery, apples, apricots, and green beans. While a good starting point for sure when talking about the best organics to buy based on our own consumption, I like to think of the bigger picture. For me it's important to teach my children how buying organics is not only good for us, but for the farmers that grew our food and the environment.

Buying organic has broadened for our family. In addition to the organic certification, we consider the small farmers who practice organics but don't have the capital to get the certification necessary to label their food as such. We consider where our food is grown and like to make choices that are as local to where we live as possible. I consider this thinking "beyond organic."

Getting Started
When people ask me about organics or how to get started, I recommend starting wherever they can. In Denver, shopping for your produce at Vitamin Cottage, which carries only organic produce, is a good place to start in the winter months. Visiting farmers' markets in the spring through fall months gives you the opportunity to meet the farmers themselves. Not all farmers' markets participants are organic growers so be sure to ask if it's not clearly posted. Growing our own organic food is by far the least expensive way to bring organics into our homes, and a highly rewarding experience that the whole family can take part in. I don't think there are any hard and fast answers to this question.

The Bottom Line
As with anything that is good for us and the environment, making any organic choice, however small, will make an impact. We need look no further than our own children to know how small successes lead to big milestones. Perhaps someday, our children won't have to make this decision, because all of their options will be safe for them and the environment.

Top 10 Things To Do Before Kindergarten

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

January 27, 2009

Time flies so fast doesn't it? Believe me, I know. Declan is 6 and a half now, and halfway through 1st grade. The changes over the past few years have been astounding. And I know many of you are not even thinking about preschool, much less Kindergarten or 1st grade. So NOW is the time to get all those activities in. The ones you can't find the time for later when school and other friends and  Read more...

Go Green! Top Eco-Friendly Resolutions for 2009

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

January 26, 2009

Going green is an awesome way to teach your child responsibility. And taking care of mother earth is a big responsibility, right? So when sharing the burden with kids, it's important to make it FUN as well. But, I can tell you, with Declan - it's neat to see how eco-minded he is - mainly because that's the way it's always been for him. It's been his habit since very little and that's they way he  Read more...

Time To Get Low Cost Street Trees In Denver!

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

January 21, 2009

Are you looking for trees to plant along your house at the edge of the street? The Park People's Denver Digs Trees program is here to help you. Every spring, this wonderful program makes trees available for the amazing price of $25 each to help beautify Denver. Their trees are available to all Denver residents, but target neighborhoods include: Baker, Barnum, West Barnum, Chaffee Park, Clayton,  Read more...

My Top Ten for 2008

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

December 30, 2008

I can't believe this year is drawing to a close already. And it's been really fun talking about all the great things to do in Denver. And just like everyone does at the end of the year - let's take a look back! Here are my ten favorite posts from 2008. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did! Local Pride: 5 Awesome Reasons To raise Kids In Denver Top 99 Things We Must Do With Our Kids In  Read more...

Colorado A-Z

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

November 04, 2008

We're all talking about the things that are special about our states' today. Letter by letter and city by city. Here are some of my favorite (alphabetical) things about Colorado. A is for Aquarium B is for Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Competition C is for Columbine State Flower D is for Denver Art Museum E is for Evergreen F is for Flatirons G is for Garden of the Gods H is for Hot  Read more...

Take The Young Ones A-Fishin'!

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

August 22, 2008

I am going to be honest with you here. Fishing has never been my thing. Mainly because I am fairly clutzy, especially with sharp objects, and I am pretty sure hooks and I should stay far far away from each other. But there is something inherent that makes kids want to fish isn't there? And seeing as Denver is surprisingly LOADED with lakes and parks to fish in, I have done some research and  Read more...

Camping with Kids in Colorado

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

July 11, 2008

Alright, seriously. Camping and Colorado go hand in hand, right? With the amazing Rocky Mountains at our back door, how could it not? Here is a sampling of some camping ideas from around the state to start you off with. But please, keep adding more and more. Because given the beauty that surrounds us, this list could go on forever! Golden Gate Canyon State Park This park is one of the closest  Read more...

Top 99 Things We Must Do With Our Kids In Denver Before They Grow Up

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

May 29, 2008

It's all rushing by way too fast, isn't it? Blink and they grow 2 inches. And all along you keep making these mental notes of things you want to do with them, in your city. Things that will be SO FUN! So memorable! But that you never get around to actually DOING. Ack. That stops here and now. I am going to start a list, with my top 50 things I would like to do with Declan before he grows up (or  Read more...

Top 5 Things To Do In Denver on A Sunny Day

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

May 20, 2008

So. There are more sunny days here in Denver than Miami or San Diego, right? So that's a lot of time for fun in the fun. What are the BEST things to do in Denver on a sunny day with your toddler? Here are my thoughts, but I would like to hear yours as well! 5. CONFLUENCE PARK My husband is a kayaker, so we love to go watch him (and others) paddle around at Confluence Park , near the downtown  Read more...

How to Cultivate the Tiniest Green Thumb

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

May 16, 2008

What comes to mind when you think of flowers, plants, and green thumbs in Denver? The Denver Botanic Gardens , of course. We'll explore the topic again and again, because I LOVE gardening but, truly. There is no place more appropriate to plant the seeds for a life-long love of the green than the DBG. Declan and I started a tradition two years ago, when he was barely even able to hold a camera  Read more...

Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! The Urban Jungle Right Here in Denver!

by Aimee Greeblemonkey

May 15, 2008

Another great thing about living in the West is animal life. Sure, Denver is a big city, but we definitely love our animals, don't we? That appreciation is woven into many of our attractions. Denver Zoo Any post on this subject would be remiss without mentioning the Denver Zoo. It's world class. The bear exhibit was among the first to REALLY make an effort to achieve a natural habitat for the  Read more...