# Big Bend National Park

# 

# 

### *January 31 -- February 07, 2009*

# 

# Visitor Center Hours

#  

#  Panther Junction - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Daily 

#  Chisos Basin - 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Persimmon Gap - 10:00AM - 4:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Rio Grande Village - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Castolon - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

# *Saturday, January 31*

**9:00 AM Guided Walk -- "Desert Trivia"** What defines a desert?
Considered by some to be desolate, uninhabitable lands, deserts can be
places of spectacular diversity and stark beauty. Learn about the
deserts of the U.S. and what makes the Chihuahuan desert of Big Bend so
special. Meet at Dugout Wells, 6 miles east of the Panther Junction
Visitor Center. Bring water and a hat. ½ mile. 1 hour. Ranger M.
Lavender.

**1:30 PM Afternoon Program -- "Build Green"** Adobe bricks are a
construction material that can last 2500 years or melt away in a
generation. Join Volunteer R. Payne for a hands-on look at adobe
construction through the years and a chance to build your own brick.
Meet at the Castolon Visitor Center. Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour.

**7:30 PM Evening Program** \-- **"An Evening With the Stars"** Join
Ranger M. Manning to explore the night skies over Big Bend. If possible,
bring binoculars, a flashlight, and a lawn chair or blanket. Wheelchair
accessible. 1 hour. Meet at the **Chisos Basin Amphitheater parking
lot.**

# *Sunday, February 01*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Bad Bear, Bad!"** Encountering a black
bear anywhere in Texas would be a very rare event, except in the Chisos
Mountains. Here, bears and humans must exist side by side. Ranger D.
Davis provides an overview of recent bear-related incidents and what you
should do in the event of an encounter. Meet at the Chisos Basin Visitor
Center. Wheelchair accessible. 45 minutes.

# *Monday, February 02*

**8:30 AM Birding Walk \-- "The Best Bird?"** It's the one in your
binoculars! Join Ranger M. Flippo for some tips on identifying some of
the resident and migrant species found in the Big Bend. Recommended for
beginners. Bring binoculars and field guides. Meet at the Rio Grande
Village amphitheater parking lot. 2 hours.

# *Tuesday, February 03*

**2:00 PM Guided Walk -- "Desert Trivia"** What defines a desert?
Considered by some to be desolate, uninhabitable lands, deserts can be
places of spectacular diversity and stark beauty. Learn about the
deserts of the U.S. and what makes the Chihuahuan desert of Big Bend so
special. Meet at Dugout Wells, 6 miles east of the Panther Junction
Visitor Center. Bring water and a hat. ½ mile. 1 hour. Ranger M.
Lavender.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "America's Treasures"** National parks have
been called "the best idea America ever had." Join Ranger C. Wonderly to
learn the origins and future of America's greatest treasures: the
national parks. Wheelchair accessible. Bring a flashlight. 1 hour.
**Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.

# *Wednesday, February 04*

**9:00 AM Guided Walk \-- "Scales and Spines"** Join Ranger M. Manning
for a morning desert hike. Meet at Dugout Wells, 6 miles east of the
Panther Junction Visitor Center. Bring water and a hat. ½ mile. 1½
hours.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Rattlesnake: Cold Blooded Killer?"** Where
are you most likely to run into a rattler in Big Bend? What will it look
like? What will you do about it? Learn to live peacefully with this
amazing creature as Volunteer Jim Allen discusses the facts, myths and
lore of the rattlesnake. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1
hour. **Rio Grande Village Amphitheater**.

# *Thursday, February 05*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Green Gold: The Most Valuable Plant in
the Desert"** In the historic Big Bend, an endemic industry existed
alongside the more mainstream endeavors of ranching and mining. Join
Volunteer Jan Allen for a look at the story of candelilla wax production
in the Big Bend. Meet at the Rio Grande Village Visitor Center. 45
minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Dinosaurs! Exciting, Entertaining
and...Extinct?"** Join Ranger R. Dean to learn about these enigmatic
giants, the dinosaurs of Big Bend. Wheelchair accessible. Bring a
flashlight. 1 hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.

# *Friday, February 06*

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Raptors of Big Bend"** Big Bend has a rich
diversity of birds, including the raptors, or birds of prey. Join Ranger
M. Lavender to learn what defines a raptor, which ones are resident or
migratory, and the role they play in the wild. Bring a flashlight.
Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour. **Rio Grande Village Amphitheater**.

# *Saturday, February 07*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Fascinating Fossils"** Join Ranger M.
Lavender to learn about fossils, the exhilarating finds in Big Bend, and
the importance of preserving the fossil story of Earth's past. Meet at
the Fossil Bone exhibit, 8 miles north of Panther Junction. Bring water
and a hat. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Don't Call Me A Pig"** Muskhog, brush pig:
Just two of the many misnomers used for one of Big Bend's more
interesting animals. Ranger T. Smith sets the story straight with expert
testimony from J. Javelina. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1
hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.