Friends, Park Add 4th Lecture to Wetlands in the Summer Series: "Ice Age Wetlands in the Las Vegas Valley"
2024-09-11 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
Clark County Wetlands Park and the Wetlands Park Friends are pleased to announce that they have added a September presentation to their “Wetlands in the Summer: An Evening Lecture Series.” On Wednesday, September 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Park’s Nature Center Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, off Tropicana Avenue. No registration is required—simply walk in and enjoy! Light refreshments will be provided during the event.
The September lecture is entitled, “Ice Age Wetlands in the Las Vegas Valley,” which will be presented by “Dr. Ranger” Lauren Parry, a paleontologist and Park Ranger at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in the upper Las Vegas Wash, Nevada.
For over 100 years, scientific investigation has revealed stories of our past at Tule Springs Fossil Beds. Stories of past environments, animals, and people have been interpreted from the rock, fossil, and archeological records of the Tule Springs area, but how have those stories evolved with us? This talk will explore the natural history of the Ice Age Las Vegas and how water has transformed the Valley for the last 570,000 years. Learn how science can evolve and reframe our past with new perspectives and technology.
Throughout her career and schooling, Parry has conducted fieldwork on Nevada’s public lands, managed fossil museum collections, researched the lives of extinct mammoths, and is now helping to build a new fossil park from the ground up. She earned her doctorate in paleontology from UNLV in 2020 and enjoys using her background and expertise to collaborate with other scientists, artists, educators, and planners. Learning is her passion, and she hopes to connect the community to park science and place-based history.
Photo credit: Desert Research Institute

Wetlands for the Holidays: A Call for Art Submissions
2024-10-12
Clark County Wetlands Park & Wetlands Park Friends Present, “Wetlands for the Holidays, an Art Exhibition and Sales Event, “12×12 Days of Merrymaking!”
When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 through Saturday, January 24, 2025. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular Nature Center hours.
An Opening Reception will be held Saturday, November 9th from 1 PM to 3 PM. ***Park Volunteers & Staff, Friends Members, & Artists & Their Colleagues Are Invited! (as well as visiting Park Guests)***
Where: The Nest, the gallery located in Clark County Wetlands Park’s Nature Center
What: Fifty pieces of Wetlands-inspired contemporary artwork from local Clark County artists will be on display. All work will be produced on a 12-inch by 12-inch size canvas or smaller.
Artwork to be curated by internationally renown artist and Las Vegas gallerist Nancy Good.
Why: All artwork will be on sale for Holiday gift-giving (or what have you). All work will be priced at $150.
Proceeds from the sale will be split between the artist and Wetlands Park Friends, the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization supporting the Park’s programs and activities.

***Are you an artist? If you are over 18 and a resident of Clark County, you’re welcome to submit your work for consideration! For details, please visit: https://forms.gle/FRaDv4FsxvyjbeYh6
Call for Art ends October 12***

Wetlands for the Holidays: 12x12 Days of Merrymaking!
2024-11-10 09:00 - 2025-01-24 15:00
This year Clark County resident artists will be showcasing their Wetlands Park-inspired art at Wetlands for the Holidays, a holiday-timed exhibition and sales event at The Nest, a gallery located at Clark County Wetlands Park’s Nature Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibition is curated/juried by Artist/Gallerist Nancy Good and facilitated by Wetlands Park Friends, the nonprofit supporting the Park. All work must be no greater than 12″ on any side, INCLUDING FRAME (if framed). All work is priced at $150, with half the money going to the artist, and half going to Wetlands Park Friends for Park programs and activities.

The Secret Lives of Burrowing Owls
2024-11-16 10:00 - 11:00
Location: The Park’s Nature Center Auditorium
Speaker: Rick Walker, D.D.S., M.Ed., Burrowing Owl Monitor
The Rainbow Owl Preserve, Northwest Las Vegas

This lecture is bound to shed some curious details about the peculiar behavior and habits of the burrowing owl From their quirky appearance and unique adaptations, desert habitat (above and below ground), migration patterns, and more, you are bound to learn something new! The “family-friendly” program is open to the public and free of charge. Light refreshments will be served.
Rick Walker is an outdoor photographer and monitor of the Rainbow Owl Preserve in northwest Las Vegas. He is a retired professor from UNLV School of Dental Medicine.
For more information, please visit the calendar on our home page: www.wetlandsparkfriends.org.

Wetlands Art Day
2025-03-23 10:00 - 13:00
Come one, come all! Clark County Wetlands Park’s Wetlands Art Day is a day for young and old to explore their artistic roots! The Wetlands Park Friends table will include a “hand out” Ladybug craft project, to be done later at home. So much fun!!! There are a wide range of interesting media to explore and people to meet! And, you can “walk the Park,” too, you like! The event is free and open to the public.

BioBlast
2025-04-26 09:00 - 13:00
You will have a blast at BioBlast, an event created and produced by Clark County Wetlands Park. It’s all about the flora, fauna, and environment found in the Park and southern Nevada. Stop by stations throughout the Nature Center and Nature Preserve. Learn about a wide range of topics and find out how they enable critical habitats and animal, bird, insect, and plant species to adapt, survive and thrive in this corner of the driest desert in North America! Lots of hands-on activities to be found at BioBlast, too! The Wetlands Park Friends table showcases the various native plant species found in the Park. There’ll be lots of fun and games there! The event is free and open to the public.

Wetlands in the Summer Lecture Series: Birds of Wetlands Park
2025-05-15 18:00 - 20:00
Wetlands Park Friends and Clark County Wetlands Park are pleased to present a second season consisting of five evening summer lectures that are free and open to the public. The lectures will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Park’s Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Light refreshments will be served.
Lecture 1 of 5: “Birds of Wetlands Park”

Speaker: Dave Anderson, photographer, filmmaker, writer, and owner/operator of The Wild Sights in Southern Nevada

Clark County Wetlands Park is a tremendous location to see a variety of birds. Local birding guide and photographer, Dave Anderson, will show images and videos of some of his favorite species. He will share his tips on how to find and identify birds. Dave will also talk about the challenges our local birds are facing and actions we can take to help our weathered friends.
Questions? Please email us at friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.

Wetlands in the Summer Lecture Series: Over Two Decades of Conservation: The Story of the Relict Leopard Frog
2025-06-12 18:00 - 20:00
Wetlands Park Friends and Clark County Wetlands Park are pleased to present a second season consisting of five evening summer lectures that are free and open to the public. The lectures will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Park’s Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Light refreshments will be served.
Date: Thursday, June 12
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM

Lecture 2 of 5: “Over Two Decades of Conservation: The Story of the Relict Leopard Frog”

Speaker: Jef Jaeger, UNLV Associate Professor in Residence with the School of Life Sciences
Endemic to southern Nevada, the Relict Leopard Frog suffered a substantial decline in range and numbers by the end of the 20th century. In 2001, the species became the focus of an intensive, multiagency conservation effort that is centered on managing populations and systematic monitoring. Professor Jaeger’s presentation will focus on the history of this conservation program, along with its successes, setbacks, and limitations.
Questions? Please email us at friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.

Wetlands in the Summer Lecture Series: “Desert National Wildlife Refuge: A Review of the Largest Wildlife Refuge in the Contiguous US”
2025-07-17 18:00 - 20:00
Wetlands Park Friends and Clark County Wetlands Park are pleased to present a second season consisting of five evening summer lectures that are free and open to the public. The lectures will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Park’s Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Light refreshments will be served:
Lecture 3 of 5: “Desert National Wildlife Refuge: A Review of the Largest Wildlife Refuge in the Contiguous US”
Speaker: Mackenzie Moss, Wildlife Refuge Specialist Research Associate, Desert National Wildlife Refuge
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge in the contiguous US and is a place rich with beauty, history, and biodiversity. This presentation will talk about what the refuge is and how it operates, with an emphasis on water resources and wildlife managemen
Questions? Please email us at friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.

Pollinator Party!!!
2025-08-02 10:00 - 12:00
Come join other families for a fun, learning experience for young and old! Wetlands Park Friends will be overseeing the “Butterflies on Parade” table, where you can produce a butterfly of your dreams… and parade it around the event! Please note: you must register and pay $5 per child for this. For more info and to register, go to https://tinyurl.com/mjctbtsw.

Stalking Twilight
2025-08-09 19:30 - 21:00
Experience Wetlands Park at night! Go on a group walk with a Wetlands Park naturalist and explore the Nature Preserve under the full moon. Look for bats, beavers, raccoons and other night creatures. Wetlands Park Friends members will be there to help you view the moon and other celestial bodies through binoculars. And score some celestial candy! The Wetlands Park Nature Store and Exhibit Gallery will be open. All ages welcome. Space is limited, please register in advance. All ages welcome. Registration and fee for all participants is required. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/hejs4mew.

Wetlands in the Summer: An Evening Lecture Series’ Lecture Four of Five: The Desert Scrub: A Walk Along the Uplands of the Las Vegas Wash
2025-08-21 18:00 - 20:00
Wetlands Park Friends and Clark County Wetlands Park are pleased to present a second season consisting of five evening summer lectures that are free and open to the public. The lectures will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Park’s Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Light refreshments will be served. More details to come, when they are available. Questions? Please email us at friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.
The Las Vegas Wash (Wash) bisects Clark County Wetlands Park and is the primary drainage channel for the Las Vegas Valley. The most extensive, but least visited area in Clark County Wetlands Park is the upland desert scrub habitat found on the north side of the Park. This habitat encompasses a diverse range of plants and wildlife species not found in other parts of the Park. Mr. Rice will showcase some of the unique species that you can find in this area.
Nick Rice is a Senior Environmental Biologist with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and has been with the cooperative agency for over 20 years. SNWA is one of 26 member agencies of the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC). The LVWCC is comprised of federal, state, and local agency partners along with environmental groups, the University of Las Vegas, and citizen members. The LVWCC has spent over 25 years working to stabilize and enhance the Wash, reducing erosion, improving water quality, and creating habitat.
Speaker: Nick Rice, Senior Environmental Biologist, Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)

Wetlands in the Summer Lecture Series: “How to Fly in the Dark: the Bats of Southern Nevada”
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00
Wetlands Park Friends and Clark County Wetlands Park are pleased to present a second season consisting of five evening summer lectures that are free and open to the public. The fifth of five events is on September 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event will take place at the Wetlands Park Nature Center Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, off Tropicana Avenue. No registration is required, simply walk in and enjoy! Light refreshments will be provided during the event. The lectures will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Park’s Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Light refreshments will be served. Questions? Please email us at friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.
Thursday “How to Fly in the Dark: the Bats of Southern Nevada”
Sept. 18
Speaker: Dr. Sean Neiswenter, Associate Professor in Residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight… and they do it in the dark… while eating breakfast. In this talk, Dr. Neiswenter will introduce you to some of the diversity of bats you will see flying around Clark County Wetlands Park and other areas of Las Vegas. He also will explore the amazing adaptations bats have that allow them to navigate the night skies and share museum specimens, so you can see them up close. He will end the talk by presenting research he and colleagues have conducted over the years on one of his favorite southern Nevada bat species.
Dr. Neiswenter is an Associate Professor in Residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has over 20 years of experience working with all things hairy: mammals. His own research focuses on carnivores, rodents, and bats. He uses old-school field work and cutting-edge lab techniques to address contemporary issues regarding biodiversity, conservation, human-wildlife interactions, and disease. In addition, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Mammalogy, Conservation Biology, Human Anatomy, and Systematics. His most recent teaching endeavor is a National Science Foundation-funded Course Based Undergraduate Research Experience, where students conduct original research in respiratory physiology with the goal of publishing their results in peer-reviewed journals. In his free time, he enjoys spending time exploring the great outdoors with his partner, two sons, and two dogs.

Wetlands for the Holidays
2025-11-08 09:00 - 2026-01-24 15:00
Wetlands Park Friends Presents In Support of Clark County Wetlands Park
Wetlands for the Holidays/“Making It Real”
An Exhibit and Sale of Art
From Photographers of the
Nevada Camera Club
Location: The Nest, Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Center; 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122
Come view the exhibit featuring the work of fine area photographers. All work is priced at $150; a portion of the sales go to Wetlands Park Friends in support of Park programs and activities.

Clark County Wetlands Park & Wetlands Park Friends Present, “Snakes of the Mojave Desert: Ecology & Misconceptions,” Saturday Morning Lecture November 15 at 10 AM
2025-11-15 10:00 - 12:00
Clark County Wetlands Park and Wetlands Park Friends are pleased to announce the addition of a Saturday morning lecture to the Park’s November event calendar. “Snakes of the Mojave Desert: Ecology and Misconceptions” will be presented on November 15 at 10 AM at the Park’s Nature Center Auditorium, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, off Tropicana Avenue. No registration is required for this free and family-friendly presentation—simply walk in and enjoy! Light refreshments will be provided during the event.
The lecture, “Snakes of the Mojave Desert: Ecology and Misconceptions,” will be presented by Lauren MacLeod, who serves as the Wildlife Education Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in Las Vegas. Attendees will be encouraged to “slither” into the secretive world of snakes that call the Mojave Desert home. This presentation will explore the unique adaptations, ecological significance, and conservation challenges faced by these desert dwellers and offer tips for staying snake-smart while out hiking the trails. A cold-blooded special guest will be joining the program to offer firsthand insight into these often-misunderstood animals.
Ms. MacLeod holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from University of Lynchburg in Virginia. She has been affiliated with NDOW for about 6 years. She also has worked for the National Park Service, Lake Mead Recreational Area; the Great Basin Institute; and Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga, NY.
Wetlands Park Friends is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting conservation, awareness, and appreciation of the Park through its educational programs and activities. Its office is located inside the Park’s Administration Building in the Nature Center; 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Its phone number is 702-806-6852. For more information, including how to become a Friend and donate, please visit: www.wetlandsparkfriends.org or on social media and YouTube at WetlandsParkFriends.
More information about this event can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3knduy3n. As one of the largest urban wetlands in the Southwest, Clark County Wetlands Park is home to more than 300 species of birds and 70 species of mammals and reptiles, including beavers, coyotes, bobcats, and snakes. The Nature Center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and hosts a variety of programming activities. Park outdoor hours are dawn to dusk, seven days a week. To learn more about this event and other activities available, visit the Wetlands Park pages of Clark County’s Parks and Recreation Department at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov. You also can follow Clark County Wetlands Park on social media at CCWetlandsPark.
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.

Wetlands Park Friends Annual Meeting
2025-11-15 11:00 - 12:00
Wetlands Park Friends will host its 6th Annual Meeting in the Auditorium at the Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Center, located at 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. The meeting will follow the scheduled November Saturday Morning Lecture, presented by the Park and Friends: “Snakes of the Mojave Desert: Ecology & Misconceptions,” at 10 AM. The lecture is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Guest of the lecture are welcomed to attend the meeting, along with Friends members. The address is 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89122. For more information, please email: friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org.
