Wetlands in the Summer Lecture Series: “How to Fly in the Dark: the Bats of Southern Nevada”
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
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 | Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
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, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
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 | Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
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.

Wetlands Park Friends (Members Only) Field Trip to Ice Age Fossils State Park March 7!
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:00 | NV
The Friends Board is pleased to announce its first Members Only Field Trips of 2026, featuring a private, guided tour of Ice Age Fossils State Park. Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Ice Age Fossils State Park, 8660 N Decatur Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV 89085
Our tour will be led by: Dawn Reynoso and Emilisa Saunders, Interpretive Rangers, Ice Age Fossils State Park
Lauren Parry, Park Ranger, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
A picnic lunch will follow the tour at the park’s Picnic Pavilion. Please bring your own lunch– we’ll provide desert and water.
During this private experience, you will enjoy:
• A guided visit to the museum, including the park’s nine-minute introductory film and a tour of the exhibits
• A guided walk along the Megafauna Trail, beginning with an introduction to Leave No Trace principles and followed by interpretation of eight Ice Age megafauna sculptures
The Megafauna Trail is approximately 0.3 miles and involves 45 minutes to one hour of mostly standing and walking between sculptures. Members who prefer not to walk the trail may remain at the Picnic Pavilion, where a staff member will present the same Megafauna information. Following the tour, members are invited to enjoy lunch at the Picnic Pavilion with the Park Rangers and, possibly, members of the Protectors of Tule Springs.
Please RSVP to let us know by February 10th if you will be attending: friends@wetlandsparkfriends.org. Please also look into carpooling with other Friends–if you need a ride, please let us know. Not a member? Please join: www.wetlandsparkfriends.org/join
We look forward to sharing this special experience with you and hope you will join us for an engaging look into Southern Nevada’s Ice Age history.

Wetlands Art Day
2026-03-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, United States
Whether you’re an accomplished artist or bringing along an energetic three-year-old (or two!), Wetlands Art Day truly has something for everyone. This year, Wetlands Park Friends will be hosting the “Welcome to the Raccoon Residents” table, where we’ll share fun and fascinating facts about our resident raccoons.
Kids can create their own custom or classic raccoon button to wear during the event and take home, and they’ll also receive a raccoon mask kit that can be completed at the park or later at home. Best of all, the event is free—we can’t wait to see you at Wetlands Art Day! 🦝🎨
