February 15 - 23
Friday, February 15
9:30 AM Guided Walk – “Life at the Windmill” The desert may seem to be an impossible place to live but a significant number of living things thrive in this extreme environment. Join Ranger B. Smith for an hour of discovery and exploration into the secret, and not so secret, stories of life at the windmill. Meet at Dugout Wells, six miles south of Panther Junction Visitor Center. Bring water and a hat. ¼ mile. 1 hour.
Saturday, February 16
9:30 AM Guided Walk – “A Journey through Time: Exploring Big Bend’s Vast Fossil Record” Join Ranger A. Epley as we explore 130 million years of history through the discovery of fossils here at Big Bend. Meet at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit parking lot, 8 miles north of Panther Junction Visitor Center. 45 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.
7:30 PM Evening Program – “Some Endangered Evening” Is it dark where you live? Can you see as many stars as you once could? A dark night sky is an important factor in the lives of living creatures planet-wide, a way for humans to connect to days past, when artificial light was non-existent. Join Ranger B. Smith for an evening about evenings. A telescope will be set up to view a celestial object. Meet at the Rio Grande Village Amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour.
Sunday, February 17
9:30 AM Program - “Who Built the Big Bend?” In 1934, a company of young men took up residence in the remote Chisos Mountains. With only pick axes, shovels, and a dump truck, they began to build a park that now receives 400,000 visitors a year. Who were these young men and what brought them here? Join Ranger T. Coe to learn about the Civilian Conservation Corps and how they helped make Big Bend a national park. Meet at the patio outside the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Wheelchair accessible. 30 minutes.
7:30 PM Evening Program – “An Evening on the Rio Grande” Some of the most interesting and dramatic scenery in Big Bend National Park is visible only from a canoe or raft floating along the Rio Grande on the park’s southern border. Join Ranger J. Duke for a photographic float trip that showcases scenic canyons, exciting rapids, and areas of the park that many never visit. Meet at the Rio Grande Village Amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour.
Monday, February 18
9:30 AM Program – “Bear Country” Whether you are staying at the Lodge, camping, or hiking in the Chisos Mountains or foothills you are in Bear Country. Join Ranger M. Lavender to learn more about how to enjoy Bear Country safely and agreeably with the unique population of Mexican Black Bears that make Big Bend home. Meet at the patio outside the Chisos Mountains Lodge. 45 minutes.
Tuesday, February 19
7:30 PM Full Moon Guided Walk – “Dark Animal Superpowers” Join Ranger A. Epley as we explore the nocturnal adaptations of some of Big Bend’s nighttime residents. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Meet at the Window View Trailhead. 45 minutes.
Wednesday, February 20
9:30 AM Program – “Desert River: The Story of the Rio Grande” The Rio Grande courses through the parched landscape of the American Southwest and defines our international border with Mexico. The river brings life to what its waters touch, and for much of its journey through Big Bend, it is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Join Ranger J. Duke for a discussion of the Rio Grande at the historic Barker House, 0.2 miles past the Boquillas Port of Entry on Boquillas Canyon road. 45 minutes.
Friday, February 22
9:30 AM Guided Walk – “A Journey through Time: Exploring Big Bend’s Vast Fossil Record” Join Ranger A. Epley as we explore 130 million years of history through the discovery of fossils here at Big Bend. Meet at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit parking lot, 8 miles north of Panther Junction Visitor Center. 45 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.
7:30 PM Evening Program – “Some Endangered Evening” Is it dark where you live? Can you see as many stars as you once could? A dark night sky is an important factor in the lives of living creatures planet-wide, a way for humans to connect to days past, when artificial light was non-existent. Join Ranger B. Smith for an evening about evenings. A telescope will be set up to view a celestial object. Meet at the Rio Grande Village Amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour.
Saturday, February 23
9:30 AM Program – “Battles of the Big Bend” Before Big Bend became a national park in 1944, it was the site of many conflicts, including the famous 1916 Raid on Glenn Springs. Join Ranger D. Dosedel for a discussion of the early 1900s military history of the Big Bend region. Meet at Sotol Vista on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Wheelchair accessible. 30 minutes.
7:45 PM – “A Park Ranger’s Guide to the Galaxy” Join Ranger T. Coe and a team of volunteers to view the wonders of Big Bend’s dark night skies. Enjoy a constellation tour followed by telescope viewing. Meet in the Panther Junction Visitor Center parking lot. Bring a flashlight, lawn chair, and jacket. An indoor program will be conducted in the event of inclement weather. 1½ hours.
