Roving Talks
Roving Talks are FREE programs – of course, donations are much appreciated.
Please – NO PETS allowed.
Cindy Calbaum: Identifying Conifers of the Escalante Mountains
Mon September 21, 2026 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
NOTE: Limited to 10 participants (minimum 3).
Meet at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center and carpool to Posey Lake Campground. Participants may also meet at Posey Lake Campground, campsite 14.
Cindy Calbaum will teach you how to identify the conifer species which are native to the Escalante Mountains and the basics of how to identify deciduous trees. After learning about tree identification, Cindy will lead a 1/2 mile hike from the Posey Lake Campground to the Posey Overlook 400 feet above the lake.
HIKE DETAILS: The first part of the trail is steep climbing 400 ft quickly and then levels off.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Good hiking shoes
- Water
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat
- Walking sticks if you like them
Cindy is a Retired Forester and recreation manager. Cindy has a degree in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and worked for the USFS for over 30 years.
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Anna VanMeter: Escalante’s First Ghost Tour
Wed September 23, 2026 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Price: Free!
Join Anna for a short walk around the town of Escalante. This is a theatrical experience mixed with historical and factual information. There will also be room for group discussions and personal story telling – if you feel comfortable sharing. Themes include all things paranormal: ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot, unsolved mysteries, etc.
Note: Less than one mile, flat terrain, wheelchair accessible. Flashlight encouraged!
Anna has been leading ghost tours on and off since early 2020 in the town of Bisbee, AZ. She has an interest in all things paranormal and the role that local and regional stories play in peoples’ lives.
Miscellaneous information: If you own an EMF reader, EVP recorder, or camera feel free to bring along. These are items used to capture ghost activity.
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Escalante Historic Walking Tour – Thursday
Thu September 24, 2026 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 amEscalante, Utah 84726 United States
Walking tour of Escalante’s historic buildings.
No RSVP needed.
Free
Tour begins at the Peoples Exchange, one of Escalante’s most photographed historic buildings. Come along to learn more about many of the historic structures throughout town. Escalante was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 as a National Historic District with areas of noted significance in architecture, social history, commerce, agriculture, and exploration/settlement.
Tour will be led by Dr. Larry Barnes, co-owner of the Peoples Exchange, an early (1901) co-op store on old Main Street, Escalante. His interest in Escalante history has led to several invitations to give lectures and to assist in preparation of the guide to the Escalante National Historic District.
Paul Garvey: The Lion Effect – The Significance of the Mountain Lion Being a Keystone Species
Thu September 24, 2026 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Mountain lions play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As apex predators, they help regulate deer populations, reduce ecosystem imbalance, and support biodiversity across landscapes. They play a key role in helping keep Utah wild. It’s known as the trophic cascade. We call it The Lion Effect.
Join Paul Garvey of the Mountain Lion Foundation for an in-depth review of Utah’s magnificent mountain lions, the role they play in sustaining what we love about wild Utah, and the challenges they’re facing in maintaining their role in the Lion Effect.
Price: Free!
Paul developed his love for nature in the backcountry of Canada, where exploring its many lakes, streams and forests cemented an appreciation for outdoor photography. He enjoyed 2 professional careers, his first being in corporate America with a focus on new business, market and product development, working startups before “startup” was even a buzzword. His second more purposeful career was in emergency response, where he deployed with our nation’s federal Incident Management Teams in response to all-hazards disasters that had most others fleeing. His combination of business skills, problem solving and outdoor passion has provided numerous conservation opportunities over the years in helping establish our balance with nature.
With the Mountain Lion Foundation, Paul has concentrated these skills on helping ensure our mountain lions maintain their vital role in wild Utah.
You can find more information at: https://mountainlion.org/
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Dr. Jackie Grant: Bats of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Thu September 24, 2026 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pmEscalante, 84726
Maximum of 15 / Minimum of 2
Join Dr. Grant to learn about the variety of bats in the area and maybe even record some as they fly overhead to look for their insect dinners. Dr. Nicki Frey, professor of Human-Wildlife Interactions in the Department of Wildland Resources for Utah State University, will partner with Dr. Jackie Grant to teach participants about the variety of bats that call the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument their home.
The program will be conducted at the Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Office located at 530 W Main St. Escalante, UT 84726. We will meet on the back patio.
Bring a portable chair if you want to sit, warm clothing, and comfort items such as water and snacks.
Did you know that at least 14 bat species make their home on the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument? Bats navigate and find food with their very loud “shouts.” Each type of bat has its own special shout, which, despite being very loud, is not heard by humans. However, we can use special microphones to hear the bats then identify each bat by the sound it makes.
Dr. Jackie Grant taught biology and environmental science at Southern Utah University for 12 years before joining Grand Staircase Escalante Partners in 2024. She is the President of the Utah Native Plant Society and served as the Vice President for Education and Outreach for the Society for Conservation Biology.
Dr. Grant’s expertise is in wildlife, native plants, and the Seeds of Success Protocol. Dr. Grant was a Fulbright Scholar to New Zealand in 2023, where she learned about seed preservation from an Indigenous (Māori) perspective. Jackie has surveyed for bats all across the United States and Colombia, South America!
You can learn more about the work of Grand Staircase Escalante Partners at: https://gsenm.org/
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Escalante Historic Walking Tour – Friday
Fri September 25, 2026 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Walking tour of Escalante’s historic buildings.
No RSVP needed.
Free
Tour begins at the Peoples Exchange, one of Escalante’s most photographed historic buildings. Come along to learn more about many of the historic structures throughout town. Escalante was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 as a National Historic District with areas of noted significance in architecture, social history, commerce, agriculture, and exploration/settlement.
Tour will be led by Dr. Larry Barnes, co-owner of the Peoples Exchange, an early (1901) co-op store on old Main Street, Escalante. His interest in Escalante history has led to several invitations to give lectures and to assist in preparation of the guide to the Escalante National Historic District.