Roving Talks
Roving Talks are FREE programs but donations are appreciated. Donations can be made via the signup platform. Sign ups are limited to one individual per program.
Sean Duffy: Dinosaurs – With a Couple of New Twists
To RSVP, please sign up here.
There is a lot of misinformation and confusion about dinosaurs and fossils in general out there. While the media constantly showers the public with new finds, there seems to be a disconnect about what we actually know about these finds. We will share some of the newer ideas about fossils and discuss some of the dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures found at Grand Staircase National Monument.
Ranger Sean Duffy has been studying fossils since he was 18. Some of his friends will say he has a sixth sense for them because while driving, he will hit the brakes, leap into a ditch and pull up a fossil. They think it’s magic, but in reality, he says he just reads rocks. He has observed over the decades that many of the ideas about dinosaurs have drastically changed and is eager to share these new ideas with the public.
Cindy Calbaum: Identifying Conifers of the Escalante Mountains
NOTE: Limited to 10 participants (minimum 3).
To RSVP, sign up here.
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 Forester and recreation manager for the Escalante Ranger District. Cindy has a degree in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has worked for the USFS for over 30 years.
Bob Stevenson: Lightbulb Moments in the Circle Cliffs
Backcountry Park Ranger Bob Stevenson will explore what happens when personal stories are sandwiched between geological stories and the geopolitics of the cold war.- Roads in the Circle Cliffs can be rough so high clearance vehicles are required (four-wheel drive recommended).
- Two-miles round-trip – hike is not universally accessible.
- At least 2 liters of water
- Lunch and snacks
- Hiking shoes
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat
- Curiosity
- Imagination
Before Bob Stevenson was Bob, he was a rock. As Bob, he studied rocks, earned a degree in
geology, had fun in the mountains and canyons and became a park ranger where he really enjoys
sharing nature with everyone. Sometime in the distant future Bob expects to be a rock again.
Bob Stevenson: 20 Mile Dinosaur Track Site – Tracks Across Time
Through science and imagination, you will travel across time, where present and past converge to cross paths with a dinosaur. - At least 2 liters of water
- Lunch and snacks
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat
Escalante Historic Walking Tour – Thursday
No RSVP needed.
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.
Escalante Historic Walking Tour – Saturday
No RSVP needed.
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.
Anna Vanmeter: Watching the Clouds
To RSVP, please sign up here.
We watch the seasons change through the year, but often forget that the sky is a show we can watch every day. Join Ranger Anna in a discussion about the water cycle, weather, and cloud identification. Learn how you can make your own clouds in a bottle using household ingredients.
Anna works for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is from southern Arizona. She has worked seasonally for the National Park Service for seven years. Regional parks she has worked at include Mesa Verde National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park.