Coffee with a ranger, a star party and history hike are some of the free events being offered at Fort Churchill State Historic Park in May.
Fort Churchill State Historic Park is offering a variety of ranger-led programs during the month of May, highlighting the area’s rich history and abundant natural resources.
Coffee with a Ranger — Bring your favorite mug and join a ranger for some early morning conversation. Ask questions, learn about the park, share your experiences and make new friends. The event will be 8:30-9:30 a.m. May 7 and 28. Meet at the walk-in campsite at the Samuel Buckland Campground at Fort Churchill.
Junior Ranger — Calling all kids to Fort Churchill State Historic Park. Explore the rich history and natural wonders found in and around the Fort. A variety of activities, crafts, and short hikes will be part of the fun. Please bring water, sun protection, insect repellant and comfortable closed-toe shoes. Meet at the John C. Fremont Picnic Area at Fort Churchill from 2 to 3:30 p.m. May 13.
Sundae in the Park — Enjoy the history and beauty of Fort Churchill on this 0.6-mile walk around the ruins. The Fort’s park interpreter will talk about the history of the area and share stories about daily life at a frontier fort. End your visit on a sweet note with ice cream sundaes at the museum. Please bring water, sun protection, insect repellant and comfortable closed-toe shoes. Meet at the Fort Churchill museum from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. May 14.
Star Party — Enjoy an evening under the stars at Fort Churchill. Members of the Northern Nevada Astronomy Group will begin the evening with a short educational presentation, followed by a viewing of celestial objects through high-powered telescopes. Please dress for the weather. Red lights and lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged. The event will be 8-10 p.m. May 20. Meet in the gravel parking area adjacent to the Fort Churchill Cemetery.
History Hike — Bring your walking shoes and join a park interpreter for a short hike (less than 1 mile) around historic Fort Churchill. See the Fort ruins, learn about the early history of the area and hear stories about daily life at a frontier fort. Please bring water, sun protection, insect repellant and comfortable closed-toe shoes. Meet at the museum from 10 a.m. to noon May 21.
Campfire Program — Join a park interpreter around the campfire to learn about what makes Fort Churchill State Historic Park such a unique and special place. The program will be from 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. May 26 at the Pony Bob Haslam Group Use Area at Fort Churchill.
Park entrance fees apply for all events. Entry is $5 per vehicle for Nevada residents and $7 per vehicle for out-of-state visitors (cash or check only). There is no additional cost to participate in the events.
Fort Churchill is located eight miles south of the Highway 95A/Highway 50 intersection on Highway 95A at 10000 Highway 95A, Silver Springs, NV 89429.
For information, go to http://parks.nv.gov/events.