9 Things to do Before It's Back to School

It's almost time to get back to school, but before kids return to indoor classrooms and homework routines, here are 9 activities to check out in the exciting outdoors at Colorado State Parks. For complete listing of events, visit the Colorado State Parks Online Event Calendar or use our Park Search feature to find specific events at your favorite park.

1. If you haven't checked out our newest state park, it's time to head to Cheyenne Mountain State Park and see firsthand what all the fuss is about. Search for hidden clues on a Family Mystery Hike.
2. Share a story around a blazing campfire under the vast Colorado sky. Don't forget the marshmallows!
3. Learning in the outdoors is much more exiting than reading a history text book, so don't miss the presentation on Ute Life and Legends at Mueller State Park's Amphitheatre on August 14. Local author Celinda Reynolds-Kaelin will share stories of the area's tribes and will sign books afterward.
4. Stay up late to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower at any state park on August 14 - it's one of the best meteor viewing opportunities of the year! At Eleven Mile State Park, join a park naturalist and view the sparkling sky through a telescope.
5. Discover interpretive displays at many state parks and learn about the state's flora, fauna, history and ecosystems. On August 14, visit Trinidad Lake State Park for presentations on the pinion-juniper woodland ecosystem, the park's history and area wildlife.
6. Go on a bug hunt to see who can find the most species and earn bragging rights in next year's Science class. Or, for the squeamish, bring some popcorn to see the movie, A Bug's Life, at Jackson Lake State Park on August 27.
7. For two unique ways to explore one of the state's most spectacular Natural Areas and a National Natural Landmark, take a ride around Roxborough State Park on the 'Rox Ride' – a hip seven passenger golf cart – or sign up for one of the park's upcoming full moon hikes.
8. Cast a line into one of many lakes and rivers that dot Colorado's 42 State Parks. Snag a trout for dinner, snap a photo and voila – you are ready for your first show-and-tell at school!
9. Earn your Junior Ranger badge at any number of state parks. Contact a park near you to discover the exciting learning opportunities associated with the Junior Ranger Program.