The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office announced the summer 2012 Interpretive Activities at New Melones Lake, located in Calaveras County. All activities are at the Amphitheater at the Glory Hole Recreation Area and are free of charge and suitable for all ages, and most do not require reservations. Please wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing for weather conditions. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Gold Rush Reminiscing: Saturday June 2, 7p.m. Park Ranger George will delight attendees with his tales of miners back in the gold rush days. He will teach how to pan for gold. Everyone will have an opportunity to strike it rich. Arts and crafts begin at 7p.m. and the presentation at 7:30p.m. Stay after the program is completed and try your luck at gold panning.
Flying Rainbows: Saturday June 9, 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to join Park Ranger Jayme and learn about colorful flying friends. Discover the butterfly lifecycle, their importance, and how to encourage them to live in your own yard. Find out what is threatening these beautiful creatures and what you can be done to help.
Reptilian Encounters: Saturday June 16, 7:30p.m. Join special guest Mike Sutton and his entourage of snakes, lizards and toads for an evening of education and fun. The non-venomous Gopher Snake is commonly mistaken for the dangerous Western Rattlesnake. This is a chance to see them both, side-by-side. Sutton’s collection, consisting of over 65 different species, is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of native California reptiles available for public viewing.
Nature Photography: Saturday June 23, 7:30p.m. Lights, camera, action! Bring a camera, owner’s manual, tripod and questions down to the amphitheater and learn the basics of photography. Discussion will include F-Stop, Aperture, ISO, composition, and play “What’s wrong with this picture?” Great skills to use when out exploring New Melones Lake.
Hardluck Lin: Saturday June 30, 7:30p.m. Join living history persona Linda Teigland Clark as she shares her authentic tales of gold rush characters, places and events. This program is sure to enhance understanding of who and what shaped the history of the California Forty-Niner.
Interpretive programs and events at New Melones Lake tie into America’s Great Outdoors initiative (http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/) which seeks to empower Americans to share in the responsibility to conserve restore and provide better access to our lands and waters and leave a healthy and vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come.
If you need and accommodation to participate in a program, contact Park Ranger Tracy Neal at 209-536-9094, ext. 215, or e-mail tneal@usbr.gov, at least 14 days in advance.
The New Melones Visitor Center and Museum is managed by Reclamation’s Central California Area Office. Hours of operation are daily, 10a.m. to 4p.m. For additional information on activities, directions, pet restrictions, or other questions, please call 209-536-9543 (TTY 800-877-8339) or visit the website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/index.html.
