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PEEC is pleased to offer a very special auction at the Party for PEEC on April 25th. An extraordinary group of notable nature-lovers will share their knowledge and insights on topics ranging from waterfowl and the stars, to photography and cooking. They will work with you to find a mutually agreeable date and also accommodate a small group of your family members and friends.
Remember that when you bid, you will be benefiting the Pajarito Environmental Educational Center's programs for children and keeping the nature center open and free to the public. So join in the fun and come to the Party for PEEC. Tickets can be purchased at PEEC or from the Earth Day 2010 web page.
Note: Most items require that you provide your own transportation.
Pottery
Artist: Emily Whitaker
Group Size:
Schedule: Weekends, Mondays or Fridays
Redeemable: Between May 15 and December 31, 2010
Learn the basics of pottery in my in-home studio while you make your own pottery.
During the first session, I will help you sculpt or throw your own clay. Let your imagination go, or make something useful to treasure. Then, I will help you fire the piece and invite you back to trim and glaze.
Tools, clay, and glaze provided, you only need to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. The sessions will be held at the artist's studio on North Mesa. The process will take 2-3 sessions.
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Birding and Boating
Guides: Dave Yeamans and Dennis Brandt
Group Size: 4 people
Schedule: May 15, 2010
Minimum bid: $140 per person
Float the Rio Grande from Buckman to Frijoles on May 15, 2010, at the height of the spring bird migration. That's all of Los Alamos County's eastern edge in White Rock Canyon! Four PEEC auction winners (or the top bidder and three companions at the same rate) can look for birds all day while rafting the Rio Grande and making stops as desired along the way. The minimum bid is only $140 each. Buffalo Tours provides transportation and guide service on land. Dave Yeamans and Dennis Brandt give you their 90+ years of river experience in their Grand Canyon "certified" raft. Box lunches will be provided. We meet at the "Y" at 6 a.m. and drive in the Buffalo Tours van to the Buckman Road end at the Rio Grande. As the sun sets, auction winners will hike with Buffalo Tours guides up the two-mile trail to the Bandelier National Monument headquarters where they will board the Buffalo Tours vans and head to the "Y" to end their day of birding and boating. Support PEEC. Have a blast. See birds. Unique experience. Nothing like it.
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Waterfowl Tour of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
Guide: Stephen Fettig, wildlife biologist
Group Size: 1 carload
Schedule: 4 hours at the refuge
Redeemable: Any Sunday in November 2010
Spend the day in the spectacular grasslands of the Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, a mini version of the Bosque del Apache NWR. Steve will provide spotting scopes, expert identification of water birds, as well as natural history information on most of the birds seen. You will need to pack a lunch and provide your own transportation.
You should see lots of Snow Geese, a few Bald Eagles, and a few Ferruginous Hawks. Sandhill Cranes should be moderate numbers, along with good numbers of Gadwall, Northern Pintails, and Northern Shovelers. Special treats will be finding good views of Ross's Geese, Common Goldeneyes, Hooded Merganser, Horned or Eared Grebe. REALLY SPECIAL treats would be finding a Prairie Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, or a Merlin. Only a few winters during each decade do we find Greater White-fronted Geese or Tundra Swans.
Steve Fettig is a biologist with more than 20 years working from Alaska to Florida and from Michigan to Arizona. His New Mexico contributions to the ornithological world include his leadership of New Mexico's Breeding Bird Atlas Project, and an autumn songbird migration banding study he started in 2004 at Bandelier National Monument.
This tour is good for one carload of people. You need to provide your own transportation to and from the Las Vegas refuge and your own picnic lunch within the refuge.
Introduction to Geocaching:
The sport where you are the search engine!
Guides: Heather Burke and Esta Lee Albright
Group Size: 1-3 people
Schedule: Weekend only, 2-3 hours
Redeemable: Before October 26, 2010
Join the creators of PEEC's geocache site for a half-day of geocaching fun. Learn how to roam over Los Alamos with a GPS, find creative and amusing clues, and post your findings for all to see. Yummy snacks will be provided too. Your own GPS is not required.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. (From geochaching.com)
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Trip to the Bosque del Apache
Guides: Terry Foxx and Paul White
Group Size: 2 persons
Schedule: 2 nights
Redeemable: by May 31, 2011
The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is one of nature's wonder spots, and it's right here in New Mexico. There are special things to see year round, although the high season is during the winter months. During cold weather, there are wintering geese and cranes, in May migrating birds, and there are always ducks and other permanent residents. Paul White (President of the Friends of the Bosque) and Terry Foxx (who has led Elder Hostels to the Bosque) will lead a trip to the Bosque sometime between April 2010 and April 2011. This offer includes a two-night stay at the Fite Ranch Bed and Breakfast. The trip will be for a party of two, and the winning bidders will work with Paul and Terry to arrange specific timing for the tour and the Fite Ranch stay. Note: the Fite Ranch is especially busy from September to February. So, making arrangements early will be important. (Others may join the Tour, but the housing will only cover 2 persons, and additional persons would have to make their own reservations.)
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Petroglyph Tour
Guide: Dorothy Hoard
Schedule: Flexible
Group Size: 1-5 people
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2010
In the 1980s Dorothy Hoard and Betty Lilienthal conducted a survey of petroglyph sites in Los Alamos County (except LANL). Hoard will give a tour of some of the sites. The tour will be tailored to the capabilities of the participants. A tour can range from fairly easy to one only suitable for rock climbers, on which she will stand in an accessible place and point in the appropriate direction. For a sampling of local petroglyphs, see Sentinels on Stone, available at local bookstores.
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Personalized Wildflower Identification Walk
Guide: Chick Keller
Group Size: 1-5 people
Schedule: Flexible, 2 hours
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2010
Chick Keller, former president of the New Mexico Native Plant Society, and Curator of the Jemez Mountain Herbarium, will guide you through the world of native wildflowers. He will tailor his program to your personal interests. Perhaps your interest is in the native flowers out your backdoor or farther a field to upper Frijoles to search for the less frequently seen Yellow Lady Slippers. You'll learn about the natural history of our wildflowers, discuss the best wildflower guides for our area, and visit to PEEC herbarium to see plant collection. You'll need to wear hiking attire, and bring water.
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Star Gazing
Guide: Chick Keller
Group Size: 1-5 people
Redeemable: Flexible, 2 hours
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2010
Are you interested in seeing astronomical objects and learning more about the universe? Then join Chick Keller for an evening of gazing at the beautiful summer night sky. Using a 6-inch reflecting telescope you'll search for planets, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae and more. Please wear cool, nighttime clothing and bring binoculars.
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Landscape Design
Designer: Cathy Strong
Schedule: Flexible 1.5-hour consultations
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2010
Cathy Strong, well-known master gardener and garden designer, is offering a consultation about landscaping and/or garden design. She has designed numerous gardens in Los Alamos and White Rock and is knowledgeable about what plants thrive in various habitats.
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Taste of India
Chef: Selvi Viswanathan
Group Size: up to 10
Schedule: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a date to be arranged
Redeemable: Before October 10, 2010
We all know that Columbus wanted to go to India for its spices and, instead, discovered America. Now you can discover the spicy food of India right here in Los Alamos, by being highest bidder for this "Taste of India" dinner. In commemoration of PEEC's 10th anniversary, Selvi Viswanathan will serve up to ten people a buffet dinner at her home at 690 Los Pueblos. Dinner will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a date to be arranged before 10/10/10. The buffet will have ten vegetarian items, mostly south India dishes, and will include dessert. Selvi and her husband Nathan can also show you their extensive collection of artifacts from India, including musical instruments, paintings, and Indian spices.
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Bicycle
Show your Earth Day pride every time you ride this premium, handmade Nirve brand cruiser bicycle complete with a beautiful sunflower motif. It sports happy sunflowers on the frame, seat and even the tires! It's brand new with its tag. This special bicycle retails for around $450.
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