OUTDOOR BRIEFS

LOVE THE EARTH

Celebrate the planet with various events

Springtime comes early in the Mojave Desert, and with it comes a full compliment of things to celebrate, especially in the great outdoors.

Even a quick look at Nevada's history will show that its residents have long been drawn to the outdoors and outdoor things. Therefore, it's not surprising that several events and other activities are centered on nature and the environment. This is traced to the first Earth Day celebration in 1970.

Earth Day 2007 will be celebrated on April 22, and as part of the festivities, an outdoor event called Earthfaire will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Summerlin Centre Community Park, 1800 Town Center Drive.

Other outdoor celebrations scheduled for this spring include National Environmental Education Week, National Wildlife Week, National Arbor Day and Endangered Species Day.

National Environmental Education Week is today through April 22. This event, sponsored by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (www.neetf.org), increases the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums.

National Wildlife Week is celebrated Saturday through April 29. Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and supported by NDOW, this week has been set aside to create public awareness of local wildlife. In the Las Vegas area, the week's activities will culminate with a National Wildlife Watch Day sponsored by NDOW and slated for 10 a.m. to noon April 28 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Participants will be given tally sheets and identification guides that will help them identify and track the various wildlife species they see while participating in the event.

National Arbor Day is April 27, but events may vary slightly from this date. Arbor Day celebrates the contribution that trees make to our environment.

Bringing up the end in this string of outdoor celebrations and events will be Endangered Species Day on May 18. The Endangered Species Coalition, who sponsors the event, wants citizens to know the successes that have been accomplished in endangered species protection and recovery.

NDOW has several projects that need volunteer assistance. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.

FREE COURSE

Fly-tying workshop scheduled for April 25

Few things are as exciting as catching a plump rainbow trout on a fly you tied yourself.

For those who are interested in tying their own flies, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be having a free fly-tying workshop at 7 p.m. April 25.

All equipment and materials will be provided. The class will be at the NDOW office located at 4747 Vegas Drive. For more information and registration, contact Ivy Santee at 486-5127, Ext. 3503.

INTRODUCTION

Learn about fly-fishing in class on April 28

Have you been yearning to learn what fly-fishing is all about? This free class is for you.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife will be having an Introduction to Fly Fishing Class at 9 a.m. April 28 at Floyd Lamb State Park. Students will become acquainted with terminology, equipment needed, casting skills, and much more. For more information contact NDOW at 486-5127 ext. 3503. Registration begins Monday at 8 a.m.

GET CREATIVE

Art contest for 2008 State Duck Stamp set

Artists with a flair for the wild side of life have been invited to participate in the Nevada Department of Wildlife 29th Annual State Duck Stamp Art contest, which is open to all artists regardless of their residency status. The winning entry will be used as the subject for the 2008-2009 state duck stamp.

Entries won't be accepted until June 1, but contest rules and entry forms have already been distributed to art supply stores and artists nationwide. The application deadline is Oct. 15.

The species selected by the Nevada Waterfowl Association -- the contest sponsor -- as the subject for the 2008 art competition is the pintail (Anas acuta), one of the first duck species to migrate south every fall and back north in the spring. That means all submitted artwork must feature a pintail duck.

For more entry materials and more information contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife headquarters' office, 1100 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512.