Welcome to the Boulder County Nature Association
For more than 50 years, the Boulder County Nature Association has been dedicated to understanding, preserving, and celebrating the rich natural heritage of Boulder County. We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization committed to fostering a deeper connection between people and the landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems that make this region extraordinary.
Through scientific studies using volunteers, a grants program for relevant research, educational programs, field trips, and conservation advocacy, BCNA brings together nature enthusiasts of all ages who share a passion for learning and stewardship. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or simply curious about the world just outside your door, we invite you to explore, discover, and help protect the natural wonders of Boulder County.
BCNA and Boulder Audubon jointly administer an email list serve, Nature-Net, to keep everyone updated about items of interest to both organizations.
To discover more about BCNA’s programs, please follow the links above the photo or in the hamburger drop-down menu.
Announcing the BCNA Ecosymposium for 2026
Public Lands in Public Hands for the Public Good: Engaging law, policy, and advocacy to protect our shared natural heritage
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 9 am-3 pm
The Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
(Please note the new location!!)
Past ecosystem symposia have often focused on ecological threats to the health of our public lands. This year’s ecosystem symposium focuses on a different source of threat, arising from new policies and actions of the federal government. Speakers will celebrate our public lands and provide expert perspectives from law, natural resource management, social science, and more. Together we will strengthen our knowledge about policy, law and management of our public lands, learn about efforts to protect what we’ve got, and build our courage and our toolkits for public lands advocacy.
Link to more information and tickets
KGNU Monthly Nature Almanac
Early Easter Daisies
For this March Nature Almanac, Boulder Naturalists Steve Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman withstand unruly winds to hike up a steep hogback full of splintery grey shards of shale that are left over from the ancient sea that covered the foothills over 100 million years ago. Not much grows in this flinty grey shale. But that’s exactly why a brave little flower with a very deep tap root chooses these locations. By growing in a hostile habitat, this tiny plant gets the most out of the soil’s scant nutrients and water. To stay out of the wind, this determined plant grows very low — it’s a miniature mound of green nestled in the shards of shale. The reward for all its determination comes this time of year, when the dazzling white flowers that have brilliant yellow centers cover the little green plant mounds. These are our Native Easter Daisies — one of the earliest flowers to bloom each year in Boulder County.
Photo courtesy of Steven R. Jones
Calendars of Upcoming Local Environmental Events
Boulder.Earth Climate Action Portal
People and pollinators action network: Upcoming events
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Gifts for the Naturalist in Your Life
Look for the BCNA books Butterflies of the Colorado Front Range by Janet Chu and Stephen Jones and Dragonflies of the Colorado Front Range by Ann Cooper books as well as CDs published by BCNA at any of these places:
- Special events hosted by BCNA
- Locally at the Front Range Birding Company: 5360 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, and 10146 W. San Juan Way, Littleton
- Wild Birds Unlimited: 2720 S. Wadsworth, Denver; 7370 W. 88th Ave., Arvada; and 1520 S. Hover St., Suite D, Longmont 80501
- Wild Bear Nature Center Gift Shop in Caribou Village Shopping Center, 20 Lakeview Drive, Nederland
- Covered Treasures Bookstore, 105 Second Street, Monument CO
- Boulder Audubon Chapter’s annual holiday sale
- Amazon: Butterflies of the Colorado Front Range or Dragonflies of the Colorado Front Range
- Brigham Distributing
- Some Barnes & Noble stores in the Front Range
- Butterfly eBooks are available from Amazon, Apple Books (purchase using the Apple Books app), and barnesandnoble.com.
Banner Photo © CCVanWie
Boulder County Nature Association
P.O. Box 493, Boulder, CO 80306