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Clark County Wetlands Park
preserves and enhances natural and cultural resources and provides educational, recreational, and research opportunities for the public.
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Thank you for subscribing to Wetlands Park Footprints newsletter. Share with your friends and let us know what you think at wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov. |
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Wetlands Art Day is a free, family event for all artists, no matter your age or skill level, to create and connect to nature through art. The event is sponsored in partnership with Commissioner Jim Gibson. Connect with your inner artist and join us at Wetlands Park on Saturday, March 21 from 10 am to 2 pm for art and poetry workshops by guest artists Lindsey Quick, Meghan Dragon, and Clark County Poet Laureate Ms. AyeVee sponsored by the Clark County Public Arts Office. Live music with Ocotillo Wind Quintet and "Ukulele Hero" Timothy Connolly, and arts & crafts for all ages brought to you by guest agencies Wetlands Park Friends, Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, Nevada Humanities, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Clark County Family Services, Red Rock Audubon, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, National Park Service Tule Springs Fossil Beds, and Protectors of Tule Springs. Buddies Golden Munchies will be serving free savory street corn, while supplies last. For additional information, visit www.ccwetlandspark.com.
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Calling all artists! Wetlands Park invites you to spend a day painting a wetlands inspired art piece en plein air during Wetlands Art Day. Bring your own supplies and check in as early as 9 am to find a scenic spot in the Nature Preserve. Participating artists will be invited to submit their artwork for the 4th Annual Plein Air Invitational on exhibit at the Spotlight on Nature Gallery from May - July 2026. Best in Show and Honorable Mentions will be awarded. Check out FAQs.
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BioBlast
Birds and More!
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Offered in partnership with Commissioner Jim Gibson. With the help of guest scientists and naturalists, kids learn about the plants and animals of Wetlands Park through science stations and interactive games. Free!
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Discovery Day
Bringing the Outdoors In
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Discover exciting activities to beat the summer heat. Partnering organizations offer suggested activities families can do all summer with their kids. Free!
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 Jenny Chapman, Education Facilitator volulnteer, discussing plants with school children during a field trip.
We are grateful to our volunteers and their dedication to making a positive impact. They are the heart and voice of Wetlands Park. Jenny Chapman is one such volunteer. We were able to catch up with her to find out what it is that keeps her coming back.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. I am a hydrogeologist retired from Desert Research Institute. My husband and I have lived in Las Vegas 38 years, raising our daughter and son, and are now enjoying our 6 year old grandson (he loves the Wetlands!). I do a lot of hiking, am a member of the Las Vegas Mountaineers Club, and have completed their 50 Classic Peaks.
How long have you been volunteering at Wetlands Park? Almost a year and a half.
How did you come to volunteer at the Wetlands? I come to the Wetlands routinely in cooler months to walk my dog along the Wetlands Loop, and my family and I did volunteer for a greenup planting in the early days of the Park. My son even did his Eagle Project in the Park, installing three bat boxes. When I looked into volunteering after retirement, I thought I might try Trailkeeping, but the volunteer coordinator, Sheila, noted a need for Educational Facilitators, so I gave that a try.
What kinds of things do you do during a typical volunteer shift at Wetlands Park? As an Educational Facilitator, I work with a great group of other facilitators leading field trips around the Nature Preserve for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes. The field trips run about 2 hours, but I’m usually at the Park all morning doing a pre-trip walkabout to scout out wildlife signs, and preparing with Amy, field trip staff lead, and the other volunteers. I’ve also helped the Wetlands Staff at a few special events, like Stalking Twilight and Haunt the Wetlands.
Why do you like volunteering at Wetlands Park? The absolutely best part is connecting with the kids during their park experience. It is so fun and rewarding to be with the students as they learn about habitats and wildlife and enjoy the wetlands. It is also nice interacting with the teachers and parent volunteers from the schools.
What advice would you give someone thinking about volunteering at Wetlands Park? My advice to anyone thinking of volunteering is that you should do it! The volunteer program is well organized and supportive, so you will find a rewarding experience from the many different opportunities for different interests.
I was very nervous about leading field trips, but the training was very good and there was great support and help from the experienced volunteers.
What is your favorite thing about Wetlands Park? One of my favorite field trip stops in the Nature Preserve is the Boardwalk (aka Turtle) Pond. The students are excited to see the turtles, carp, coots, and gallinules, and the pond itself is beautiful and a good place to discuss where the water comes from and goes, and the role of the weirs. The kids are always so excited to walk out on the platform and see the pond.
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"This show serves as both a reminder of the treasure that water is and an encouragement to protect it."
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Featuring art by Casey Alexander Southard, Waterworks is a collection of pieces dealing with water as a subject or setting. In this show she concentrates on water as a shared resource with other animals and plants of earth. Using the beauty of natural settings along with the ways we incorporate water in our daily life she expands her work to include more design elements such as batik and woodburning.
Southard earned a B.A. in Arts and Science from the University of Delaware in 1979. She has worked as a freelance artist for the National Park Service, New York City Parks and Recreation, the Sierra Club, the American Littoral Society, Friends of the Earth, and other organizations and publications. Her work includes illustrations for field guidebooks and brochures, teaching aids, murals, and domestic animal reference materials, with a primary focus on flora and fauna. Prior to 1988, her work was published under her maiden name, Casey French Alexander.
This Waterworks collection will be showing in our Spotlight on Nature Gallery through April 27th located in the Exhibit Gallery adjacent to the Nature Store, which is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 3pm.
Exhibit: March 1 - May 1, 2026
Wetlands Park is thrilled to announce our Artist-in-Residence team for 2026!
Autumn Belleque was born in 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Autumn graduated from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in 2022 with a major in Visual Design / Fine Arts and a minor in Photography. Currently, she is pursuing an Art, A.A. at the College of Southern Nevada, with expected graduation in May 2026. Autumn has earned multiple awards during enrollment at the College of Southern Nevada, including Best in Show (2024) and two Juror's Awards (2024-25). She operates her Etsy business, Gardenworms, in Las Vegas, and plans to continue her studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Eric Wang was born in 2000 in Honolulu, Hawai’i. He would move around between Hawai’i; Florida; Oregon; Fuqing, China; and, finally, settled in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2011. Eric earned an Art, A.A. from the College of Southern Nevada "CSN" in 2025. Past shows that Eric has been featured in include the CSN Juried Student Exhibition and a show at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Currently, his work is on display in Memento at the Artspace Gallery at CSN, and the 2026 Lunar New Year Exhibition: Year of the Horse at the Mayor’s Gallery. Eric is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design and Media.
Upcoming Workshop: Introducing Cyanotype, a historic photographic process that uses sunlight to create prints, plus texture rubbings.
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 10 am - 12 pm
Ages 12 and up | Free! | Register here
Open Studio Hours – Meet the Artists, come on selected Saturdays at the Nature Preserve during their open studio hours: March 28, April 11, and April 18 from 10 am to 1 pm as well as during BioBlast on April 25.
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SOUND: 5th Annual Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit
Exhibit: March 14 - May 15, 2026
Ten regional artists are featured in SOUND, a temporary outdoor sculpture exhibit. The exhibit is easily accessible along a short art walk located near the Wetlands Park Nature Preserve parking lot. The works will utilize abstract and representational forms to evoke the Park’s soundscape such as birdsong, rustling reeds, or rushing water. SOUND is made possible by Clark County Public Arts Office.
Featured artists are: Anthony Castillo, David Lampel, Dinosaur Flower, Haide Calle, Julia G. Hall, Narz Dela Rosa, Rene Serrano, Scott Marquart, Vanessa Maciel Napoles, and Vezun.
An Artist Social was held on March 14 where the artists presented the inspiration for each piece.
Stay Up to Date with Art News at Wetlands Park
Click here to subscribe to our art email list to receive notices of calls for art, scheduled exhibitions, and other art news at Clark County Wetlands Park. To view the latest Art in the Park newsletter click here.
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Volunteers Needed! Wetlands Park is seeking volunteers in all areas including environmental education, visitor services, and outdoor stewardship. This year brings exciting opportunities for all!
Is volunteering at Wetlands Park right for you? The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend a Get Involved at Wetlands Park class. You'll learn about Wetlands Park, volunteer opportunities, and the process to become a Clark County Wetlands Park volunteer. Youth age 12 and up may volunteer with a guardian.
Get Involved at Wetlands Park
Visit ccwetlandspark.com to sign up. Click on 'Get Involved' tab, then 'volunteering'.
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 Canada Goose by Timothy Olsen.
Nature Close-up: Canada Goose
Have you seen this bird? You most likely have! Canada geese are one of the most abundant and well known waterfowl species in North America. They are easily recognized by their long black necks, unique white chin strap, and signature loud honking call, Canada geese are highly adaptable birds. They can migrate as far as 1,000 to 2,500 miles during their breeding season. They are commonly found at lakes, parks, fields, city streets, and even call suburban lawns home. These birds can be seen migrating through Wetlands Park during the winter months forming a V-shaped flight pattern. This pattern helps to conserve energy and allows the flock to communicate easily with one another. Canada geese play an important role in wetland environments such as dispersing seeds and contributing to nutrient cycling. These beautiful birds have become a symbol for wildlife and all its beauty.
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Take a walk at Wetlands Park and earn rewards at various milestones! Wetlands Walkers is a self-guided program for individuals looking to reach personal fitness goals while walking in the beauty and serenity of the great outdoors. Participants track their mileage after walking one of the Park’s numerous trails and earn rewards at milestones. Each year, a new goal is set to match the migration distance of one of the Park’s visiting species.
In 2026, the Walkers are recognizing the Sora and have a collective goal of trekking 8,000 miles. Join Wetlands Walkers in 2026 and walk the migration distance of the Sora. The Sora is the most abundant and widespread rail in North America. While southern Nevada is one of the few places where Soras live year-round, thier migration range spans from northern Canada to Ecuador. Soras cover more ground than any other North American rail, traversing nearly the entire continent. They hide well in wetland reeds and are rarely seen.
To learn more about the Wetlands Walkers program, the annual species, to sign up, or to log your miles, please visit our website, ccwetlandspark.com.
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Wetlands Park offers monthly guided walks which make it easy and fun to earn miles. Visit ccwetlandspark.com and go to the Programs menu to sign up for an upcoming guided walk.
Upcoming Guided Walks (Walker membership not required but pre-registration is)
Women’s Walk: Nature Heals Saturday, March 28th, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Discovery Walk: Hiking 101 Friday, April 10th, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Mother’s Day Walk Sunday, May 10th, 9:00am to 10:30am
NIGHT WALK: Creatures of the Moon Saturday, May 30th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
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 Canada Goose photo by Timothy Olsen.
Have you taken a photo in Wetlands Park that you would like to share? Want to see your Wetlands Park photo featured in an upcoming newsletter?
Submit your high-resolution photo(s) to: wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov. Include your name, date, and location of the photo.
Post about it on Social media!
#CCWetlandsPark
#CallforWPphotos
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Educator, Translator, & Navigator
The Wetlands Park Navigator mobile app is brought to you with support of Wetlands Park Friends. Download the mobile app through Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The Navigator provides content including tours, maps, directions, and other Park information in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
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