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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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Discovery Day is a free, family-friendly event held on Saturday, June 27, from 10 am to 1 pm. The activities will be held indoors to help residents beat the summer heat. No advanced registration is needed. Highlights include encounters with live desert creatures, crafts and activities, and a full range of interpretive and interactive exhibits. Mascot Mojave Max will share in the fun. Inside the Nature Center, kids will enjoy spinning a wheel to match their animal’s footprint, building a wetlands landscape, and creating a critter. Partnering organizations will offer suggested activities families can do all summer with their kids. Free snow cones while supplies last.
The Wetlands Park Nature Store will be open during the event, where shoppers can find nature themed gifts, apparel, books, jewelry and more. For additional information, visit ccwetlandspark.com.
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Pollinator Party
August 1, 2026
10am-12pm
Celebrate and learn about pollinators with games and crafts. Plant a native flower and take it home to watch it grow! Fee: $5 for ages 3-12. Register here: Pollinator Party
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Stalking Twilight
August 27, 2026
7pm-9pm
Experience the trails of Wetlands Park at night! Go on a group walk with a Wetlands Park Naturalist and explore the Nature Preserve under the full moon. Look for bats, beavers, raccoons, and other night creatures. You will have the opportunity to hear bat calls and view the moon and other celestial bodies through a telescope, too. The Wetlands Park Nature Store and Exhibit Gallery will be open. Space is limited, please register in advance. All ages welcome. Fee: $5 for ages 3+. Register here: StalkingTwilight
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Haunt the Wetlands
October 23, 2026
4pm-8pm
Join us for our annual family-friendly Halloween event, Haunt the Wetlands, on Friday, October 23 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Discover the eerie side of nature in Creatures of the Night Walk, see what's lurking in the Spooky Maze, and get up close and personal with live creepy, crawly animals. Experiment in the Mad Scientist Lair if you dare. Tickets are required for this event. More information to come on our website at ccwetlandspark.com.
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 "Out of the Shell" acrylic on canvas board by Angela Caballero-Fields.
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"This collection of work has been prepared and set up to stimulate your imagination and connect you with the amazing creatures that surround us. From butterflies, to birds, to snakes, to horses, they are all around us. As you visit and walk around, pay close attention to the creatures that live in the Park. Some of them visible to the naked eye, others invisible because they hide in their burrows, still others blend with the vegetation and tree branches. They are all part of a complex ecosystem that is dependent on you to protect and preserve. Even the smallest of them—ants, bees, etc.—contribute to the significance of this ecosystem. How lucky we are to have such an amazing place to visit! I hope you enjoy the exhibition. Please sign my guestbook and leave me your contact information. I would love to keep you abreast of my work and future showings." -Angela Caballero-Fields.
Angela Caballero-Fields is a Las Vegas based artist with a broad range of two-dimensional abstracts and representational art. Starting to paint during the isolationism of the Pandemic in 2020, she has continued with greater emphasis even after the crisis of the pandemic has ended. Her work has been exhibited in multiple venues in Nevada, California and Utah. She has a partial collection of works at the international online gallery SAATCHI Art; A partial collection of her work is also available for viewing on Instagram @Caballero_Fields.
In addition to her work as an artist, she is also a Dean Emeritus from a community college in Northern California. She holds a Ph.D. in Education, an MSW in Social Work, and a B.A. degree in Physical Education. Her life has been mostly dedicated to helping professions in education and mental health services for underrepresented and vulnerable populations.
"Animals of the Wild and their Habitats" will be showing in The Nest from May 9 - Aug 1st, 2026. The Nest gallery is located in the Information Kiosk at the Nature Center, open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 3pm.
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 Best in Show award winner titled "Oasis in the Wetlands" by Yuliana Karpenok.
Each spring, Wetlands Park invites local artists to create art en plein air during its annual Wetlands Art Day event. The work you see here was created in part on Saturday, March 21 during Wetlands Art Day 2026.
French for “outdoors,” plein air artists today continue a rich tradition in art history of capturing nature from direct observation. Typically, the initial composition is created on
site, with further work completed in the artist’s studio based on photographs, sketches, and notes. Additional visits to the site may be warranted. This practice allows the artist to
capture more of what it actually feels like to be surrounded by nature: the warmth of the sun, branches swaying in the breeze, the sound of water. Painting landscapes merely from a photograph, like acting in front of a green screen, is thought by some to lead to inauthentic results - hence the impulse to paint, unbound, in nature.
Unbound will be showing in our Spotlight On Nature Gallery (SONG) May 2 - July 25, 2026. The Spotlight on Nature Gallery (SONG) is in the Exhibit Gallery at the Nature Center, open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 3pm.
Photo credit: Anna Marie Carley
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Reception and awards were held Saturday, May 16. The Best in Show award winner was Yuliana Karpenok with an oil on canvas titled "Oasis in the Wetlands". Honorable Mentions were awarded to three artists: Anna Marie Carley for "Broken but Beautiful"; Tyrah Brown for "Shady Brook"; and Neil Kesterson for "A Morning Stroll Through the Wetlands Park".
All awards were made possible by the Clark County Public Arts Office.
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Submit to our 5th Annual Juried Art Show
We're looking for art that explores the hidden worlds of nature - those times and places where lines are blurred and boxes are broken. Be it the deep ink-black of a desert night, pavement overtaking plant life in the sizzling summer, or an oft-ignored species of wetlands animal, we're eager to see representations of the liminal spaces where boundaries are less clear than usual. This call for art is open from June 1, to July 14
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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 Volunteer, Beau Pankiw, recruiting you to volunteer as an Information Host in the Kiosk.
Passionate volunteers are priceless. They are the heart and voice of Wetlands Park. Beau Pankiw is one such volunteer. We were able to catch up with him to find out what it is that keeps him coming back year after year.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. I'm 72 years old and was raised in San Francisco. I came to the Las Vegas area in 1999 with my wife, Michele, and have lived in several places around the valley as well as Pahrump for a couple of years. I have degrees in liberal arts from New Mexico Military Institute and UC Berkeley. This year my wife and I are celebrating our 48th year of marriage. We have three kids, one grandson and one great grandson. My work background is in government, the military, banking, hospitality, and gaming.
How long have you been volunteering at Wetlands Park? I'm now working in my fourth year.
How did you come to volunteer at the Wetlands? One day, in my third year of retirement, I was desperate to find something that was going to take up some time and be fun. I was looking around my home, and I asked myself, "What is on the other side of that fence?" It turns out that I was living, literally, on the other side of a wall from the Wetlands. After meeting several people at Wetlands, I realized that this was a fantastic place to spend some time. I first started out with two or three hours a week and now I am averaging about 10+ a week between Trailkeeping and volunteering in the Kiosk and Exhibit Gallery. Funny how you find things when you just look over a wall.
What kinds of things do you do during a typical volunteer shift at the Park? Besides working with the Explorers program and special events, I split my time either as a Trailkeeper or volunteering as an Information Host. I am just beginning to really enjoy volunteering in the Exhibit Gallery.
Why do you like volunteering at the Park? Above all, it's the people. I get to interact with a lot of people every time I volunteer. It is a joy talking about the Park, pointing out some fantastic walks, and looking at the faces of kids when I read them a story or tell them something that is new to them. I'm always working hard to find a connection with people who don't know English. This is the only job that I have ever had that I knew, without any doubt, that I am helping someone and it counts.
What advice would you give someone thinking about volunteering at Wetlands Park? GO ALL IN. If you are looking for something casual, then this is probably not the best place. You can be a casual participant and it can be fun, but if you jump in with both feet (and heart) then the Park can be rewarding in so many aspects. It's impossible not to look forward to your next volunteer shift because of positive experiences that always send you home with a smile.
What is your favorite thing about Wetlands Park? Okay, this may sound corny, but I am a corny guy. The staff at Wetlands are some of the finest people that I have ever met in my entire life. They are warm, supportive, happy, and they care about the volunteers. The team has built an excellent work environment which makes you want to do more. I wish I could be there every day, and I have NEVER said that about any job that I have ever had.
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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 for additional information. Click on 'Get Involved' tab, then 'Volunteering' or click here to register for a class.
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 Yellow-breasted Chat by Philip Martini.
Nature Close-up: Yellow-breasted Chat
Though it was once thought to be a warbler, this unique bird deserved its own classification.
Precisely what the name suggests, they have a bright yellow throat and chest area which
contrasts the rest of its body which is a soft olive-green color while also sporting unique white “glasses” bordering their eyes. The Yellow-breasted Chat is more frequently heard than seen, staying well hidden most of the year except in the spring, during mating season. Their songs are highly complex and are a mixture of squawks, chuckles, cackles, gargles, whistles, and clucks.
These birds take advantage of dense riparian vegetation and ample water
sources to forage, breed, and as a refuge. This makes Wetlands Park the perfect habitat for them. Fascinating behaviors and unique characteristics make the Yellow-breasted Chat an amazing sight to see!
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Visiting Wetlands Park can be a rewarding way to get some sun and enjoy nature. During the summer however, visiting the Park requires extra steps and precautions because temperatures can reach 100℉ or above! As temperatures rise be sure to stay hydrated by bringing water with you and wear the proper gear such as light-colored and lightweight clothes, a hat, and sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn. Plan to visit the Park in the early morning or late afternoon when the heat is less intense. Look out for heat related illnesses; heat exhaustion and heat stroke can come on quickly in a desert environment! These symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headaches, painful/red skin, and even fainting. Rest in shaded areas and seek help immediately if symptoms become severe.
Be cautious when encountering wildlife in the Park. The Park is home to many wildlife such as insects, birds, reptiles, and small mammals, some of which can be dangerous if approached. Remember to never feed the animals, keep a safe distance, and be careful when exploring trails. Protect yourself and your family from bites by using insect repellent.
Know your route. Familiarize yourself with our trails, carry a map, and/or download the Wetlands Park Navigator Mobile app before heading out. By following these extra steps and precautions it can ensure a safer and more enjoyable visit to Wetlands Park.
For more information on heat-related illness visit cdc.gov
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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, their 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 to sign up for an upcoming guided walk.
Upcoming Guided Walks (Preregistration is required but Wetlands Walker membership is not required.)
Discovery Walk: Bats and the Park Sunday, June 28th 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Discovery Walk: Beaver Walk Saturday, July 11th, 5:00am to 7:00am
Discovery Walk: Bats and the Park Wednesday, July 29th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Stalking Twilight Thursday, August 27th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
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 Photo of Las Vegas Wash by Matthew Thomas.
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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