Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival
Art & Photo Events • Art & Photo Workshops • Wildlife Watching • Other Events • Main Site Activities
Download Festival Events Calendar 2005 (PDF) - Festival Events Descriptions
Art and Photography Events:
UWRF Plein Aire Art Contest (junior and senior (open) divisions)
Do you like to paint? Like the outdoors? This contest is for you! Artists will have from Thursday morning to Saturday morning to complete their paintings within the Uinta Basin/Uinta Mountain area (includes Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah counties plus all of Dinosaur National Monument). Entries will be exhibited on Saturday and a combined awards ceremony with the Digital Shootout held Saturday night. A grand prize of $1,000 for the Open (senior) Division and other cash prizes will be awarded for both junior and open divisions. Preregistration available or register on-site Thursday (June 9). Additional information and registration form available online.
UWRF Digital Shootout (junior and senior (open) divisions)
Join other digital photographers as they capture the amazing scenery and wildlife found in the Uinta Basin/Uinta Mountain area (includes Uintah, Daggett, and Duchesne counties plus all of Dinosaur National Monument). Participants have from Thursday morning to Saturday morning to take their digital images. All entries will be displayed in a slide show format Saturday and awards given at a combined ceremony on Saturday night. Grand Prize Open Division is $1000 with other cash prizes awarded to both junior and open (senior) divisions. Preregistration available or register on- site Thursday (June 9). Additional information and registration form available online.
Sidewalk Art
Like to draw? Then feel free to contribute your work to our Sidewalk Art. We supply the chalk and a piece of sidewalk so you can create your own “Wildlife and Rivers” related artwork. Great family event!! Friday & Saturday (June 10 & 11) Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal Utah Wildlife Resources (435) 781-WILD (9453)
Art & Photography Workshops
Plein Aire Art Workshop June 6 - 9, 2005 (pre-event) - Doug Braithwaite
Join Doug Braithwaite, winner of the Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival and the Escalante Everett Ruess Days 2004 plein aire competitions, for an exciting workshop on Plein Aire art. The workshop costs $200 per person for four days with am and pm sessions. For more information and a material list contact: Doug Braithwaite djbraithwaite@msn.com
Panaramics: How to Shoot and Create Multiple Frame Panaramics - Chance Mayberry
Scenics like you've only dreamed about. This workshop will go through the basics and more advanced techniques from shooting to printing multiple frame panaramics. Excellent workshop for the photographer who wants to take their scenic photography to a new level. Friday (TBA) DigiPix Studios, (435) 781-2221
Digital Photography - Sam Tilton: (two courses)
Buying in a Consumers Market & the Digital Camera
Complete Instruction on Shooting and Lighting
Sam will teach two workshops taking the digital photographer from selecting a camera, through its inner secrets to how to produce great images. Still shooting film and want to know more about digital? These workshops will help answer your questions, great for both the beginner and the advanced photographer. Saturday, Time/Place TBA
Beginning Wildlife Photography - Ron Stewart
Camera, Lights, Action -- sound slightly familiar? It's all part of wildlife photography whether you are behind a movie, video or still camera. This workshop covers the basics of wildlife photography: equipment, composition and places to go. Excellent for beginning photographers and a good review for the more experienced. Friday or Saturday (TBA), Utah Wildlife Resources (435) 781-9453
Wildlife Watching Events
100 Bird Tour (families to serious birders)
We’ve Been Challenged!! Can we find over 100 birds in a day?? Its been done in other areas of the State. The potential is here!! Between the marshes, the Green River and its tributaries, lakes and reservoirs, desert shrub, small grasslands, upland benches and the Uinta Mountains, we could find over 350 birds. You are invited to join some of the Basin’s best birders as they try to find 100 birds in a day. If you can’t stay all day, that’s fine just let them know if you have to leave. Friday and Saturday (June 10& 11), 7:00 am at the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge (Hwy 88 from Hwy 40 in Uintah County). UDWR office (435) 781- WILD (9453)
Osprey Watch (young kids to serious birders)
Flaming Gorge hosts one of the west’s largest colonies of nesting osprey (fish hawks). In April, ospreys return to the Reservoir to nest. Several pairs, nesting on rocky pinnacles in the bay near the dam, are visible from the Dam Visitor’s Center parking lot. Biologists will set up spotting scopes and displays for visitors to view and learn more about these fascinating birds of prey. Drop in anytime on Saturday (June 11), 9 am to 3 pm Dam Peninsula, Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center parking lot. Utah Wildlife Resources (435) 781- WILD (9453)
Curt's Bird Walk (families to serious birders)
Come take a birding hike with Curt, the Park Manager of Steinaker State Park. Last year he saw 30 different species of birds. You can bring your own spotting scope and binoculars or look through Curt’s. The hike is an easy 1/4-mile along a maintained trail loaded with opportunities to see songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Great event for kids and beginning birders, meet Saturday (June 11) at 8 am, at the Steinaker Scenic Byway turnout on Hwy 191. Steinaker State Park (435) 789-4432
Bighorn Sheep Watch/Tour
During the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam, the last known Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Utah was illegally shot from the cliffs above the Green River. In the early 1980’s, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began reintroducing Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Today, four populations call this area home. Since reintroduction, bighorn sheep have provided countless hours of wildlife viewing. Join our biologists as they lead a tour to view these majestic animals. Saturday (June 11), 8:00 am, Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center (Hwy 44 in Daggett County) Information: UDWR office (435) 781-WILD (9453)
Other Events
Duck Race
It’s a duck race!! A rubber duck race down the Kids Canal in Vernal. You can watch and/or participate by purchasing a duck number. It’s a great family event. Ducks, tickets $2, and $5 with prizes like a four-day river trip down the Green River. Sunday (June 12), 10 am, Kids Canal, 1500 West between Main Street and 5th North in Vernal. Utah Wildlife Resources (435) 781-WILD (9453).
Kids and Casting
Join the BASS Federation for some fishing fun. Learn from some of the best anglers in the state on how to gear up and catch warm water fish like bass and bluegill. This activity is kid friendly as BASS Federation members will be there from 9 to noon or longer to show kids and adults how to choose fishing gear, and then some of the best techniques to cast and catch fish. Steinaker State Park, North Hwy 40.
Rock Art Guided Tour
Join our guides for a tour of the nationally known McConkie Ranch Petroglyph Panels in beautiful Dry Fork Canyon. Start with an easy ½ mile hike upstream from the parking lot with frequent examples of Fremont rock art. Then back to the cars for refreshments, followed by another opportunity to hike downstream to view additional sites including the Three Kings Panel, which is on the National Historic Register and has been featured in the National Geographic Magazine. Tips: besides cameras and binoculars, bring a hat, plenty of water, sunscreen and a sack lunch. Saturday (June 12), 9 am, Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal.
Kids’ Fun - Fishing Event: Moose Ponds
Join us for a Fun - Fishing event for children. There will be prizes and lots of information about fishing and wildlife. It’s the UDWR’s Free-Fishing Day so licenses are optional. Poles and equipment will be available at the Kids Canal site. Saturday (June 11), 9 am to 12:00 noon, Moose Pond (Hwy 44 near mile marker 9) Brett Thompson of USFS at (435) 784-3445 or (435) 789-1181
Manila Picnic in the Park
Youth and adult games, Craft booths, Family Activities, Food, Karaoke, and a Parking Lot Dance are all activities planned for the evening events at the Park. Food will be available for a fee and there is a small charge for the games and activities. Saturday (June 12), 1 p.m. to !! p.m., Daggett County Park in Manila, Utah (near intersection of Hwy 43 & 44), (435) 784-3218
Water Fun: Canoes and Boats
Join instructors from the National Outdoor Leadership School as they host a fun filled adventure using canoes and other boats. Besides fun, their free adventure will include instruction on paddling, rowing and boating safety. NOLS has over 40 years of expedition (whitewater and flatwater) experience. Saturday (June 11), 1 pm to 4 pm, Steinaker State Park (Hwy 191), (435) 789-4432
Rock Art and Rafting in Dinosaur National Monument
Visit and learn about the outstanding Native American rock art in Dinosaur National Monument from experts and then jump on a raft and zoom through the rapids of the Green River in 2,000 ft. deep Split Mountain Gorge. During this program you will visit several rock art sites in the Rainbow Park area and hear an exciting presentation about Fremont and Ute Indian rock art and cultures. Moderate hiking will be required. The rapids are Class III and intermediate in difficulty, great for adults and youth over 8 years. Cost is $45, which includes transportation to and from meeting place, guides, lunch and rafting gear. Registration required, space limited to 24 persons. Friday (June 10) or Sunday (June 12), 8:45 am to 4:30 pm, Adrift Adventures Store, Jensen, UT (800) 824-0150; info@adrift.com
Flaming Gorge Dam Tours
Join a dam guide for a 45-minute walking tour of the dam’s interior. Discover the workings of the dam and how water and turbines produce hydroelectricity.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 10, 11, & 12), 9 am to 4 pm (every 20 minutes), Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center, Flaming Gorge Nat. Recreation Area. Intermountain Natural History Association, (435) 885-3135
John Jarvie Ranch Tours
A knowledgeable volunteer will guide you back in time so you can discover the site where John Jarvie built his store and a ferry that crossed the Green River in Browns Park in the 1800s. The tour takes you to the restored store, dugout, blacksmith shop, and water wheel that Jarvie constructed long ago. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 10, 11, & 12), throughout the day (9-4) upon request, John Jarvie Historic Site, Browns Park, Colorado. Bureau of Land Management (435) 781-4483
Swett Ranch Tours
Visit an early pioneer homestead and see how a Utah family lived at the turn-of-the-century. Volunteers will give you a tour of the ranch and tell you about the history of this beautiful area. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 10, 11, & 12), from 10 am to 5 pm, Swett Ranch Historic Site, Flaming Gorge NRA, US Forest Service (435) 784-3445
Rock Art & Animal Tracks Children Program
Make your own rock art and discover the tracks of animals living in the Flaming Gorge area. Saturday (June 12), 10 am to 1 pm (anytime in-between), Red Canyon Visitor Center, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, (435) 789-1181
Dinosaur Monument Daytime Activities (families and adults)
Join the Monument’s rangers as they kick-off their summer season of workshops and tours. Learn about the incredible wall of dinosaur bones preserved in stone 150 million years ago. Discover the native plants and wildlife, explore an aquatic food chain, endangered species or meet the aliens that are invading the banks of the Green River. These fun, hands-on workshops and tours are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 10, 11, & 12). Check with the Monument for exact workshops, times and meeting places. Dinosaur National Monument, UT (435) 781-7700
Fieldhouse Tours
This fantastic event is great for all ages. The New Utah Fieldhouse opened just in time for the 2004 Utah’s Wildlife and Rivers Festival. Managers from the Fieldhouse led after-hours tours of their new facility and the public wanted more. So they will do it for us again this year during regular hours. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get to see and hear about the building of the facility and explore the “ancient wildlife” including the dinosaurs, fish and mammals preserved in the rocks of the Uinta Basin. Limited to 30 people per tour, pre-registration recommended. New Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History Museum, 496 E. Main St., Vernal (435) 789-3799
"Suck the River Dry" Campground Talk
For an evening of entertainment, join the Park Ranger for a rather provocative talk “Suck the River Dry.” It raises the questions: Is there enough water? Who are the winners and losers? What happens in Drought? And what can you do to ensure water is available to everyone? Saturday, (June 11), 8:00 pm, Green River Campground, Dinosaur National Monument, Jensen, Utah (435) 781-7700
Main Site Activities
Talent Stage
The communities of the Uintah Basin are rich in talent. Take a break on the grass and join us for some community fun and entertainment. Friday and Saturday (June 10 & 11) afternoons and evenings, Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal
Youth Fair
The Youth Fair is a combination of great activities geared for kids. In includes wildlife and rivers related arts and crafts, clowns, face painting, live birds of prey, endangered fish aquarium and in conjunction with the Library, a magical adventure: Dragon Dreams and Daring Deeds (2-5 pm) and lots more. Friday (June 11) 4 – 8 pm, and Saturday (12) 2 – 8 pm. Main Site, Old Dinosaur Gardens, 235 East Main Street (Hwy 40), Vernal Utah Wildlife Resources (435) 781- WILD (9453)
River History Displays
Vernal and its citizens were the forerunners of today’s private and commercial river running community. Enjoy the combined displays from noted river buffs Meg Hatch, Cindy Perry, and other river runners. Their collections include old boats, photographs and artifacts of the early river runners who first ran the rapids of the Green River. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 10, 11, & 12) Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street Cindy Perry (435) 789 0404
Dragon Dreams and Daring Deeds
The Uintah County Library will kick-off their summer reading program in conjunction with the Festival. Magic shows, medieval demonstrations, balloons, bubbles and books, all make this an exciting event. Saturday, June 11, 2 – 5 pm, On the Library Lawn adjacent to our Main Site, Vernal
Endangered Fish Aquarium Display
The muddy water of the Green River hides its fish, but two large aquariums on trucks will allow you to see the fish that live in the river – including four endangered native fish. Experts will be on hand to answer your questions and explain about the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Friday and Saturday (June 10 & 11), Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal US Fish & Wildlife Service (435) 789-0351
Live Raptors - Hawk Watch International
Hawks, eagles, owls and falcons are Utah’s original raptors. See and learn more about these impressive birds and the rich heritage they represent from HawkWatch International. Mission: “Monitor and protect hawks, eagles, other birds of prey and their environments through research, education and conservation.” HWI will be at the main site 235 East Main Street in Vernal Friday and Saturday (June 10 & 11).
Protecting Utah’s Most Outstanding Rivers: Wild & Scenic Protection
Take an illustrated tour and learn about the wild and scenic rivers and streams of Utah from Utah Rivers Council, an organization dedicated to protecting rivers and streams in the state. They will provide insights into their nature, beauty and wildlife, as well as threats and ways to protect these valuable waters. Utah Rivers Council, (801) 486-4776, merritt@utahrivers.org
Duct Tape Sculpture Contest - tentative
Create your own unique “river stuff” sculpture using only duct tape to hold it together. Then enter it into a contest to win a prize of river running gear for “most creative” and prize of gear for “most bizarre. Rules: contestants can only use materials found on river trips, such as broken oars, old life jackets, driftwood, kayak helmets, etc. No use of cut lumber or other prefabricated non-river trip materials. Sculpture must have some sort of river or river recreation theme and a name. All entries must be registered, Saturday (June 11) Creation & Display 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Judging starts 4 p.m., Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal, contact: Judy Kurtz (435) 781-1556
Dutch Oven Cook-off - tentative
See the masters of Dutch oven cooking create culinary delights. Chefs must create their dish from scratch on-site (no prepared mixes, etc.), provide their own ingredients, use their own Dutch oven and only employ charcoal or wood (no gas stoves) for heat. Prizes for “Most Original Dish”, “best Main Course” and “best Desert.” A panel of judges along with input from spectators will be used to determine winners. All chefs must be registered. Grand Prize is a Grand Canyon River Trip provided by Ted Hatch. Saturday (June 11), Cooking starts at 1 pm – Judging at 4:30 pm, Main Festival Site, 235 East Main Street, Vernal. Information: Cindy Perry (435) 789-0404
Elk Bugling Contests - tentative
In September, Nature puts on one of her most audio-visual shows when with the flute-like calls of the bull elk echo through the forest as they gather their harems. We couldn’t schedule September early but we can hear some of the best callers imitate these impressive forest buglers.
