Sonora, CA…The Bureau of Reclamation announced today its 2018 summer interpretive program and activity schedule for New Melones Lake, located in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. All program presentations will take place at the Amphitheater in the Glory Hole Recreation Area unless otherwise noted. Programs are free, suitable for all ages and do not require reservations. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Water Safety
Saturday, June 23, 8:00 p.m.
What do you like to do around New Melones Lake? Swim, boat or fish? Join us to learn how you can be water safe. There will be games and activities for children and those young at heart.

A Night with Saturn
Saturday, June 30, 9:00 p.m.
The ringed planet will be at close approach to the earth with its surface fully illuminated by the sun. See Saturn and its largest moons while learning about its place in the solar system. Telescopes are available for viewing.

Outlaws of the Motherlode
Saturday, July 7, 8:00 p.m.
Join a Park Ranger and hear the stories and tall tales of the desperate desperados who ran afoul of the law in the Motherlode, including Black Bart and Joaquin Murrieta. You can leave your spurs at home, but be sure to bring your enthusiasm for the rich history of the area!

Nocturnal Happenings
Saturday, July 14, 8:00 p.m.
Glory Hole Recreation Area – Buck Brush Day Use
Join a Park Ranger and discover what travels by “dark feet and dark wings.” Learn about bats, owls and other nocturnal critters that call New Melones home, and experience the nighttime world using all your senses. The program will include a walk, an activity or two, and a story.

Bird Nest Architecture
Saturday, July 21, 8:00 p.m.
Not all bird nests are created equal. Join a Park Ranger and learn about New Melones feathered fauna and the homes they build. Participants will have an opportunity to construct their own bird nest.

A Night with Mars
Saturday, July 28, 9:00 p.m.
Tuttletown Recreation Area – Eagle Point Picnic Area
The red planet will be at close approach to the earth with its surface fully illuminated by the sun. See Earth’s next door neighbor and learn about the fourth planet in the solar system. Telescopes will be available for viewing.

Mussel Mayhem!
Saturday, August 4, 8:00 p.m.
What are Quagga and Zebra mussels? Learn about one of the greatest threats to California lakes and water systems. Find out why you should “never move a mussel.”

Meteor Shower!
Saturday, August 11, 9:00 p.m.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is a star-gazer’s highlight every August. Join a Park Ranger and discover what the night sky has to offer. Telescopes are on hand for viewing.

Skins, Scat and Skulls!
Saturday, August 18, 7:30 p.m.
Come see a great collection of skins, scat and skulls! Feel a bobcat’s fur, examine real skulls and identify tracks and scat. Find out about some of the critters that call New Melones home and how people can coexist peacefully with them.

Moonlight Hike
Saturday, August 25, 7:30 p.m.
Tuttletown Recreation Area – Heron Point Day Use
The moon will be nearly full, a perfect time to explore the nocturnal world of an oak woodland. Enjoy this leisurely 1.5 mile hike with a Park Ranger.

People and Plants
Saturday, September 1, 7:30 p.m.
Discover how Native Americans and early settlers relied on natural resources. Learn the traditional uses for trees, shrubs and herbs found around New Melones Lake.

Snakes Alive!
Sunday, September 2, 7:30 p.m.
They are misunderstood, maligned and feared. Yet, people are fascinated by them. Join a Park Ranger and learn about some of the local snake species that inhabit the Sierra foothills. There might even be a serpent visitor or two at the program.

C.A.S.T. for Kids Fishing Fun Fair
Saturday, September 8, 8:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Tuttletown Recreation Area – Eagle Point Picnic Area
This annual free fishing event is for disabled and disadvantaged children ages 5-16. Participants go on boats to fish, are provided with a BBQ lunch, learn about water safety, participate in games and win prizes. For more information contact Park Ranger Joshua Pelham at 209-536-9094, ext. 236, or email jpelham@usbr.gov .

Great Sierra River Cleanup
Saturday, September 15, 8:00 to 12:00 p.m.
New Melones Lake Visitor Center
The Great Sierra River Cleanup is a premier volunteer event focused on removing trash and restoring the health of water systems throughout the Sierra Nevada Region. Cleanup sites will be located around New Melones Lake. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at the New Melones Lake Visitor Center to check-in for the event. For more information contact Park Ranger Mike McGraw at 209-536-9094, ext. 233, or email mmcgraw@usbr.gov.

If you would like to participate in a program, need accommodation, or have any questions please contact Park Ranger Mike McGraw at 209-536-9094, ext. 233, or email mmcgraw@usbr.gov.

The New Melones Lake Visitor Center and Museum is managed by Reclamation’s Central California Area Office. Hours of operation are daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information on activities, directions, pet restrictions or other questions, please call 209-536-9543 (TTY 800-877-8339) or visit the website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/index.html.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, and the nation’s second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov. Follow us on Twitter @USBR and @ReclamationCVP.