Escape To The Springs Preserve In December 2013

LAS VEGAS - Nov. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Winter Hours of Operation
The Springs Preserve is open daily from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day); hours vary for classes and special events. Gardens and trails close at 4 p.m. or dusk (whichever comes first).

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Train Rides with Santa
Join us for Train Rides with Santa! Santa reads holiday stories and hands out candy canes as our “Polar Express” train takes a special journey. Rides run hourly 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. December 23 - 24, $3 members, $5 non-members with general admission. Find even more holiday magic on our Snowman Stroll through the Gardens and enjoy hot cocoa and sweet treats in the Springs Cafe!

Snowmen in the Gardens
Thank you to the local artists and groups from throughout the Las Vegas valley who created themed snowmen, snowwomen and snowcritters to magically decorate the Snowman Stroll in our Gardens throughout December! Get in a holiday mood by walking among the variety of desert "snowmen" at the Springs Preserve in the youth, family, group, corporate, "green" snowmen and Vegas, baby! categories.  All entrants are entered to win prizes. Thursday, December 5 - 27, free with general admission.

Night at the Museum - Polar Express
It’s our most-popular kids-only tradition of the year! Our “Polar Express” Night at the Museum includes a screening of the holiday movie classic, museum discoveries, crafts, pizza dinner, yummy snacks and a visit from (shhhhh…) Santa! Ages 5-12, Saturday, December 21, 5-9 pm (must pre-register by Dec. 20) $20 members, $25 non-members. Space is limited.

Holiday Cooking Oil Recycling
Don't be a pain in the drain! Bring your used cooking oil and grease to the Springs Preserve to be safely recycled this holiday season. It's easy to recycleyour cooking oil. Just use a funnel to carefully pour the used oil back into its original container, seal it, and then bring it to the Preserve's South Ticketing parking lot during regular hours where a special collection receptacle will be available. The holiday cooking oil recycling program is a component of the Clark County Water Reclamation District's "Don't be a Pain in the Drain" campaign. To learn more about how you can keep our sewers free of blockages and overflows caused by fat, oil, grease and grit, visit paininthedrain.com. November 29, 2012 - December 2, 2013, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and December 26 to January 15, 2014 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,

Christmas Tree Recycling
The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee is giving our community a gift: Recycle your tree. Each year following Christmas and into the new yearyou can take your Christmas tree to one of more than 20 convenient drop sites throughout the valley, including the Springs Preserve. Before dropping off your tree, remove all non-organic objects such as lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments and nails. Flocked trees cannot be recycled. For more information go to springspreserve.org.  December 26 to January 15, 2014 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.,

EXHIBITS, SHOWS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Nevada Reflections:  The Silver State in Black & White
These stunning black and white photographs, shot by Cody Brothers, illustrate the past, present and future of water resource challenges faced by the Southern Nevada community and beyond. Showcasing landscapes from a perspective rarely seen, Brothers beautifully captures the rugged landscape that is Nevada, and the fragile resources of those that call it home.The artist resides near Santa Fe, New Mexico and has a large body of work that focuses on the history, culture and wilderness of the southwestern landscape. On display daily 10 - 4 p.m. through January 20, 2014 in the Big Springs Gallery. Free for members or included with paid general admission.

The Butterflies of Iguazú Falls, Argentina
Bill Cooper firstencountered the butterflies of IguazúFalls in 1983. In 2008, he finally made it back to Argentina with a camera in hand. In 5 days he took 5,600 photographs of 99 species. Come see this stunning show of diversity in our Patio Gallery. A professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Irvine, Cooper has been taking photos of butterflies for years and can vividly remember the first one back in 1972. This exhibit will be on display through December 2013 in the Patio Gallery(subject to Patio Gallery availability).Free for members or included with paid general admission.

Mad Science MANIA live show
Mad Scientists are roaming the Springs Preserve! You’re invited into the “lab” for weird, wild and wonderful science fun in this live, interactive show. We’ve got NEW experiments and explosive antics every month! Two shows presented Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. through February 2014 inside the Big Springs Theater.  Included with paid general admission.

Mad Science MANIA - Backstage Pass
Want more Mad Science MANIA? A Backstage Pass earns you a prime seat in the lab for extra-exclusive, up-close science adventures and free takeaways. Every young Einstein needs a spark! Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 2 p.m., following the live shows. Through February 2014 inside the Big Springs Theater.$10 members and non-members with paid general admission.

Coming Soon
Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion
Experience genius in motion as you interact with 40 machines from the mind of Leonardo da Vinci. Visitors may touch and set them in motion, creating a captivating hands-on experience with an exploration of the principles da Vinci utilized to create each machine. On display  January 26, 2014 - May 4, 2014,  daily 10 - 4 p.m. in the Origen Museum. Free for members or included with paid general admission.

About the Springs Preserve
Located just three miles from the famed Las Vegas Strip, the Springs Preserve is an award-winning 180-acre family destination dedicated to exploring green-living, desert life, and Las Vegas’ vibrant history through botanical gardens, interactive science and nature exhibits, animal shows, and trails offering hiking, biking and train rides. Indoor experiences include exhibition galleries dedicated to showcasing art and traveling exhibitions of local and national significance, on-site technologically advanced learning centers, the Springs Cafe, operated by the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, and the Nevada State Museum. The Preserve hosts seasonal special events including concerts, arts shows and holiday experiences. Plan your visit at springspreserve.org or explore via your favorite social media sites and find us on Google Maps. Hours of Operation - Spring/Summer: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fall/Winter Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., seven days a week (Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day); hours vary for classes and special events. Gardens and trails close at 4 p.m. or dusk (whichever comes first). The Springs Preserve is located at 333 South Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.