Wildlife Refuge Art Safari

🦬 Art Safari: Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge

🌿 Vibe

🦬 Wildlife • Adventure • Plein Air • Exploration • Relaxed

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Grab your sketchbook and join us for an Art Safari through one of Colorado’s most unique hidden gems!

Instead of gathering in one location for the entire meetup, we’ll slowly caravan together through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, stopping along the scenic Wildlife Drive whenever we find breathtaking landscapes, interesting wildlife, or inspiring places to sketch.

Think of it as a creative safari. Every stop offers a new perspective, a new subject, and another page in your sketchbook.

We’ll begin by meeting in the Prairie Switchback Trail main parking lot, where everyone can introduce themselves before we head into the refuge as a group. Throughout the morning, we’ll make several short sketch stops, spending 15–20 minutes at each location before continuing on to our next adventure.

At the 15-minute mark, I’ll give everyone a friendly heads-up so you can finish your current sketch. At the 20-minute mark, we’ll pack up and continue our Art Safari to the next scenic stop.

No pressure to create a finished masterpiece. This meetup is about observation, exploration, and enjoying nature one sketch at a time.

Whether you draw with graphite, watercolor, colored pencils, ink, markers, or digital tools, everyone is welcome.

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📍 Meet Here

Prairie Switchback Trail Main Parking Lot
Commerce City, CO 80022

We’ll meet here first before beginning our Wildlife Drive caravan.

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🦬 Our Art Safari Plan

• Meet and introductions

• Brief overview of the route

• Caravan together through the refuge

• Stop at scenic overlooks and wildlife viewing areas

• Sketch for approximately 15–20 minutes at each location

• Continue exploring together throughout the refuge

• Optional group share at the end of the adventure

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🎒 What to Bring

• Sketchbook

• Portable art supplies

• Folding chair or camp chair

• Water

• Snacks

• Hat & sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Binoculars (optional)

• Camera (optional)

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🦅 Wildlife We May See

Every visit is different, but we might encounter:

• American bison

• Mule deer

• White-tailed deer

• Coyotes

• Hawks

• Bald eagles

• Burrowing owls

• Prairie dogs

• Waterfowl and shorebirds

Bring your curiosity because you never know what might appear around the next bend!

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🌾 Good to Know

• Please arrive a few minutes early so we can begin together.

• We’ll stay together as a caravan throughout the refuge.

• Wildlife always has the right of way. If animals are near the road, we’ll patiently enjoy the moment before moving on.

• Please remain on designated roads, overlooks, and public trails.

• There are limited restroom opportunities once we begin driving, so consider stopping before we leave the meeting area.

• Colorado weather can change quickly, so dressing in layers is always a good idea.

• Please leave no trace and help us keep this beautiful refuge just as we found it.

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🎨 Safari Sketch Challenge (Optional!)

Instead of focusing on one finished drawing, try filling a single sketchbook page with 4–6 quick studies throughout the morning. Capture different animals, landscapes, plants, clouds, or interesting textures as we explore.

By the end of the meetup, you’ll have your own illustrated field journal from the day’s adventure.

Come wander, observe, create, and discover Colorado from a whole new perspective. 🦬🌾🎨