Embracing the curious at Clark County Wetlands Park — PHOTOS

Visitors got a chance to get in touch with nature and beat the summer heat Saturday when the Clark County Wetlands Park held an open house.

The event, held inside the park’s Nature Center, included a range of interpretive and interactive exhibits, stories, family-friendly activities and crafts, and displays featuring desert creatures, including a tortoise, lizard, tarantula and a snake.

The center is located at 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, about a mile east of Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway.

Open house visitors had the opportunity to participate in nature-themed story time and craft activities, an interactive bird display and talks about common animal seen in the park. Another activity demonstrated how the water system in Las Vegas contributes to water from the Colorado River, which travels 1,500 miles through six states and Mexico. Visitors also could learn about ways to volunteer at Wetlands Park.

Organizations, including the National Park Service, Nevada Naturalists, Henderson Libraries, Outside Las Vegas Foundation, Bureau of Land Management and birdandhike.com, also offered exhibits and demonstrations.

At 2,900 acres, Clark County Wetlands Park is one of the largest urban wetlands in the Southwest and serves as a popular destination for hikers and bird watchers. More than 300 species of birds and 70 species of mammals and reptiles have been spotted in the park, including beavers, coyotes, bobcats and snakes. The park features more than 13 miles of trails, including 6 miles within the Nature Preserve.

The park’s Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Outdoor hours in the park are from dawn to dusk. Information about the park’s programs and activities also can be found at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/Wetlandspark.