2026 Summer Programming
Please check this page frequently for additions and updates.
RMBL is proud to be part of the Gothic/Crested Butte/Gunnison Valley community and we love to share our passion for science with those who live, work, and visit here. Below are some of the community events that we will be taking part in this summer; most of these events are free or have a modest fee, and all are open to the public. We hope to see you there!
July 27 – Aug. 29
Fat Marmot Week 2026
Hosted by the RMBL Marmot Project — one of the world’s longest-running studies of wild mammals — Fat Marmot Week combines real science with a little friendly competition. The largest of the true hibernators, marmots bulk up all summer to survive the winter. This online event is an opportunity to get folks excited about yellow-bellied marmots, one of our favorite alpine residents, and to share the science behind their weight gain. Meet this year’s contestants beginning July 27, and cast your vote starting Aug. 24. Visit the Fat Marmot Week website.
billy barr Weather Station Tours
When: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: Meet at the billy barr Community Center in Gothic shortly before 2:30 p.m, and billy will lead everyone on the
short walk to his weather station
What: Few people have witnessed environmental change as closely as billy barr, who has meticulously maintained 50+ years of observations of his environment in Gothic. Now, billy invites you on an exclusive tour of his Gothic weather station, during which he will share insights into the data he’s collected, patterns that have emerged, and the challenges highlighted by this year’s record-low snowpack, drought, and rising temperatures. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from one of our region’s most influential observers of the natural world and leave with a deeper appreciation for the power of long-term ecological data and the vital role it plays in advancing discovery at RMBL.
RSVP: Registration is limited to 10-12 guests per tour. Please email Gigi@RMBL.org with your preferred date to secure your spot.
Sept. 17
Zen Ecology
When: 10 a.m.
Where: The billy barr Community Center in Gothic. Please arrive shortly before 10:00 a.m. so we can begin the workshop
promptly.
What: Scientists Mary Price and Nick Waser will facilitate the immersive “Zen Ecology” experience. Please arrive with no expectations or assumptions! Bring a notebook or journal, a pencil, pen, or colored pencils, and a lightweight camp chair if possible. We’ll be outside for the first hour and inside for the second, so you may also want sunscreen, a hat or jacket in case of inclement weather, a water bottle, and anything else you need to be comfortable. Mary and Nick will guide us through the workshop, and lunch will be provided in the bbCC immediately afterward for those who’d like to stay.
RSVP: Registration is limited to approximately 10 participants. Email Gigi@RMBL.org to secure your spot, and please let her know whether you’ll be staying for lunch and note any dietary requirements or preferences.
RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Join other readers for a free monthly book club in Crested Butte, co-hosted by Townie Books. All are welcome, including those who may not have had a chance to read the book ahead of time.
When: 4:30 – 6 p.m. (dates below)
Where: RMBL 365, 615 Teocalli Ave., Crested Butte (unless otherwise announced)
August 26: Rob Dunn | The Call of the Honeyguide: What Science Tells Us About How to Live Well With the Rest of Life
September 23: Maria Popova | The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science and Poetry
October 28: Ben Goldfarb | Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet
November 18: Barry Lopez | Horizon
December 16: Mary Oliver | Devotion
Visitor Center Tours and Events
Past Programming
August 20, 2026: Geology Van Tour with geologist Amy Ellwein, PhD, and ecologist Ian Breckheimer, PhD
When: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., with lunch included. (Note that the tour may end sooner, depending on the areas the group wishes to explore.)
Where: Meet at the 4-way parking lot shortly before 10:00 a.m. to board the RMBL van.
What: Explore the beautiful landscapes around Crested Butte while learning about the last two billion years of Earth’s history.
RSVP: Space is limited! RSVP to Gigi@RMBL.org and include whether you have taken the Geology Van Tour before, as well as any of your interests or curiosities related to the area’s geology and ecology. Please also include dietary requirements or preferences.
July 22, 2026: 4:30-6 PM RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Go As a River by Shelley Read
July 10, 2026: Art/Science Exchange
When: Doors open at 7 p.m.; please be seated at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Majestic Theatre, 507 Red Lady Ave., Crested Butte
Come experience an evening where the logic of science blends with the emotion of art. This free event includes a screening of visual artist Mark Dorf’s film Homecoming with an interactive discussion to follow, led by Dr. Paul CaraDonna and Dorf on the notion of how the tools we use shape our understanding of our world and how we adapt to it. Click here to watch the film trailer.
July 10 – 19, 2026: RMBL collaborates with the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, celebrating its 40th anniversary!
RMBL is pleased to announce several collaborative tours and experiences with the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. Learn more about these events on our dedicated festival page, and find a full festival schedule and tickets on the official Crested Butte Wildflower Festival website.
June 27, 2026: RMBL Breeding Bird Survey
When: 6 a.m. – noon
Where: Meet at the billy barr Community Center in Gothic
This annual event is a favorite of RMBL scientists and birders wishing to take part in the Breeding Bird Survey in the Gunnison Valley. This event is currently full for the 2026 outing, but you may email gigi@rmbl.org and sd@rmbl.org to request a spot on the waiting list.
June 26-July 1, 2026: RMBL Fest 2026
RMBL Fest is a series of open-to-all events designed to bring our community and its visitors together to experience the very best of RMBL. If you’re already familiar with us, think of this as a way to connect with friends, scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts to celebrate this special place. And if you’re new to us, RMBL Fest is the perfect introduction to the extraordinary place and people behind the science.
July 1, 2026: Irwin Brewing Co. “Marmot Tears” Launch, Science Talk, and Reserved Dinner
When: 4 – 5 p.m. Happy Hour | 5:15 – 5:45 p.m. “Why Marmots Matter” Talk (free)
6 – 7:30 p.m. “Dinner with Dan” ($125/person; email gigi@rmbl.org to reserve)
Where: Public House, 202 Elk Ave., Crested Butte
Join us on the patio for light appetizers and a taste of the new Marmot Tears IPA or a specialty cocktail, followed by a fascinating talk with renowned research scientist Dan Blumstein, PhD, as he explains why the marmot — one of our most beloved and iconic alpine residents — matters. Dr. Blumstein will also share his insights into what 60+ years of science have revealed about the marmot’s future. Happy Hour and Marmot Talk are free. Email gigi@rmbl.org to reserve your seats for a special “Dinner with Dan” after the talk ($125/person). Click to learn more!
June 28, 2026: RMBL Family Fest @ Gothic
When: 1 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: RMBL Campus, Gothic
Celebrate community and science at RMBL’s Gothic site, a historic former mining town and current biological field station at the base of Gothic Mountain. This fun afternoon includes family-friendly tours (1:30 and 2:30 p.m.), with stories about RMBL’s history and outdoor science community. Bring the kids for hands-on learning at our Youth Programs activity stations (1 – 4:15 p.m.), featuring nature-inspired crafts, games, microscope stations, and a naturalist touch table. You can also enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the incredible work happening at RMBL during an informal Q&A session with a panel of RMBL scientists (4:30 – 5:15 p.m.). Free.
June 26, 2026: Douglass Distinguished Lecture: “In this age of mass extinction, does science matter or should we have a Fosters?” with Drs. Shahid Naeem and Sara Tjossem
When: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: RMBL 365, 615 Teocalli Ave., Crested Butte
Join Columbia University ecologists and conservation biologists Shahid Naeem and Sara Tjossem for an evening exploring the vital role of science in shaping environmental policy and conservation. Tjossem, a RMBL alumna, focuses on the history of science, the intersection of science and society, and how science informs social movements and policy. Dr. Naeem’s research is conservation-focused, with an emphasis on understanding the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem function. The program will begin with a conversation led by Tjossem about why science matters in environmental policy, followed by Naeem’s exploration of biodiversity conservation as an example.
June 26, 2026: 4:30-6 PM RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Nature of Fear: Survival Lessons From the Wild by Dan Blumstein
May 26, 2026: 4:30-6 PM RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
April 29, 2026: 4:30-6 PM RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
Is the Upper East River, and all that it shapes and sustains around Gothic, alive? Led by RMBL Director of Story Dr. John Hausdoerffer, we will explore these questions in our book club at RMBL 365 (615 Teocalli Ave., Crested Butte). Copies of Is a River Alive? are available at Townie Books, our co-host for the series (look for the “RMBL Reads” display). All are welcome, even those who have not read the book. Hope you can join us!
March 18, 2026: RMBL Reads Monthly Book Club
Join us at RMBL 365 for a discussion of Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting — a hands-on exploration of wood, craftsmanship, and the deep cultural connections between people and the natural world — moderated by professor, author, and RMBL Director of Story and Advancement John Hausdoerffer.
March 19-20, 2026: Hut Trip to Crystal Cabin in Gothic (overnight)
Ski alongside landscape ecologist and RMBL staff scientist Ian Breckheimer for an inside look at the CHESS (Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Survey) campaign, and immerse yourself in landscape ecology, the world of RMBL winter caretakers, and the snow observations of billy barr.
March 25, 2026: Après Science Talk
Gather in the RMBL 365 living room for a presentation by Ian Breckheimer entitled “Reflections Across Space and Time: Using Sensors, Robots, and Humans to Understand Landscape Patterns in Nature.”
May 1, 2025: Ticket sales open for guided interpretive wildflower tours at the Visitor Center.
June 4, 2025: Visitor Center opens for the season with several guided tour options.
June 17 – August 5, 2025: 2025 Tuesday Hybrid Seminar Series, The public is invited to attend by Zoom.
June 25, 2025: Guest Lecturer Dr. Jerry Frank – Telling Stories: Our Public Lands and Power in the Colorado Rockies, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Gothic bbcc, dinner available afterwards for $20 (pay at the door)
June 28, 2025: Breeding Bird Survey, 6:00 am – 12:00 pm, Gothic bbcc, breakfast and lunch provided for participants, free event
July 3, 2025: Douglass Distinguished Lecture, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Center for the Arts King Room
July 9, 2025: Art/Science Exchange – Gothic Artists in Residence Talk and Discussion with Paul Caradonna, PhD and Mark Dorf, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Majestic Theatre
July 11 – 20, 2025: RMBL collaborates with the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival.
August 13, 2025: The Science of Science Media: A Biologist’s Guide to Documentary Filmmaking – Recording Link, Passcode: V%L#QqP3