July 8: Kroger Lords of the Arctic, Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati, OH. Opening of a polar bear exhibit, featuring underwater viewing panels and a polar bear den (513-281-4700 or www.cincinnatizoo.cc).

July 9: Bike the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles, CA. Guided 18-mile bike ride includes talks on the history and ecology of the river. North East Trees Association (323-441-8634).

July 15: Loon Festival, Moultonborough, NH. A range of events celebrating the common loon. Loon Preservation Committee (603-476-5666).

July 16: Kellys Island Audubon Society Nature Hikes, Kellys Island, OH. Guided birding walks (419-746-2258).

July 22-October 14: Lek Trek, Eagleville to Southwest City, MO. Join members of the Grassland Coalition for any part of their 565-mile walk to increase awareness of grasslands and prairie species. Lek Trek Line (816-561-7635 or www.lektrek.org).

August 5: Twenty-second Annual Lorrie Otto Audubon Wild Yard Tour, Milwaukee, WI. Tour some of the most beautifully restored natural landscaped yards in the area. Schlitz Audubon Center (414-352-2880).

August 5: Seventh Annual Summer Wings Festival, Albuquerque, NM. Guided walks, speakers, bird-banding demonstrations, children's events, and hummingbirds. Rio Grande Nature Center (505-344-7240; www.rgnc.org).

August 5-6: Thirty-third Annual Family Nature Festival, Sharon, CT. Animals, hands-on activities, music, and an array of naturalist-led walks on a 700-acre preserve. Sharon Audubon Center (860-364-0520).

August 12-13: Nature Art Festival, Jamestown, NY. International exhibit featuring the work of 80 artists. Children's workshops. Jamestown Audubon Nature Center (716-569-2345; www.audubon.org/chapter/ny/jamestown).

August 16-19: Southwest Wings Birding Festival, Sierra Vista, AZ. Guided tours of butterflies and bats, and up to 200 species of birds (800-946-4777).

August 19: Annual Banana Slug Derby, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, near Orick, CA. Races and activities to honor the redwoods (707-822-7611, ext. 5300).

August 20-24: Michigan Audubon Society Tour, Beaver Island, MI. Tour Beaver Island with biologists Jim Gillingham and Sharon Johnson. Michigan Audubon (517-886-9144).