The heat of summer drives many a local and visitor to Nevada’s waterways. In northeastern Nevada, the waterway of choice is Rye Patch Reservoir, a designated State Recreation Area with plenty of shaded campsites, challenging hiking trails and a fresh, cool lake. Get there from Interstate 80 midway between Lovelock and Winnemucca.

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One of the ornaments belonging to the Dangberg family. Dangberg Home Ranch PhotoToys, games, cards and an exquisite china dinner service depict 100 years of Christmas in Minden at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

Generations of Carson Valley’s prominent Dangberg family celebrated Christmas in the house. A modern artificial tree decorated mostly with vintage items sits in the same location where the Dangbergs placed their holiday trees. In the next room, a colored light wheel illuminates the aluminum tree family members received for free when they bought an RCA-Whirlpool color television in 1973.

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Nevada State Parks invites the public to attend free stargazing events on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park in Minden, and on Friday, Aug. 21, at Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa. Both events begin at 7 p.m. and end by 10 p.m.

Members of the Astronomical Society of Nevada are providing telescopes for the public to view Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, a comet and various galaxies, star clusters and nebulas. The public is welcome to bring telescopes as well. Visitors are encouraged to bring bug repellant, a flashlight with a red lens, a blanket, lawn chairs and a light jacket.

The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park, located just west of Minden in Douglas County at 1450 Highway 88, features several historic buildings constructed between 1857 and 1920, including what was once one of the most prominent homes in Carson Valley. The...

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The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources tells us that a new campground in Kershaw-Ryan State Park is opening at the end of this month. The campground has 15 spaces and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $10 per night.

A day of education is planned at Walker Lake State Beach Saturday, April 25 starting at 9 a.m. focusing on loons, American white pelicans, grebes, cormorants, coots and thousands of ducks and geese.

Those attending could see as many as 500 loons, the largest concentration of common loons west of the Mississippi.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars to view the birds from free boat rides provided by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Activities include free natural history lectures by the Lahontan Audubon Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others.

For more information, contact the Walker Lake Working Group at 775-945-2289.