Celebrate the holiday at Keyhole

Keyhole State Park will be celebrating independence next weekend with a series of outdoor events for the whole family to enjoy.

On July 4 itself, head to the dam area between 5:30 a.m. and noon to take part in a bird banding exercise. Park staff will be joined by the Audubon Rockies, the regional office of the National Audubon Society in an annual exercise that helps to conserve migratory birds by understanding the health of populations and individual creatures.

Banding involves determining age and gender and assessing health and relies on the assistance of volunteers. Experience is not necessary, as there are tasks for everyone available, from measuring birds to recording data and extracting birds from mist nets.

On July 5 at 10 a.m., a hike will begin at the Coulter Bay Cliffs Shelter. The event will take in one of the park's best hikes, the Cottonwood Trail, with its views of Cottonwood Bay, and will include a two-mile and a six-mile option.

Later that day, head over to the Tatanka Shelter at 7:30 p.m. to take part in an owl pellet dissection exercise.

Owl pellets are regurgitated from the bird's beak. They contain bone, teeth, feathers, hair and exoskeletons of the animals preyed on by the birds, which swallow prey whole or in chunks and then bring the undigested parts back up again to the mouth.

Dissecting these pellets can tell us a lot about what the owls are eating and what prey species are common in their environment.

Finally, end your outdoor adventures with Paddle in the Park at the Rocky Point Day Use Area on July 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kayak or paddle board accompanied by park rangers in an event open to adults and children alike. Paddle boards, paddles and kayaks will be provided, as well as life jackets, but it's recommended that you bring water, sunscreen and other necessities to keep cool and have fun.

Register ahead of time to secure your spot at wyoparks.info/keyholepitp