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Discovery Station: Desert Artifacts

Come to the Discovery Center and meet Ranger Kevin from 12 pm to 2 pm. The theme is Sonoran Desert Artifacts, so bring your curiosity and your questions! A table full of interesting objects will be on hand for you to inspect. No registration required, just drop on in! MEETING LOCATION: Main lobby of Discovery [...]

Lake Pleasant Monday Clean-Up Crew

Lake Pleasant is creating a Monday clean-up crew.  If you are available on any Monday, please join us as we pick up litter along the shoreline. Date- Every Monday from 4/10/23-10/30/23 Time – April 7:00am-9:00am May-Oct 6:00am-8:00am Location – Park at Castle Hot Springs dirt lot near the entry station. Meet with Park Assistant Doug [...]

Fitness Hike – Pass Mountain (Registration Required, Limit 15 Participants)

Pass Mountain Trailhead Usery Mtn Regional Park 3939 N Usury Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ, United States

This hike will be a long, but very rewarding hike with elevation change and rocky terrain. Please bring lots of water, hiking shoes/boots, and sun protection. MEETING LOCATION: Pass Mountain Trailhead at trailhead staging area. Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) 506-2930 ext. 4 with your name, phone number [...]

Fitness Hike – Go John Trail (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

Cave Creek Regional Park, 37019 N Lava Ln, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USA

Join Ranger Kevin on one of the toughest trails in the park and learn about the desert along the way. We will meet at the Go John Trailhead to start this hike. The Go John Trail is nearly 5.8 miles, so make sure you bring plenty of water and pack a snack for this one. [...]

Plant Hike

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

Join Ranger Nikki on a 3.5-mile hike to learn about desert plants, shrubs and legume trees. The loop route includes South, Mule Deer and Bajada Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Restrooms are available at the trailhead and water is available at the Nature Center. MEETING LOCATION: Area 1 at [...]

All About Coyotes

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

Ranger Nikki will lead a talk on coyotes that live in our desert and sometimes visit our neighborhoods. Learn about their life cycle, diet, habitat and more. This talk takes place in the Nature Center classroom. Water and restrooms are available at the Nature Center. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required.

Discovery Station: Desert Artifacts

Cave Creek Regional Park, 37019 N Lava Ln, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USA

Come to the Nature Center and meet Ranger Kevin from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. The theme is Sonoran Desert Artifacts, so bring your curiosity and your questions! A table full of interesting objects will be on hand for you to inspect. No registration required, just drop on in! MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center main lobby.

Discovery Station: Desert Bugs

McDowell Mountain Regional Park 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Rd, Founatin Hills, AZ, United States

Have you ever wondered what is crawling under your feet when you’re out on the trail or what might be calling your backyard home? Head to the critter room in the back of the Nature Center and stop by a discover table featuring living and preserved insect and arachnid species that can be found throughout [...]

Scorpion Hike (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

McDowell Mountain Regional Park, 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 AZ, United States

Join Ranger Derik on the 3-mile loop North Trail in the heart of McDowell Regional Park. The trail is a mix of small rolling hills and washes on sandy and rocky trail. It is encouraged that you wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water with you. Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the [...]

Creatures of the Night Walk (Registration Required, Limit 12 Participants)

Hassayampa River Preserve 49614 U.S. Hwy. 60 89 Wickenburg, AZ 85390, Arizona

Join Ranger Steve for an after hours trail walk to look for and learn about the nocturnal critters of the Sonoran Desert! Wildlife seen on past walks have included snakes, bats, ringtails, foxes, skunks, javelinas, deer, owls, scorpions, insects, and other cool creepy crawlies! Please bring your own flashlights and blacklights if you have them. [...]

Creatures of the Morning Hike

San Tan Mountain Regional Park 6533 W. Phillips Road Queen Creek, AZ 85142, Arizona

Join Ranger Nikki on a 3-mile easy to moderate hike to hear and see the desert come to life. We will watch for birds, jackrabbits, coyotes, lizards and more. The route follows San Tan, Stargazer and Moonlight Trails plus the park’s Service Road. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. [...]

Flora and Fauna Hike (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area 44000 N Spur Cross Rd, Cave Creek, United States

Come join Ranger Kevin as we hike approximately 2.6 miles along the Spur Cross, Metate and Fairy Duster Loop Trails. Trails are rated easy, with a few sections of loose, rocky terrain and some elevation change. We'll be stopping to look at various plants and animals and talk about Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. Be [...]

Morning Nature Hike (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338, Arizona

Join Ranger Evan on a 2-mile moderate hike to learn all about cacti: saguaro, cholla, prickly pear, barrel and more. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) 506-2930 ext. 6 with your name, phone number and [...]

Desert 101 Hike (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

Lake Pleasant Regional Park, 41835 N Castle Hot Springs Rd, Morristown, AZ 85342, USA 39401 N Lake Pleasant Rd, United States

Take some time away from the water and get immersed in the surrounding desert with Ranger Derik as you learn about the native plant and animal species that call the Sonoran Desert home. Hike the 3-miles Yavapai Point Trail through saguaro and teddy bear cholla cacti. The trail is rocky and uneven at times, so [...]

Discovery Station: Cactus Curiosity

San Tan Mountain Regional Park 6533 W. Phillips Road Queen Creek, AZ 85142, Arizona

Come learn about cacti of the Sonoran Desert and Phoenix area! Ranger Eric will host this discovery station table at the San Tan Nature Center. Nearby there are live examples of a variety of cacti to see on the trails next to the center. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime [...]

Discovery Station: Desert Artifacts

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area 44000 N Spur Cross Rd, Cave Creek, United States

Come meet Ranger Kevin from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. The theme is Sonoran Desert Artifacts, so bring your curiosity and your questions! A table full of interesting objects will be on hand for you to inspect. MEETING LOCATION: Covered Picnic Tables in front of the trailer at the trail kiosks. No registration required, just [...]

Venomous Critters (Registration Required, Limit 15 Participants)

Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338, Arizona

Snakes!! Scorpions!! Black Widows!! Are you scared yet? If you said yes, then this program is perfect for you to come learn the benefits of these critters, and why we would want to learn how to live with them. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) [...]

Sunset Stroll (Registration Required, Limit 15 Participants)

Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338, Arizona

Want to watch the sunset with a great view? Want to learn more about the desert environment? Want to go for a splendid evening hike? If the answer is yes, then this hike is perfect for you! Join Ranger Evan as we hike along the quail and baseline trails for a total 2.2 miles. Wear [...]

Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend – Santa Catalina Mountains

Gordon Hirabayashi Campground, N Prison Camp Rd, Tucson, AZ 85749, USA

  The AZT VETS (Veteran Engagement / Trail Stewardship) and Coronado National Forest Service are hosting this Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend on Passage 11A of the Arizona Trail, working to improve the tread from Gordon Hirabayashi Campground to Sycamore Reservoir. This is also a sacred time for our veteran community as we celebrate the lives [...]

Bird Walk

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

Join experienced birder Joe Ford for a morning bird walk followed by a special presentation! Meet on the south patio of the Nature Center. Program to follow in the Nature Center “Bird Weirdness I, II, III, or Parrots”

White Tank Mountain Park with Joe Ford

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

May 27, Saturday, 6:30 AM White Tank Regional Park, Program to Follow, “Birds of History and Animation”

Nature and Wildlife Photography for Beginners

White Mountain Nature Center 20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ, United States

Fine art photographer, Lloyd Pentecost, will present a program for beginning nature and wildlife photographers at the Nature Center. His program will be on Saturday, May 27th at 11 am. Members are admitted free and non-members are asked to make a $10 donation to help support the Nature Center.

Venomous Critters Lunch and Learn (Registration Required, Limit 20 Participants)

Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207, USA

Snakes!! Scorpions!! Black Widows!! Are you scared yet? If you said yes, then this program is perfect for you to come learn the benefits of these critters, and why we would want to learn how to live with them. MEETING LOCATION: Usery Nature Center Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at [...]

Desert 101 Hike

Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338, Arizona

Learn about the adaptations and life cycles of plants and animals of our Sonoran Desert on a moderate to easy hike with Ranger Nikki. The route is just over 2 miles and follows Quail, Saddle, Baseline and Gila Trails and part of Casey Abbott Drive (paved) back to the Nature Center. Wear closed-toe shoes and [...]

All About Bats

Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85338, Arizona

Join Ranger Nikki for a fun bat chat to bust some popular myths and set the record straight on an important member of our desert ecosystem. Learn where bats live, what they eat, why you shouldn’t be afraid of them and more! Bring water and snacks to this indoor classroom presentation. Restrooms and water are [...]

Guided Bird Hike (Registration Required, Limit 10 Participants)

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about the resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate 1-2 mile roundtrip hike (distance will depend on heat and participant interest). Along the way, we will also discuss ecology of the desert and how birds are adapted to this arid environment. [...]

National Trails Day Event

White Mountain Nature Center 20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ, United States

8AM Registration, Donuts and Coffee 8:15 - 9:30AM Leace No Trace Ice Breaker Activity (20 min. per group) 8:30 AM - Noon Service Project – Trail Building Demo, Safety talk, Trail Building Activity (need to pre-register volunteers into 15 min. time slots, 10 people per slot) 9:30 AM - Noon Leave No Trace Presentation for [...]

Discovery Station: Cactus Curiosity

White Tanks Regional Park 20304 West White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, AZ, United States

Come learn about cacti of the Sonoran Desert and Phoenix area! Ranger Eric will host this discovery station table at the White Tank Nature Center. Nearby there are live examples of a variety of cacti to see on the trail next to the center. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime [...]

Discovery Station: Animals of the Sonoran Desert

Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Peoria, AZ, United States

Join Ranger Kevin in the main lobby of the Discovery Center for a fun and fact-filled foray into the lives of a variety of desert animals. We’ll even have some of our animal ambassadors available to meet. Bring your curiosity and your questions! This is a drop-in program, so feel free to stop in anytime [...]

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