| 8-10am Saturday, February 16, Ranger Meet and Greet |
| Estrella Mountain Park |
| Did you hear that there is a new Ranger in Town? Come to the Nature Center and say hello to our new Interpretive Ranger, Ranger Amy. Learn about the park and the animals in the Nature Center. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 entry fee per vehicle |
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| Location: Nature Center at Estrella Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
14805 West Vineyard Avenue
Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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| Progressive Fitness Hike #3 - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Want to increase your fitness level and also enjoy the outdoors? Hit the trails with us for a fun way to get back in shape! During this hike series, each hike will increase in length and difficulty in order to help you prepare for the grand finale hike – the 7.5-mile loop trail around Pass Mountain! This is a great way to get in shape and to hike many different trails in Usery Park at the same time. This hike series will take place every Saturday at 8am through March 9. This third hike of the series will be approximately 4.5 miles. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Location: Trail Staging Area. Note: Participation in the 4th or 5th hike in this series is required to do the final hike. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 8:00 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Dixie Mine Hidden Petroglyph Hike - meet OUTSIDE of Park - McDowell |
| McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| This is a rare opportunity to hike to an area with ancient Hohokam petroglyphs. The Dixie Mine area has some fascinating history, and stunning hidden petroglyphs. This area is one of the best kept secrets in the Park. This 5 1/2 mile roundtrip hike has a few steep inclines, but the trail is well-maintained, and the reward is worth it. Bring more water than you think you'll need, and meet at the Golden Eagle trailhead in Fountain Hills. We will park just before the Guard Gate at the end of Golden Eagle Blvd, and walk into the park. Call the Park for more detailed directions to the Trailhead. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Duration: 3.5 hrs |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $2.00 per person park entry (walk-in fee). |
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| Contact: Amy Burnett, Interpretive Ranger 480-471-0173 |
| Location: Dixie Mine Trailhead |
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Address:
Northern end of Golden Eagle Blvd. at end of road
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 |
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| Elephant Mountain Fortress Hike - Spur Cross |
| Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area |
| February 16 Saturday 9:00 am Elephant Mountain Fortress Hike (strenuous) Join us for a 7 mile / 5 hour roundtrip trek into the backcountry to one of the premier archaeological sites in the conservation area. Participants need to be in good condition and familiar with what hiking on primitive trails for this distance entails. Participants must bring at least one liter of water. We recommend you have a hat, & dress in layers. No dogs on this hike please. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Duration: 5 hours |
| Speaker: Kevin Smith, Interpretive Ranger |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $3 per person |
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| Contact: Kevin Smith, Park Ranger at 480-488-6623 or e-mail kevinsmith@mail.maricopa.gov |
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| ***Super Serpent Saturday!*** |
| Cave Creek Regional Park |
| Come on out to the Nature Center for "Super Serpent Saturday!" We will have Snake related activities, videos, live specimens on display and guest speakers for this Super Slithering event! Bring your cameras, questions, and curiosity for this one! |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Duration: 6 hours |
| Speaker: Ranger Mark & Special Guests! |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle Park Entry Fee |
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| Contact: Ranger Mark - markpaulat@mail.maricopa.gov 623-465-0431 ext. 202 |
| Location: the Nature Center |
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Address:
37900 N. Cave Creek Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 |
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| 10am Saturday, February 16, "Like" to Hike at Estrella |
| Estrella Mountain Park |
| Impress your friends! Update your status with pictures from your morning hike at Estrella Park. Join Ranger Amy for this morning hike and see how many things there are to "like" about Estrella. The hike will be a two mile out and back hike along the Quail Trail. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop for pictures so you can 'share' with your friends! Please make sure to bring a camera, plenty of water and wear appropriate footwear. Meet at the Nature Center. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 10:00 AM |
| Speaker: Ranger Amy |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 entry fee per vehicle |
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| Location: Nature Center at Estrella Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
14805 West Vineyard Avenue
Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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| Looking for Early Flowers Hike - Lake Pleasant |
| Lake Pleasant Regional Park |
| Come explore with Naturalist Frank Meyerholtz on this four mile hike. We will take about three hours and stop for a snack about halfway, so bring some snacks and water. This hike is moderate with a few hills. There are chances of seeing wildlife along the trail, and hopefully some flowers, so bring your binoculars and camera, too. Wear good hiking shoes and hiking sticks help on the rough spots. We will meet at the South Pipeline Canyon Trailhead inside the park. Once inside park, continue straight on North Park Road to the trailhead. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Duration: 4 miles / 4 hours |
| Speaker: Naturalist Frank Meyerholtz |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: Terry Gerber, Interpretive Ranger 602-372-7460 ext. 202 |
| Location: Lake Pleasant Regional Park at S. Pipeline Canyon Trailhead |
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Address:
Take Hwy 74 to Castle Hot Springs Rd., turn right into park, follow "Hike" signs to program
Peoria, AZ |
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| All About Bird Songs - "Brown-Bag It" with the Bird Lady - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Hear that bird? Love to hear birds sing, but unable to identify them? Want to match the bird with the song? If so, then this one-hour presentation is for you! Bring your sandwich to the “Brown-Bag It” series under the comfort of a shaded patio (with a great view!), as our birding expert, Sandy Hornbaker, helps you identify our melodious desert birds through the use of recordings. Location: Nature Center. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 12:00 PM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Creature Feature - Rango - San Tan |
| San Tan Mountain Regional Park |
| Sit back, relax and enjoy a cinematic adventure on San Tan’s very own HUGE projector screen. Watch Rango in the warmth of the nature center surrounded by a friendly collection of desert wildlife. Before the movie starts, be prepared for an amazing animal presentation and chance to meet the cool critters of San Tan. Bring your lunch, snacks, blankets and pillows to watch this exciting movie in style. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Duration: 2 Hours |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 vehicle park entry fee |
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| More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/santan/ |
| Contact: (480) 655-5554 |
| Location: San Tan Mountain Regional Park - Visitor Center |
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Address:
6533 W Phillips Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85242 |
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| "Snakes of Arizona" - Cave Creek |
| Cave Creek Regional Park |
| Head for the Nature Center to meet Bryan Hughes, owner of “Phoenix Rattlesnake Solutions”. Bryan is an accomplished photographer and will be showing some of his best work on his favorite subjects, …snakes! He is very knowledgable in this field of study and will happily talk about snakes, all day, ….if you let him! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn from an expert! Live specimens will be on display! This program is part of "Super Serpent Saturday!" from 10am - 4pm! Don't miss it! |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 2:00 PM |
| Speaker: ***SPECIAL GUEST - BRYAN HUGHES*** |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: Ranger Mark - markpaulat@mail.maricopa.gov |
| Location: Meet at the Nature Center classroom |
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Address:
37900 N. Cave Creek Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 |
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| Campground Nature Walk - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Join park host, Sandy Hornbaker, for a late afternoon sojourn through our campground and nature trail on a quest to spot desert wildlife and plants. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, but bring binoculars, your afternoon tea, and a little patience. Be prepared to walk one to two miles. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Location: Campsite 21 in the Buckhorn Campground. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 4:00 PM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Walk and Talk with the Park Ranger about Lake Pleasant |
| Lake Pleasant Regional Park |
| Have questions – get answers! Come join the Park Ranger as he guides you on a short loop walk talking about Lake Pleasant. Starts at the Visitor Center. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Duration: 1 hour |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: Terry Gerber, Interpretive Ranger 602-372-7460 ext. 202 |
| Location: Lake Pleasant Regional Park Visitor Center 623-780-9857 |
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Address:
Take Hwy 74 to Castle Hot Springs Rd., turn right into park, follow signs to visitor center.
Peoria, AZ |
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| Stargazing for Everyone - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Come and watch the night sky under the expert guidance of Tony La Conte! Look through telescopes and enjoy a slide presentation under the stars. Learn the names of stars, see the constellations, and listen to stories of the night sky. View the craters of the moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the rings of Saturn. This is truly a fun night out! Please bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. No pets, please. Location: Group Picnic D. |
| Date: 2/16/2013 |
| Time: 7:30 PM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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