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Calendar of Events
<August 2012>
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Sunrise on the Baseline Hike - Estrella
Estrella Mountain Park
Get up with the sun and beat the heat! This 2.6 mile hike will take us around the Baseline Trail. Come prepared to hike with sturdy shoes, a big hat, more water than you think you’ll need and a smile. Ranger Mark will lead the hike from the Gila Trailhead(see map for details). This is a great way to start your day!

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 5:30 AM    
Speaker: Ranger Mark
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6 per vehicle Park Entry Fee
 
Contact: 623-932-3811
Location: Estrella Mountain Regional Park
 
Address:
14805 W. Vineyard Ave.
Goodyear, AZ  
85338
"Get Wet Beginner Kayaking" Program - Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant Regional Park
Have you ever wanted to give flat water lake kayaking a try? Well here is your chance. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, the Desert Outdoor Center, and Cabelas is once again presenting the "Get Wet Beginner Kayaking" program. A free one hour informational classroom session will be held at the Glendale Cabelas on Friday evening (you will not get wet). You do not need to register to attend the classroom session. Then if you would like to experience flat-water kayaking on Lake Plesant, you may sign up for an on-the-water session that will be held at the Desert Outdoor Center. The $35 registration fee for the on-the-water portion will be collected during the evening classroom session at Cabelas. Registration for on-the-water sessions begins at 6:00pm on a first come, first serve basis. Cash or check only please. Ages 12 & up, call 602-372-7470 for more information.

Dates of free 1-hour classroom introductory sessions are:

August 3, August 10, August 24, September 7

Dates for 3-hour on-the-water sessions are:

August 4, August 18, September 22 (pick a 7AM or 9AM arrival time; sign up and pay at any of the Friday classes, on-water sessions fill up fast, so first come, first served)

PLEASE NOTE: The Desert Outdoor Center is a gated facility, so you must be registered to attend. Gates will be open 30 minutes before each session begins.

***There is no boat ramp access to launch a kayak at this facility, so please do not bring your personal kayaks. The boat dock is about a 1/4 mi down from the facility, so please be prepared for a short hike.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 7:00 AM    Duration: 3 hrs, Pick either the 7 - 10 or 9 - 12 session
Registration Required: Yes    
Fee: Classroom session-FREE; $35/person for on-water session (cash or check, please)
 
More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/doc/pdf/GetWetKayakingFall2012.pdf
Contact: Desert Outdoor Center 602-372-7470
Location: Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant
 
Address:
41402 N 87th Ave
Peoria, AZ  
85383
"Get Wet Beginner Kayaking" Program with Cabela's
Desert Outdoor Center
Have you ever wanted to give flat water lake kayaking a try? Well here is your chance. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, the Desert Outdoor Center, and Cabelas is once again presenting the "Get Wet Beginner Kayaking" program. A free one hour informational classroom session will be held at the Glendale Cabelas on Friday evening (you will not get wet). You do not need to register to attend the classroom session. Then if you would like to experience flat-water kayaking on Lake Plesant, you may sign up for an on-the-water session that will be held at the Desert Outdoor Center. The $35 registration fee for the on-the-water portion will be collected during the evening classroom session at Cabelas. Registration for on-the-water sessions begins at 6:00pm on a first come, first serve basis. Cash or check only please. Ages 12 & up, call 602-372-7470 for more information.

Dates of free 1-hour classroom introductory sessions are:

August 3, August 10, August 24, September 7

Dates for 3-hour on-the-water sessions are:

August 4, August 18, September 22 (pick a 7AM or 9AM arrival time; sign up and pay at any of the Friday classes, on-water sessions fill up fast, so first come, first served)

PLEASE NOTE: The Desert Outdoor Center is a gated facility, so you must be registered to attend. Gates will be open 30 minutes before each session begins.

***There is no boat ramp access to launch a kayak at this facility, so please do not bring your personal kayaks. The boat dock is about a 1/4 mi down from the facility, so please be prepared for a short hike.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 7:00 AM    Duration: 3 hrs, Pick either the 7 - 10 or 9 - 12 session
Registration Required: Yes    
Fee: Classroom session-FREE; $35/person for on-water session (cash or check, please)
 
More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/doc/pdf/GetWetKayakingFall2012.pdf
Contact: Desert Outdoor Center 602-372-7470
Location: Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant
 
Address:
41402 N 87th Ave
Peoria, AZ  
85383
Reptile and Live Animal Feeding at McDowell- McDowell Park
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Have you ever seen a snake eat? Bring your questions for Ranger Amy to our toasty Visitor Center to watch our exhibit animals being fed. Meet our baby tortoises, desert blonde tarantula and giant desert hairy scorpion. One lucky family will win a four pack of Wet 'n' Wild Tickets! Feeding takes place at the Visitor Center.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM    Duration: 1 hour
Speaker: Ranger Amy Ford
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee
 
Contact: amyford@mail.maricopa.gov 480-471-0173x201
Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park
 
Address:
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Fountain Hills, AZ  
85268
Venomous Creatures - Cave Creek Regional Park
Cave Creek Regional Park
Join us for a presentation about the venomous creatures you may find around the Valley! Enjoy the beauty of these wonderful and misunderstood animals while learning about fascinating facts and the important roles each creature plays in the desert ecosystem. As Marie Curie, French Physicist and two-time Nobel Prize recipient said “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” Meet at Nature Center.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM    Duration: 1 hour
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6.00 per vehicle park entry fee
 
Contact: Ranger Sarah sarahsteele@mail.maricopa.gov
Location: Meet at the Nature Center
 
Address:
37019 N. Lava Lane
Cave Creek, AZ  
85331
Natural History of Lake Pleasant - Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant Regional Park
Stop by anytime between 11AM and 1PM and talk with naturalist Frank Meyerholtz about the many plants, animals, and landscapes of Lake Pleasant area. Frank has been learning about and exploring the deserts near Lake Pleasant for years and will share some fasinating stories and information.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM    Duration: 2 hours on going
Speaker: Naturalist Frank Meyerholtz
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee
 
Contact: Terry Gerber, Interpretive Ranger 602-372-7460 ext. 202
Location: Lake Pleasant Regional Park Visitor Center 623-780-9857
 
Address:
Take Hwy 74 to Castle Hot Springs Rd., turn right into park, follow signs to visitor center.
Peoria, AZ  
Shake, Rattle, and Roll! -Estrella
Estrella Mountain Park
Slither in to the Nature Center and join Ranger Mark to discuss Rattlesnakes! Can you tell how old a Rattler is by the number of buttons on his tail? Are they slimy? Are they “poisonous”? Discover the truth about these seriously scaly serpents and learn how they benefit humans.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 11:00 AM    
Speaker: Ranger Mark
Registration Required: No    
Fee: Park entry $6.00 per vehicle
 
More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/estrella
Contact: Ranger Mark 623 932-3811
Location: Estrella Mountain Regional Park - Nature Center
 
Address:
14805 W. Vineyard Ave
Goodyear, AZ  
85338
Venomous Creatures of the Desert (and your back yard) at White Tank Park
White Tank Mountains Regional Park
Come to the White Tank Nature Center for a talk about cold blooded creatures that inhabit our desert. This is not a hiking event but you are welcome to hike any one of our many trails after the talk. On display will be some venomous creatures and a few other creepy crawlies of the desert.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM    Duration: 1.5 hours
Speaker: Park Rangers
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $2.00 per person or $6.00 per vehicle if you are headed into the park later.
 
Location: Nature Center
 
All About Rattlesnakes - "Brown-Bag It" with Ranger B - Usery Park
Usery Mountain Regional Park
How dangerous are rattlesnakes? What should you do if you encounter one? How do they survive and thrive in our desert? If you would like to know the answers to these questions, or any questions you may have about rattlesnakes, then this one-hour presentation is for you! Bring your sandwich to the “Brown-Bag It” series inside our Nature Center as Ranger B shares some amazing facts about these misunderstood reptiles. Location: Nature Center.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 12:00 PM    
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6.00 per car
 
 
Summer Night Ride Series - Competitive Track
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
This summer night mountain bike series will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. All riders must have a helmet, a lighting system designed for mountain biking and battery power for 3 hours. Riders must sign-in and sign-out, two hours are allowed to ride the Pemberton Trail. It is highly recommended that you ride this trail in day light before coming out for a night ride. The sign sheets are available at 6:30 for riders who might need extra time. NO RIDERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO START AFTER 8:00 p.m.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM    Duration: 2 hours
Speaker: Rand Hubbell, Park Supervisor
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6.00 per vehicle to entry the County Regional Park
 
Contact: Rand Hubbell, Park Supervisor
Location: Competitive Track
 
Address:
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ, AZ  
85268
Scorpion Scavenger Hunt - San Tan
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
What has 8 legs, 2 pincers, and glows under a black light? SCORPIONS! Set out on a desert exploration at night as we search for these fascinating creatures and find out just how cool these amazing arachnids really are. We will be hiking 1 mile, round trip, on the Goldmine Trail; bring plenty of water, proper hiking attire, and a flashlight (black lights also encouraged, but are optional). Black lights will be available to rent at the visitor center through the Friends of San Tan.

Date: 8/18/2012
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM    Duration: 1 hour
Registration Required: No    
Fee: $6 vehicle park entry fee
 
More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/santan/
Contact: (480) 655-5554
Location: San Tan Mountain Regional Park - Visitor Center
 
Address:
6533 W. Phillips Rd.
Queen Creek, AZ  
85142