Sept. 2010

Parks Closed:
The following parks are currently Closed: Homolovi Ruins SP, Jerome SHP (will re-open Oct. 14), McFarland SHP, Oracle SP. Learn More.

Next Parks Board Meeting:
Sept. 15, 2010
Learn More.

September 2010 Calendar of Events

September 4 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Bikers' Breakfast (New Event!)
7 - 8:30 am. Labor Day Weekend lures motorcycle riders east on highway 60, so kick-start your Labor Day Weekend with a special Bikers' Breakfast event at the Arboretum, featuring live cedar flute music by Prescott recording artist Joseph Leal, who is celebrating release of a new CD with this concert at the Arboretum (Joe's a brother biker, too, he rides a Victory 1700 Kingpin). Stop by Superstition Harley Davidson in Apache Junction, or various restaurants, bars and venues in Globe for free punchcards offering "Five & Dive" tour package savings for motorcycle riders. Check out complete tour info at gmteconnect.com

Dragonfly Walk
9:30 am. September 4 with Roger Racut; see colorful insect predators hunting over Ayer Lake, Queen Creek and water features around the grounds. Learn to identify Blue-eyed Darners, Flame Skimmers and other colorful dragonfly species on a guided walk the first Saturday of each month continuing through October.

Star Night & Cedar Flute Concert (New Event!)
5:30 - 7:30 pm. One of the Arboretum's most popular performers is Joseph Leal, a Chino Valley recording artist who employs his Native American style cedar flute music as part of his job as a healer at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center. He's celebrating the release of a new CD, and will play an outdoor concert preceding one of the Arboretum's special Star Night astronomy parties with the East Valley Astronomy Club Sept. 4. Events include an Astronomy 101 lecture from 3:00-4:30, live music with Joseph Leal at 5:30, a black-light scorpion walk lead by AZ State Parks Volunteer Dave Oberpriller at 8:00, and sky-watching from 8:00-10:00 pm. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/29jp8gb or call (520) 689-2723.

September 5 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Learn Your Lizards Walking Tour
8:30 am. Side-blotched, Tree and Greater Earless lizards are scampering across the trails — and Gila Monsters have been seen, too. The Arboretum's singular 'herp walk' continues with tour guides including reptile researcher Abi King from the Arizona Game & Fish Department for two Sunday Special walks Aug. 25 and Sept. 5. Preview this event: check out Mike Rolfe's YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl976a9pvLE

Sunday Dog Socialization Walk with Lynn and 'GoodBoy'
8:30 am. Leashed and well-behaved pets are welcome at the Arboretum, and this summer your canine compadre is invited to meet and sniff new friends, while dogs' human companions learn some facts about the Arboretum and about desert plants from BTA volunteer Lynn Krause and her friendly little back dog, GoodBoy. No pre-registration is required, and there is no additional fee to participate.

September 6 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
How-To-Juice-A-Prickly-Pear-Cactus Class
10:30 am. Learn to harvest the Sonoran Desert's most distinctive summertime fruit, without turning your hands into pincushions. We'll share homemade prickly pear snacks in the Children's Learning Center after class. Preview this event on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl976a9pvLE

September 11 - Kartchner Caverns State Park
Star Night at the Park
Event starts at sunset around 6:30 pm. What to bring: folding chair, red light, sweater or jacket, enthusiasm to enjoy and conserve our beautiful night skies Entrance fees: $6/vehicle for the night of viewing, instruction and family fun.

Come spend a cool evening with family and friends at the beautiful Kartchner Caverns State Park as astronomer and dark sky advocate, Mr. Robert (Bob) Gent and other local astronomers help Arizona State Parks’ host its 2nd “Star Night” event in Cochise County. Visit Jupiter and Venus through telescopes, and see close-up details of the craters of the moon. Explore the great globular cluster M13 in Hercules, composed of over 100,000 stars. See the M57 ring nebula found in the northern constellation of Lyra, the remnant of a star that exploded thousands of years ago. See stars, galaxies far, far away, and billions of years old. The scenic backdrop and rural setting of the park makes it an idea venue for observing and learning about the complex and stunning night sky that graces the park. Located at an elevation of 4,650 feet above sea level at the base of the picturesque Whetstone Mountains, the park offers moderate temperatures, ample parking and restroom facilities, and stunning sunset views of the San Pedro River Valley. The towering Whetstones also shield light pollution from Tucson, providing reasonably dark skies and an open horizon for good sky observing and astrophotography. For more information contact Chris DeMille, Asst. Park Manager (520) 586-4117.

September 11 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Learn Your Lizards Walking Tour
8:30 am. Side-blotched, Tree and Greater Earless lizards are scampering across the trails — and Gila Monsters have been seen, too. The Arboretum's singular 'herp walk' continues with guest tour guide. Preview this event: check out Mike Rolfe's YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl976a9pvLE

September 12 - Red Rock State Park
Geology Hike
2 pm. Visitors can join a volunteer on a guided geology hike through Red Rock State Park on the second Sunday. You will learn why the rocks are red, where they came from, where they are going, and more. This hike includes the Eagle’s Nest Trail for a great view of the Park and surrounding area. More than a guided hike, this is an interpretive experience for the beginner as well as advanced geologist. The hike lasts for 2 to 2 ½ hours and has a 250 feet elevation climb. Enjoy an afternoon with our knowledgeable volunteer guide who will explain the rock formations that create the scenic backdrop of Red Rock State Park. Bring water and wear suitable shoes or boots.

September 13 - Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Brown Bag Lunch Lecture: What Happened to the 1859 Mail Route 35th Parallel?
12:15 pm. By Jerry Snow, Flagstaff Historian. In 1857 the new Postmaster General for the Buchanan Administration, Aaron Brown, authorized several new western mail routes. One of these was between Kansas City, Mo. and Stockton, CA. The route in New Mexico Territory (the states today of Arizona and New Mexico) followed the Beale Wagon Road from Albuquerque to California. Several mail stations began construction along the route, including one in Cataract Canyon, which will be the focus of this presentation.

September 18 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Plants of the Bible Guided Walk
8:30 am. Learn about botany, history and scripture on this slow-paced and relaxing weekend walk down smooth and flat trails that are wheelchair-accessible. During Summer months the tour repeats on the third Saturday each month at 8:30 with Mesa resident and Bible scholar David Oberpriller. Dave will have a few potted, rare frankincense plants available for purchase on each of these tour dates, too!

September 18 - Kartchner Caverns State Park
Afterhours Photo Tour!
Two photo tours are open to the public this fall (Sept. 18 & Oct. 10). Each event is organized and operated by the nonprofit Friends of Kartchner Caverns State Park.  Admission to each tour is $150. Tours are limited to 20 participants. Visit the Friends website and click on the links to read the details and purchase your ticket. All photos taken are for personal, non-commercial use only. All purchases are date- and time-stamped to identify the first twenty participants. Please sign up soon for this infrequent opportunity to spend time in the cave with lights on and time to carefully compose your experiences on film or digitally.

September 19 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Sunday Tree Tour with Terry Mikel
8:30 am. "What's an Arboretum?" Terry Mikel is our special guest as tour guide for a Sunday walk where visitors learn the answer to that often-posed question during a relaxed and leisurely guided tour through the forested areas of the Arboretum. Join us for a chance to learn about the towering sycamore and cottonwood trees, native hackberry, mesquite and many more.

Sunday Dog Socialization Walk with Lynn and 'GoodBoy'
8:30 am. Leashed and well-behaved pets are welcome at the Arboretum, and this summer your canine compadre is invited to meet and sniff new friends, while dogs' human companions learn some facts about the Arboretum and about desert plants from BTA volunteer Lynn Krause and her friendly little back dog, GoodBoy. No pre-registration is required, and there is no additional fee to participate.

Tom Boggan Photography Walk-A-Bout
8:30 - 11:00 am. Improve your camera skills on a relaxed morning shooting beautiful garden scenes alongside a pro -- with plenty of chances to ask questions about the dials, settings and control on your own camera. Gilbert professional photographer Tom Boggan has a talent for portraits and a passion for nature photography at BTA, where he volunteers his time helping visitors improve their camera skills. Limited to eight students; $20 for BTA members or $27.50 for nonmembers. View galleries from recent shoots at http://www.flickr.com/groups/btaphotoclass 

September 23 & 24 - Red Rock State Park
Moonlight Hike
Hike leaves promptly from the Visitor Center at 6:00 pm. An unforgettable experience, the Moonlight Hike includes a naturalist-led interpretive program on the Park’s beautiful trails. Enjoy the sunset and moonrise from an overlook and return by the light of the moon. The hike lasts two to 2½ hours, covers a distance of approximately two miles and has an elevation climb of 200 to 250 feet. The Park recommends that you come through the gate approximately 30 minutes before the starting time to insure your participation. No late arrivals will be allowed to join the hike. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes (prepare for cool nights) and bring water, a flashlight, and insect spray. Reservations are required. A $5.00 per person program fee will be charged at the time of the reservation. There is also a $10.00 entrance fee to the Park for a car of four adults. Program fees are non-refundable unless the Park must cancel the hike after your arrival. Please call (928) 282-6907 for reservations. Can't make it? The next Moonlight Hike at this park is October 22 & 23.

September 25 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Bye-Bye Buzzards
7 am - 2 pm. This fall marks the 18th Annual observance of our autumnal "Bye Bye Buzzards" event celebrating the Arboretum's summertime migrant flock of Turkey Vultures. Arrive early on this special event day - the Arboretum opens at 7 am on "Buzzard Day" — one hour earlier than usual for September, so early-bird visitors may see the Turkey Vultures perched on the magma cliffs in the center of the Arboretum from about 7 - 8:30 am. On a typical morning they bask for an hour or two after sunrise, then take to the sky to circle over Pinal County scanning the ground below for carrion. Wildlife Rehabilitation Volunteers from the Arizona Game And Fish Department plan to release a young vulture back into the wild today; we'll also have a guided bird walk at 8:30 am, and the AZGFD living exhibit of birds, reptiles and mammals from 8:30 am to 2 pm. Watch a Bye Bye Buzzards Day event video by Volunteer Mike Rolfe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nculj1sQeg

"The Arboretum Rocks!" — Geology Walking Tour
8:30 am. Our geology tour teaches about some of the rocks and volcanic formations seen along the main trail -- and will span almost two billion years of geologic history in just over one educational hour! Learn about Pinal schist, the volcanic origins of Picket Post Mountain and the Apache Leap tuff with tourguide Ben Henderson or else ASU Professor Steve Semken.

Butterfly Walk
9:30 am. Learn about Pipevine Swallowtails and the colorful blue-black butterflies' dependance on Watson's Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia watsoni) plants on our next guided butterfly walk when Professor Ron Rutowski is our special guest tour guide. Monarch Butterfly Research is ongoing this summer, too!

September 25 & 26 - Dead Horse Ranch State Park & Verde River Greenway SNA
21st Annual Verde River Days
The activities during Verde River Days promote preservation and care of the environment by showcasing informative exhibits on the Verde's riparian habitat. Some of the day's events include environmental exhibits, hands-on-activities, fishing, canoeing, and live entertainment. The Verde River Days celebration begins at 10 am on Saturday and brings together 40-plus nature-based exhibits, sandcastle building, a menagerie of live animals, non-stop activities from canoe rides (with or without assistance), to nature hikes, as well as continuous entertainment and local food vendors. Guests of all ages are welcome to fish in the lagoon that is loaded with hundreds of pounds of catfish.

September 25 - Fort Verde State Historic Park
Tom Sawyer Day
8 am to Noon. Be a part of our annual volunteer workday and help us paint our white picket fence to honor National Public Lands Day. Bring in a non-perishable food item and you too can paint the fence as Tom Sawyer did. All items will be donated to the local food bank. Contact Fort Verde staff for more information. Learn More About Volunteering at this Event  or Check out the great photos from our 2009 Tom Sawyer day!

September 26 - Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Edible & Medicinal Desert Plants Walk
8:30 am. Apache Junction author Jean Groen shares her knowledge about the ways desert plants have fed, healed and clothed Sonoran desert peoples for more than a thousand years. Carolyn Hills of the Arizona Herb Association leads this tour Sept. 26. Please note: this tour explores the Curandero Trail, which has steep sections that are not suitable for visitors who use wheelchairs or walkers. Preview this tour and learn more about edible desert plants http://vimeo.com/1059799 

Privacy Policy  ~  AZStateParks.com  ~   Forward to a friend