| Special Event - San Tan Scramble - San Tan |
| San Tan Mountain Regional Park |
| This will be the fifth run within the Desert Runner Trail Series. The 9km, 25km and 50km runs will take place on the Goldmine, San Tan and Hedgehog Trails, starting at the San Tan Trailhead located near the San Tan Visitor Center. All courses will be marked with orange ribbon and flagging. All junctions will be signed with colored arrows corresponding with your race bib (different color for each race). For more information go to aravaiparunning.com. The primary rush of event activity will take place between 8 a.m. and noon. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Speaker: Aravaipa Running |
| 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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Queen Creek, AZ 85242 |
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| Team RPM Circuit Roadrace - McDowell |
| McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| This bicycle road race is set for February 6th this year. It will take place in the Palo Verde Picnic Loop and will close the loop during the race. ACCESS TO THE NORTH TRAIL WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID AFTERNOON
Parking for the event will be in the Ironwood Picnic Area. This is a USCF sanctioned race on a 1.6 mile loop. For more info go to: http://www.azcycling.com/06cal/FLYERS/rpm_06_v21.htm |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM |
| Registration Required: Yes |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee + any registration fees required of the participants |
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| More Info: http://www.azcycling.com/06cal/FLYERS/rpm_06_v21.htm |
| Location: Palo Verde Picnic Loop within McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
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MMRP, AZ 85255 |
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| Fitness Challenge Hiking Series (1 of 6) - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Do you want to increase your fitness level but don’t like to workout at the gym? Hit the trails with us for a more enjoyable 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 7.4-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 10. This first hike of the series will be approximately 2.5 miles on fairly level terrain. Please bring water 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: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 8:00 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| McDowell Criterium - Team RPM Cycling |
| McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| Desert vista circuit with gradual slope, racing on a closed road.
Prizes and primes
Several places deep in most categories |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Registration Required: Yes |
| Fee: All racers must pay $6 park entry (in addition to race fees) |
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| Contact: Team RPM Cycling |
| Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ, AZ 85268 |
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| Yoga – Connect In Nature! – All Levels Class - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Connect with nature in Usery Park’s Nature Center by exploring your breath before a desert hike. Improve your balance for a bike ride through easy-to-learn, fundamental yoga postures. This all-levels class for both beginners and experienced yogis sets the tone for your day of hiking, riding or…yes, even your workday! Please join Inner Vision Yoga and their certified instructors for inspiring yoga every Monday night at 6pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 9am, and Saturday at 8:30am. Sign up for these fee-based classes at www.innervisionyoga.com or drop into the park. For more information see websites, or call 480-632-7899 or 480-984-0032. Location: Nature Center |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: Fee-based program |
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| Location: Nature Center |
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Address:
3939 N. Usery Pass Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85207 |
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| Archery 101 - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Interested in archery? Curious about how to shoot a bow? Come to Usery Park and find out! You will discover how fun archery really is! Participants will experience a fun and safe introduction to recreational and international-style target archery. Equipment will be provided. This class is open to anyone ages 8 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Advanced registration is required. Please call the park at 480-984-0032 to register. Limited to 20 participants. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Meet at the Archery Range. This class is also offered at 10:30am. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 9:00 AM |
| Registration Required: Yes |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Find the Ranger - Wind Cave Trail - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| This open-house style program features our ranger hiking along the Wind Cave Trail and stopping to talk to park visitors. Our ranger will show off his “Backpack of Knowledge” and be available to answer questions about the park, discuss park history, identify desert plants, or even explain which animals call Usery Park "home". Carry ample water. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Basics of Bird Watching - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Interested about getting into bird watching but don’t know where to start? Want to know which bird is which and how to spot them? Join bird expert, Sandy Hornbaker, for this introduction to bird watching as she guides you on a quarter-mile stroll along our Desert Hawk Trail. Bring binoculars if you have them, otherwise, Sandy has some to loan. Please bring water. Location: Nature Center. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 10:00 AM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Desert Birdwalk along the Wagner Trail - McDowell Park |
| McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| Desert Birdwalk along the Wagner Trail
Bring your binocs and come on out. No previous birding experience is required, only an interest in birds! We’ll look for winter sparrows, phainopeplas (often called ‘black cardinals’) and signs of our resident owls on this level, easy walk. Meet at the Wagner Trailhead in the Campground. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Duration: 1 hour |
| Speaker: Ranger Amy |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: amyford@mail.maricopa.gov 480-471-0173x201 |
| Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 |
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| Natural History of Lake Pleasant Hike |
| Lake Pleasant Regional Park |
| Come learn a bit about the plants and other things in the desert. Be sure to bring a lunch and some water. Meet Docent Frank at the north end of the Pipeline Canyon Trail in the Cottonwood Day Use Area. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Duration: 3 hours (4 miles) |
| Speaker: 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 - Cottonwood Day Use Area |
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Address:
Take Hwy 74 to Castle Hot Springs Rd., go 5 miles and turn right, pay, take next right (Cottonwood)
Peoria, AZ |
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| Survival Basics - Estrella |
| Estrella Mountain Park |
| You’re in trouble, do you know what to do? You’re cell phone is dead, are you next? The wilderness doesn’t tolerate the unprepared. Ranger Mark will show you some basic things you need to know in order to “make it back, alive”. Join us at the Nature Center for this “need to know, before you go” information. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Duration: 1 hour |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: Park entry $6.00 per vehicle |
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| More Info: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/estrella |
| Contact: Ranger Mark 623 932-3811 |
| Location: Estrella Mountain Regional Park - Nature Center |
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Address:
14805 W. Vineyard Ave
Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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| Reptile Feeding - Cave Creek Regional Park |
| Cave Creek Regional Park |
| Have you ever seen a reptile eat? Join the staff after your morning hike and see how our cold-blooded residents eat their meals for yourself! Frozen rodent entrees will be served to the critters. Come learn about the important roles these creatures play in our dynamic food web. Feeding takes place at the Nature Center. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Duration: 1 hour |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: Ranger Sarah sarahsteele@mail.maricopa.gov |
| Location: Meet at the Nature Center |
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Address:
37019 N. Lava Lane
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 |
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| 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. Feeding takes place at the Visitor Center. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Duration: 1 hour |
| Speaker: Ranger Amy Ford |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: amyford@mail.maricopa.gov 480-471-0173x201 |
| Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 |
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| "Just for Kids" - Adventure Hike - Usery Park |
| Usery Mountain Regional Park |
| Kids, would you like to go on an outdoor adventure? Then this fun hike is for you! Along the way we do nature activities and discover cool things about wild animals. Each participant will receive their own free adventure journal! This program involves a 1-mile hike and is designed for kids ages 6-12. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Location: Area 6. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 1:30 PM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| 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: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Duration: 1 hour |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per vehicle park entry fee |
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| Contact: Ranger Sarah sarahsteele@mail.maricopa.gov |
| Location: Meet at the Nature Center |
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Address:
37019 N. Lava Lane
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 |
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| Late Afternoon 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. Location: Campsite 21 in the Buckhorn Campground. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 4:00 PM |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Moonlight Hike - Spur Cross |
| Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area |
| February 4 Saturday 7:00 pm Moonlight Hike
(moderate) The Conservation Area is a different experience when seen softly illuminated by the silver moon. While we will attempt to minimize the use of flashlights, bring one in case you need it. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Duration: 2 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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| "Stargazing for Everyone" at McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
| Don’t settle for just wondering what’s above your head on a starry night, come out and LEARN about it! Tony and Carole La Conte are returning for another Stargazing event! After a fun introduction to astronomy, their amazing volunteers will fix their telescopes upon far away galaxies and nebulas that you will see for yourself! Stargazing is a fun and amazing way to start your weekend! We have special equipment for wheelchair access viewing. Please call and identify any special needs prior to attending one of our public programs. Bring lawnchairs and blankets to keep warm. Meet at Trailhead Staging Area. |
| Date: 2/4/2012 |
| Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Duration: 2 hours |
| Speaker: Tony and Carol La Conte |
| Registration Required: No |
| Fee: $6.00 per car |
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| Contact: Amy Ford, Park Ranger at 480-471-0173 x201 or e-mail amyford@mail.maricopa.gov |
| Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park |
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Address:
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 |
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