|
Education ProgramsTake advantage of these opportunities to learn more about your McDowell Sonoran Preserve. |
We'd like to hear from you! Thank You, Ruthie Carll, Executive Director |
|
|
Become an MSC Steward - Saturdays 7/26, 8/2 and 8/9, 8 to 12 p.m.
| Become a McDowell Sonoran Conservancy volunteer. Work hard, have fun,
and make an impact on your community. MSC Volunteers champion the preservation of open space, steward the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and engage the community in preserving our environment. Here are examples of what we do: Build and Maintain Trails, Host Trailheads, Lead Hikes, Teach, Facilitate Recreation, Advocate, Remove Invasive Plants, Patrol by Horse, Bike, or Boot, Host Events, Help at the Office and much more... What we all have in common is our passion for nature and a desire to make our community a better place.
Where: Village Health Club and Spa (see directions to right) Register: For details or to register, please call 480-998-7971 x 105 |
Village Health Club & Spa 18501 N Thompson Peak Pkwy Located on the southeast corner of Thompson Peak And Union Hills A big thanks to the VIllage for donating meeting space for MSC's volunteer training! |
The second annual McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Summer Series is underway!
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Arizona State University, Center for Urban and Native Wildlife (CNUW) and the city of Scottsdale present the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Summer Series, talks by experts offering ideas and theories on the conservation, sustainability and science of the Sonoran Desert and its mountains.
Presentations get underway at 6 p.m. every Thursday at Scottsdale Community College. Series is scheduled to be in the Peridot room, but check the calendar on this website a few days before each talk for confirmation. Bring a brown-bag dinner and we’ll supply beverages and cookies.
May 1st
Dr. Paul Hirt, Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and faculty of the School of Sustainability will present The Unique Biology Feature of Sky Islands: Threats and Conservation. ‘Sky island’ is a term used for mountain tops that are surrounded by wide areas of desert floor. Dr. Hirt will describe the diverse habitats and highly specialized inhabitants found in the Preserve sky islands. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
May 8th
Dr. Sharon Hall, Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University will speak on Atmospheric Pollution, Effects on the Sonoran Desert Ecosystems. As an urban preserve, increasing air pollution is affecting our ecological system to a great degree. Dr. Hall will share the cause and effect, and what we can do to help. Final Location: Social Behavior Building (SB), room 181
Map of Scottsdale Community College
May 15th
Dr. Guy Cardineau, Research Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University presents Pharmaceutical Potentials of Desert Plants, a talk that helps us understand the need for conservation by showing us that the land, or living things on land, directly impact our well being. Dr. Cardineau will describe the potential real benefits of plants we easily recognize in the desert. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
May 22nd
Dr. Kevin McGraw, Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University will present The Colors of the Desert: The study of house finches & humming birds. Learn how these interesting birds have successfully made a home in the Preserve Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
May 29th
Len Marcisz, MSC Chairman of the Board and Steward, will present his popular talk on Women of the McDowells. People have impacted the McDowells for thousands of years. This subset of these people and their impact may surprise you! Final Location: MB115 (Music Building)
June 5th
Dr. Chad Johnson, Assistant Professor Integrated Natural Sciences, ASU will present The Behavior, Ecology & Evolution of Cannibalistic Spiders: “Why can’t they just get along” showing the importance of spiders as a predator in the Preserve ecosystem. Final Location: MB115 (Music Building)
June 12th
Dr. Susanne Neuer, Professor, Biogeochemistry, ASU will present Algae Blooms in the Salt River-- as a major water resource for the Valley, learn how the Salt River’s health affects all of us. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
June 19th
Join Dr. Steven Semken, Geoscience education researcher and ethnogeologist, CRESMET as he presents Geosciences and People’s ‘sense of place’: Engaging People in Learning About Geosciences. Understand how our ‘sense of place’ is grounded in the unique geology found in the Valley – including the Preserve. Final Location: MB115 (Music Building)
June 26th
Phyllis Strupp, Life Coach, will share a presentation entitled Our Brainy Desert Elders. This interactive presentation focuses on how people think about their surroundings. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
July 3rd No presentation in honor of Independence Day
July 10th
Conrad Storad, Director of the Office of Research Publications, ASU and nationally renowned author will present a night of storytelling. He will share the stories of the Preserve’s inhabitants in a fun and enjoyable way throughThe Desert Night Shift: “A Pack Rat Story” & “Life in the Desert: A Desert Tortoise Tale.” Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
July 17th
Meg White, PhD candidate in Plant Biology at Arizona State University, will present a talk entitled Ephemeral Waterways and Biodiversity: Brown's Ranch as a Case Study. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room.
July 24th
Ann Kinzig, Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, ASU will present The Study of Birds
As an urban preserve, birds are the most significant organisms that bridge the urban/wild land interface. This is an opportunity to learn about their effect on the Preserve. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
July 31st
Alice Demetra, MSC Steward and Chair of MSC Education Department will share a taste of the desert. This ethnobotany presentation will allow participants to taste native foods including foods made with mesquite flour, prickly pear fruit and agave syrup. Final Location: Student Union, Peridot Room
For more information and to register, contact the MSC office at (480) 998-7971, extension 105 or visit our website at www.mcdowellsonoran.org
Hikes - Details about these hikes can be found on our hiking page.
| May Hikes | June Hikes | July Hikes |
|---|---|---|
| No hikes are scheduled in May | Saturday, June 7, 6:30 a.m. Gateway Loop |
Saturday, July 5, 6:30 a.m. Balanced Rock |
|
|
Saturday, June 14, 6:30 a.m. Ringtail Loop |
|
| Saturday, June 21, 6:30 a.m. Taliesin Overlook |
||
| Saturday, June 28, 6:30 a.m. Cactus Trail |
Groups
Special group hikes are available upon request. We recommend calling the office so that we can create the perfect program to meet your needs. Please call 480-998-7179 x 100.
If you like learning about plants, animals, geology, archeology, and more – you might consider joining the MSC as a volunteer. We offer our volunteers excellent initial training and then follow up with continuing education opportunities throughout the year. Click here to learn more about volunteering with MSC.