Desert 101 South Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours The Conservancy has a mission to help sustain the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and

Trailside Naturalist – Big Cats in the Preserve at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to learn about mountain lions that live in the Preserve. Mountain Lions, also known in North America as the puma, cougar, catamount or panther live in the Preserve. They are

Gateway Loop Hike at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4.5 miles | Time: ~2.5 hours Finish out our hike season on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. Challenging in the spring heat. Elevation gain of

Ride the Divide at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~16 miles Time: ~3 hours Ride to the trails from the east side of Cholla Mountain to the Divide Trail on the north. We will travel to Hawknest Trail where we start

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead – 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Lecture- Photographing Nature in the Desert at Mustang Library Location: Mustang Library - 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Join award-winning photographer Kathryn Dannay to learn how to improve your desert photography. Focusing on photographing nature, Kathryn will review composition guidelines, and then walk through the different nuances of photographing landscapes, versus flora versus

Tour de Scottsdale Packet Pickup and Kickoff Event at WestWorld of Scottsdale The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is bringing back the Tour de Scottsdale. After a short hiatus due to COVID, this prestigious annual event, originally developed by DC Ranch, will host cyclists from all over the globe as they embark on a thrilling journey through

Tour de Scottsdale at WestWorld of Scottsdale The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is bringing back the Tour de Scottsdale. After a short hiatus due to COVID, this prestigious annual event, originally developed by DC Ranch, will host cyclists from all over the globe as they embark on a thrilling journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Scottsdale,

Bird Walk at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us to see some of our cool weather resident birds such as phainopepla, white-crowned sparrow, black-throated sparrow, Brewer's sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet, in addition to year-round birds such as thrashers,

Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~1 mile Time: ~2 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join us to discover the incredible variety of flowers on

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Beginner Distance: ~3 to 5 miles Time: ~3 hours New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? Then

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~0.5 mile Time: ~2 hours Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join us to follow the growth of a saguaro

Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Learn why time in nature makes you happier, healthier, and more creative. Join us on this easy walk where you will learn how to use nature as a

Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours This leisurely walk along the Brown's Ranch Jane Rau Trail will introduce the study of the phases of plant life cycles, how and why the

Lecture- The Backstory of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Conservancy at Mustang Library The McDowell Sonoran Preserve - covering over 30,000 acres - can be described as the ‘crown jewel’ of Scottsdale. Residents and visitors alike may take it for granted, but it is the result of a hard-fought, two-decades-long citizen campaign. The creation of

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead – 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Desert 101 North Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours The Conservancy has a mission to help sustain the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran

Firewise: How to Protect Your Home from Wildfire A history of Wildfire in the "Mega Fire" era in the United States, and how a comprehensive Firewise program works to protect homes in Scottsdale from ignition. Location: Scottsdale Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Green Buildings at Scale: How Scottsdale Became One of the Top Five Cities in the Country to Adopt and Implement a Green Construction Code Presenter: Anthony Floyd, FAIA Location: Mustang Library: 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Established in 1998, Scottsdale's Green Building Program was the first in the state and fifth in the

Parsons Field Institute Symposium: Fire and Heat in Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Free Virtual Event) Join us for our 4th virtual symposium, where we will discuss the effects of extreme heat and fire on the Preserve and Sonoran Desert. The past year the Preserve has seen both, and through our ecological monitoring projects we have