McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Lecture - Past, Present, and Future: Human History of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
2025-09-23 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Cultural Resources Lecture: Past, Present, and Future: Human History of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Presenter: Join McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Steward Zach Richard for a look into the unique Human History of the land now within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The talk will cover everything from ancient hunter gatherers to modern ranchers and how these early residents utilized abundant natural resources to live and thrive in the desert. Learn how the Conservancy continues to collect, preserve, interpret and disseminate information on these topics.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Arizona Native and Invasive Plants
2025-09-13 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Arizona Native and Invasive Plants
Speaker: Jessi Szopinski, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
The lecture will briefly outline the purpose and function of the statewide Invasive Plant Program, and will showcase success stories of restoration projects in central and southern Arizona. Participants will explore the unique and resilient adaptations of native plants, and learn about how they can bring the Sonoran Desert to their own backyard.
Jessi Szopinski is the Invasive Plant Program Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with 10 years of experience working with invasive plant species in Arizona. She is passionate about balancing the needs of people with the environment, and finding creative solutions to protect and conserve native plant communities. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, hiking, gardening, and lego building with family and friends.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - The Center for Native & Urban Wildlife - 25 years of Educating and Connecting People with the Sonoran Desert
2025-08-26 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Cultural Resources Lecture: The Center for Native & Urban Wildlife – 25 years of Educating and Connecting People with the Sonoran Desert
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Presenter: Dr. John Weser is the Life Sciences Department Chair and Executive Director and co-founder of the Center for Native & Urban Wildlife (CNUW) at Scottsdale Community College. Since 1999 he has partnered with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and is a member of the Conservancy’s Scientific Advisory Committee. CNUW’s range of programs includes desert habitat restoration, enhancing pollinator habitats, bird and butterfly monitoring, the Maricopa Native Seed Library and research studies.

Lecture - Thriving and Surviving in the Sonoran Desert
2025-07-22 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Thriving and Surviving in the Sonoran Desert with Plants
The people of the Sonoran Desert not only survived but thrived in the harsh environment that surrounded them. Learn about the accumulated generational knowledge of the early desert people and how they used native plants to sustain themselves. We will explore with Bernie Finkel, Legacy Steward, the amazing properties of desert plants and the gathering and processing procedures in which the plants were utilized.
Tuesday, July 22
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Mustang Library
10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale

Lecture - Hohokam Rock Imagery, Mountain Ritualism, and Social Transformation in the Salt River Valley
2025-06-24 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Lecture - Listening to the History of the Preserve
2025-05-27 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Trailside Naturalist Table - Why are Lost Dog and Granite Mountain Trails So Different? - Gateway Trailhead
2025-04-26 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Why are Lost Dog and Granite Mountain Trails So Different?
Learn why Lost Dog Trails are so rocky and Granite Mountain trails are so much easier to walk on. Ever wonder how the rocks underfoot got there or why you see north to south mountain ranges in the Valley like Camelback, the McDowells, or South Mountain? Stop by and you will see rock samples and learn the story of how they got here and what forces created the Preserve mountains. We will answer the question why Lost Dog Trail has so many loose rocks and why Granite Mountain trails are so much smoother. We guarantee you will see and appreciate these rocks differently after learning how far they traveled to get here.
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Conservancy Class - Birds - A Window into the Sonoran Desert
2025-04-23 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Phoenix) | McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, 15300 North 90th Street, Suite 400, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Lecture - Talking Code with a Secret Weapon: Navajo Code Talkers Speak (Civic Center Library)
2025-04-22 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Civic Center, 3839 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 85251, United States

Bird Walk
2025-04-13 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix) | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Ride the Four Peaks - Wellness Ride
2025-04-06 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

FotoFauna – A Community Science Wildlife Monitoring Program with Sky Island Alliance
2025-04-04 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Desert Botanical Gardens, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ, 85008
FotoFauna – A Community Science Wildlife Monitoring Program with Sky Island Alliance
Join Sky Island Alliance, in collaboration with CAZCA and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, to learn about the growing network of wildlife cameras and help observe presence, absence, and seasonal movements of wildlife in the Sky Islands of the U.S. and Mexico. This data will help Sky Island Alliance and their partners study when and where wildlife is present so they can better protect their habitats and pathways.
On Friday, April 4th, Sky Island Alliance’s Wildlife Program Manager, Eamon Harrity, will be presenting on the FotoFauna project at the Desert Botanical Gardens. There will be a presentation and Q&A from 9:00 – 10:30 am followed by an optional, hands-on workshop from 10:30-11:30 am for those who want to participate in the FotoFauna project.
Please register for one or both events at the following link: https://cazca.org/events/fotofauna-sia/

Heart of the North - Wellness Ride
2025-04-01 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
2025-03-30 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2025-03-29 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Tom's Thumb Hike
2025-03-28 08:00 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Very Difficult hike has a steep trail with amazing rock formations. Experienced hikers suggested. 4.4 miles with a 1,027 ft. elevation gain over about 2.5 hours.

Hidden Desert Educational Walk
2025-03-27 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Lecture - Scottsdale's General Plan History
2025-03-25 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Wildflower Educational Hike
2025-03-25 08:00 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Wildflower Walk
2025-03-23 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease - Wellness Ride
2025-03-23 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Wildflower Walk
2025-03-22 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Trailside Naturalist Table - Rattling on about Rattlers - Brown's Ranch Trailhead
2025-03-22 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Rattling on about Rattlers
Learn about the species of rattlesnakes that live in the Sonoran Desert. Did you know? – That a rattlesnake can strike a distance of up to two-thirds of their body length? That they like to hide under bushes, rocks and debris that offer protection from predators? That they are an important part of the Preserve ecosystem? The Sonoran Desert is home to more species of rattlesnakes than any other region in the world. Come learn about the snakes that utilize heat vision to hunt in the dark of night and do not lay eggs!
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

The Rocks Hike: Balanced, Amphitheater, and Cathedral
2025-03-22 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Very Difficult hike to visit these iconic rock formations will travel just over 9 miles with minimal elevation changes over 3½ to 4 hours.

Hunter/Gatherers - Educational Walk
2025-03-20 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Fraesfield Area Hike
2025-03-19 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
This moderate hike has some uphill. 4.5 miles for about 2 hours.

Conservancy Class - Hidden Wonders - Arizona Geology
2025-03-18 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Phoenix) | McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, 15300 North 90th Street, Suite 400, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Ride the Pima Dynamite Area - Wellness Ride
2025-03-16 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Granite Mountain Loop Hike
2025-03-16 08:00 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Difficult hike on one of the classic paths in the preserve and a side trip to Balanced Rock. About 3.5 hours to cover 6.8 miles with 330 ft. elevation gain.

Lecture - The How and Why of Butterfly Coloration (at Mustang Library)
2025-03-15 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
