Geology Educational Ride at Brown's Ranch Trailhead When, how, and why did all those different rocks get into the Preserve? How about our own earthquake fault? This is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride that will take us through the various geological formations of the area. Get the big picture on a bike. Location:

The Hidden Desert Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead Walking through the desert gives you half the story. There is a hidden world of nocturnal critters. If you look carefully, you can see the evidence of their middens, burrows, and holes. What else is concealed around you? Let us unlock those mysteries on the Camino Campana

Arizona Gives Day Join Arizona’s thriving culture of philanthropy on Arizona Gives Day and support the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy’s staff and stewards who protect the 30,500 acres of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and inspire students across Arizona to love the Sonoran Desert.

Women's Bike Ride at Brown's Ranch Trailhead This all women’s bike ride is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride. This is a step up in intensity from the previous women’s ride. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~12 miles Time: ~3-3.5 hours Please, no

Lecture- Connections Among Our Wild Neighbors at Mustang Library or Virtual Join the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy as we explore connections among the wildlife in the Preserve, changes imposed by environmental stressors, the importance of valuing the biota in our surroundings and actions we can all take to promote sustainable populations of the creatures with which

Desert 101 North Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead 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 how the flora and fauna survive and thrive. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd,

Ride the Divide at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Join us on a ride from the east side of Cholla Mountain to the Divide Trail on the north. We will travel to Hawknest Trail where we start a fast and flowy ride to Broken Spoke and then toward Cholla Mountain. This is an intermediate technical skills and

Intermediate Ride from Brown's Ranch Trailhead Join us for a beautiful single-track ride from Brown's Ranch. This is an intermediate skill level ride with some climbing and fun winding downhills. If there is a short technical section on a trail, there will always be a by-pass or you may walk it. We will make short

Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead Join the expert to see some of our area’s full-time resident birds. Other sightings might include spring migrants, for example: Wilson’s, Lucy’s, Townsend’s, or yellow warbler, or summer residents white-winged dove, turkey vulture or ash-throated flycatcher. Location: Tom’s Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering the basic things you need to know, equipment requirements, and trail etiquette. The

Desert 101 Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and how the flora and fauna survive and thrive. Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~1.5 hours Bathrooms are available at the

Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead This walk along the Gateway Bajada Trail will introduce the study of the phases of plant reproduction, how and why the data are collected, and how to use the Nature's Notebook app. When plants grow new leaves, flower, bloom, and produce fruit is vital information for

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join us to follow the growth of a saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old saguaros. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill

Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Learn how to use nature as a prescription to improve your overall well-being, and why time in nature makes happier, healthier, and more creative. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~1.5 hours Bathrooms are available at the

Lecture- Surviving and Thriving in the Sonoran Desert at Mustang Library or Virtual We will trace the path and the challenges that the Indigenous people from the North faced on their journey to the Sonoran Desert. We will learn of the amazing properties of many desert plants and see how they were gathered, processed and

Lecture - The Yavapai Story at Mustang Library Clissene Lewis is a tribal member of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and will provide a presentation on “The Yavapai Journey” that will focus on learning about the history and culture of her Yavapai People with an emphasis on the Fort McDowell Indian Community. The Yavapai People

Lecture- Magma's Last Gasp at Mustang Library or Virtual All the granite mountains in the northeast Valley and the northern Preserve were formed as molten rock cooled and solidified deep underground. But sometimes cooling magma produces weird and wonderful things like huge pink crystals and giant milky quartz outcrops. Come to see and learn about

Children’s Learning and Play Festival at WestWorld of Scottsdale The Children's Learning and Play Festival is a free event that is open to the public and features children's authors, illustrators, music, live performances, rides, STEM activations, local business vendors and a host of interactive activities for toddlers, children and young adults. Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale-