JANUARY 12, 2011
Desert Foothills Land Trust Announces Annual Meeting and Upcoming Events
CAREFREE/CAVE CREEK/SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX – Desert Foothills Land Trust announces that it will host its Annual Meeting and a celebration of the Cave Creek Ecosystem Important Bird Area on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Desert Foothills Library. Tice Suplee, Director of Bird Conservation at Arizona Audubon, will speak about wildlife habitat conservation and the Important Bird Area.
Representatives from the Land Trust will also share information about their activities in 2010 and goals for 2011, as well as elect new board members. The Land Trust also invites community members to join them before the meeting at 4:30 p.m. for a visit to the Caroline Bartol Preserve at Saguaro Hill and the Rudolph Memorial Garden, located immediately east of the library.
Other upcoming events include a volunteer orientation session on February 15. Land Trust representatives will share information about the organization and volunteer opportunities, including assistance with special events and office activities, as well as workdays on beautiful preserved lands. The orientation session is a great review for current volunteers and a great overview for those considering volunteering. Registration for the session is requested.
Additionally, for those particularly interested in land stewardship and management activities, the Land Trust is offering six in-depth Steward and Docent Training classes, which will cover natural history, geology, invasive species and other topics related to preserve management and outreach activities. Stewards and Docents must complete all six courses, plus the volunteer orientation session. Upon completion of the training, Stewards and Docents have the opportunity to "adopt" a preserve to assist the Land Trust with monitoring and management activities, leading guided hikes and providing preserve visitors with information. These sessions are held every Thursday morning between February 24 and March 31. Space is limited and reservations are required.
The Land Trust is also continuing their winter and spring hike series with guided hikes scheduled almost every weekend between now and late April. Many of these hikes visit preserves that are privately owned and are only able to be visited by the public with one of the Land Trust’s representatives. Engaging docents and hike leaders can provide information on local natural history and the Land Trust’s activities. Hikes are free, but space is limited and registration is required.
Event Details:
Annual Meeting and Celebration of the Cave Creek Ecosystem Important Bird Area
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 5 – 7 p.m.
Desert Foothills Library
38443 N. Schoolhouse Rd., Cave Creek, AZ
Guests are also invited to visit the adjacent Caroline Bartol Preserve at Saguaro Hill and Rudolph Memorial Garden before the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Volunteer Orientation Session
Thursday, Feb. 15, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Desert Foothills Land Trust Office
7518 E. Elbow Bend, Ste. B-6, Carefree, AZ 85377
Please RSVP to Mary Warren at 480-488-6131 or [email protected] by Feb. 11.
Steward and Docent Training
Every Thursday, 9 a.m. – Noon
February 24 through March 31
Space is limited and reservations are required
Please RSVP to Stacy Fischer at 480-488-6131 or [email protected] by Feb. 21.
Guided Hikes
Hikes will be led at the Jewel of the Creek Preserve, P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon, the Preserve at the Cave and other local conserved lands. Visit the Land Trust website at www.dflt.org/hikes.php for a complete list. Hikes are free but reservations are required.