Arizona State Parks - Press Release

ARIZONA STATE PARKS
For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partnerships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518, or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997… both at pio at azstateparks.gov

Spring and Summer Hikes and Walks at Oracle State Park, Center for Environmental Education

(Phoenix, Arizona - March 18, 2008) - Oracle State Park offers hikes, walks and talks during the spring and summer months.

Saturday, March 22: ARIZONA TRAIL Presentation at 1 p.m. in the Kannally Ranch House living room, with Arizona Trail Steward, John Rendall. Learn about this premier 800-mile trail that passes through Oracle and winds through some of the most rugged, spectacular landscape in Arizona from the Coronado National Memorial in Mexico to the Utah border. Volunteers maintain a four-mile section of the trail through Oracle State Park. Reservation is suggested for the 90-minute presentation/discussion. Free with park entrance fee.

Sunday, March 23: WILDFLOWER WALK with Ranger Jerry Orr. Meet at the ranch house at 8 a.m. Walk will last 1-2 hours depending on the interest of the group. Identify the latest wildflower blooms along trails at the park. The mariposa lily may be blooming by this date. Free with park entrance fee. No reservation is needed.

Saturday, March 29: WILDFLOWER WALK with Ranger Canyon Gagnon. Meet at the ranch house at 8 a.m. Walk will last 1-2 hours depending on the interest of the group. Identify the latest wildflower blooms along trails at the park. Free with park entrance fee. No reservation is needed.

Saturday, March 29: ARCHAEOLOGY TALK: "Trade and Migration in Prehistorical Oracle." March is Archaeology Awareness Month. Join Archaeologist Sarah Luchetta for a presentation in the living room of the Kannally Ranch House from 2-4 p.m. The lecture will cover the various trade patterns, the goods, and ideas that were exchanged in the prehistoric Southwest. Reservation is suggested. Free with park entrance fee.

Sunday, March 30: MUSIC IN THE PARK: Retro Swing 7 performs classic swing and jazz standards, as well as classic rock, Dixieland and polkas. The second concert of the spring music series is on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House from 2-4 p.m. Tickets are available in advance or the day of the event for $10 per person. Children aged 13 and younger are free.

Friday, April 4: BINOCULAR STAR PARTY with Ranger Jerry Orr. 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Bring binoculars if you have them. Learn how to adjust them to use for night viewing of deep sky objects: star clusters, nebula, galaxies and more. Learn the constellations and how to "starhop" to celestial objects using a star chart. Free with park entrance fee. Reservation is required.

Sunday, April 6: GUIDED MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE with Bryan and Ann Barr. Meet at the ranch house at 10 a.m. No reservation is needed. The terrain is challenging for trail riding, but all skill levels are welcome to try it. Free with park entrance fee.

Saturday, April 12: MINERALOGY WALK with geologist Wolfgang Mueller. Meet at the ranch house at 10:30 a.m. for an indoor presentation followed by a trail walk to visit some sites on the park worth special interpretation. Mueller will talk about the local mineralogy of Oracle State Park. No reservation is necessary. Free with park entrance fee.

Sunday, April 20: GUIDED HIKE WITH LLAMAS: Join Ranger Cyn-d Turner and friend and several of their llamas on a guided hike from the American Avenue Trailhead to the Kannally Ranch House. Learn about the eco-friendly benefits of these pack animals while exploring the park's multi-use trails. 9 a.m. to noon. Reservation is required. The hike is family-friendly. Free with park entrance fee.

Saturday, April 26: EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES: Morning roadside clean-up - VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! Afterward, join us for a solar workshop with local specialists William Chopak and Quentin Branch who will offer presentations at the ranch house and site visits in the community. More details will be announced later.

Sunday, April 27: MUSIC IN THE PARK: Bob Meighan and Friends will perform on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House from 2-4 p.m. Back by popular demand, Bob Meighan with musicians Norm Pratt and Dick Furlow will perform again (they were the headliner band playing into the evening at the 2007 Fiesta de las Calabazas). Their danceable show includes original desert rock and ballads, promising a mix of old favorites as well as new material. Tickets are available in advance or the day of the event for $10 per person. Children aged 13 and younger are free.

Saturday, May 3: WORKSHOP: Papermaking with Desert Plants. Instructor Val Bembenek will teach how, when and where to collect appropriate plant stuff, how to cook and beat the materials into fine fibers, and how to form textured, naturally-colored sheets with a traditional mold and deckle from vats of pulp. The workshop is 1-4 p.m. at the ranch house. $20 includes the park entrance fee. Space is limited! Reservation is required. The class will be repeated on Sunday, May 4.

Sunday, May 25: MUSIC IN THE PARK: The final concert of the spring music series will be a sunset celebration, from 6-8 p.m. on the upper patio of the Kannally Ranch House. This is a free concert for the public, thanks to Friends of Oracle State Park. Musicians will be announced at a later date.

Sunday, June 1: NATIONAL TRAILS DAY GUIDED HIKE: Join Ranger Cyn-d Turner for a guided hike with llamas. Learn about the eco-friendly benefits of these pack animals and explore the multi-use trails at the park. Meet at 7 a.m. for a three-hour walk. Bring a hat, water and light snack. This is a family-friendly hike. Reservation is required. Free with park entrance fee.

Friday, July 11: BAT NIGHT 2008 with Arizona Game and Fish (AZGF). Learn more about bats and the important role they play in nature; AZGF researchers will set up nets at the ranch house to trap bats so the public can see them up-close. Meet at 8 p.m. at the ranch house. This is a family-friendly event. Reservation is suggested.

For reservations or more information call (520) 896-2425. Oracle State Park is a 4,000 acre wildlife refuge located in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in the town of Oracle north of Tucson.

For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.

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