ARIZONA STATE PARKS: For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources, both in our Parks and through our partners for the benefit of the people. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Stone at (520) 689-2811, Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518, or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997. Contact by Email: pio(at)azstateparks.gov
(Phoenix, Arizona - August 1, 2008) - Boyce Thompson Artboretum State Park offers many different nature events in the coming months including butterfly field trips, fall plant sale and guided walks.
Butterfly Field Trips
August, September, October
Education Coordinator Chris Kline invites volunteers to help search for monarch butterflies, and then capture, tag and release adults during offsite research trips throughout Arizona. Field trip dates include Jacob's Lake, August 12-15; Springerville, August 16; Canelo Hills, August 30 and September 14; Hereford, September 6; Blue River, October 2-4; Hualapai Mountains, October 15-17; Perkinsville, October 18; and Sonoita, November 1. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements. For more details call Chris Kline at 520-689-2723 or click http://ag.arizona..edu/BTA.
Education Programs
Opuntia Punch (or How-to-Juice-a-Prickly-Pear) Classes
August 17 from 10:30am until 11:30am, and again August 23 and September 1
Author Jean Groen teaches how to harvest opuntia cactus fruits and extract the prickly pear juice in order to make your favorite candy, margarita or special treat.
Focus on Insects "BioDive"
October 10 from 9am until noon
New program for home school students which allows high school participants to conduct insect and wildflower surveys, study wildflower and insect relationships, and gives students experience recording data. Call 520-689-2723 for session details.
Advanced Birding Class
November 22 from 8:30am until 11:30am
Arboretum bird walk leader Kathe Anderson concludes her advanced birding class series. She will explain how to seek out different habitats and environments when looking for particular birds. Member cost is $20. Call 520-689-2723 to enroll.
Home School Day
December 3 from 10am until noon, and again January 30, March 18, and April 10
Home school families are invited to experience Arboretum education tour programs. Admission is $1 for students and their families. Pre-payment is required and families are asked to enroll two weeks prior to each session. Phone 520-689-2723 for details.
Fall Plant Sale
October 10-26 from 8am until 5pm daily
Sale begins with the popular "Members Only" preview day with a 20% discount. Autumn is the perfect time to plant herbs and prepare your garden for spring.
Events
Open After Hours - Music with Jim Vandine
August 23 with extended hours from 3pm until 8pm
Plan a barbeque and invite friends and family as the popular series of free, live music evenings continues at the Arboretum from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. Non-member admission is just $5. Another special music guest will join classical guitarist Jim Vandine.
Live Music Festival
November 8 from 10am until 4pm
If you enjoyed the special concert series of summer live music evenings then you'll want to attend this festival as some of the same performers are showcased during this Saturday of live music. Acoustic and eclectic music features performances each hour in various gardens.
Plein Air "Paint Out"
November 29 from 9am until noon
This artist invitational coincides with the Arboretum's annual Fall Foliage Finale Festival. Bring your art supplies and capture the beauty of the Arboretum alongside members of the Mesa Art League and Arizona Plein Air Painters.
Fall Foliage Finale
November 29-30 from 11am until 3pm
See the grand finale of autumn foliage in Arizona during this Thanksgiving weekend. Celebrate in the pistachio grove with spiced apple cider, live music and other events.
Tours and Guided Walks
Plants-of-the-Bible Guided Tour
August 16 and September 20 from 7:30am until 9:30am, and again October 18, November 15, December 20 from 1:30pm until 3:30pm
Bible scholar David Oberpriller points out plants mentioned in the Bible and shares his knowledge about botany, history and Scripture.
Edible/Medicinal Desert Plants Walk
August 24 and September 28 from 9:30am until 11am, and then 1:30pm until 3pm October 11 & 26, November 8 & 23, December 13 & 28
During different tours, Jean Groen and David Morris discuss how desert plants have fed, healed and clothed people for thousands of years. The tour trail is moderately steep and not wheelchair accessible. Visit http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA for details.
Dragonfly Walk
August 2 and September 6 from 9:30am until 11am, and then again October 4
Queen Creek and Ayer Lake are the perfect locations to see these colorful insects. Pierre Deviche leads the September tour. Bring binoculars.
Joanne West Two-part Photography Class
August 9 from 8:30am until 10:30am; August 16 from 6:30am until 9:30am
The Gold Canyon artist and photographer will teach how to make your photos "pop" during her "Seeing through Your Artist's Eye" workshop series, which includes both classroom and outdoor photo shoots. This workshop is for amateur and advanced photographers who have a good understand of their cameras. Class is limited to 10 participants. Enrollment is $30 for Arboretum members and $37.50 for non-members. Phone 520-689-2723 to enroll.
Learn Your Lizards Guided Walk
August 9 at 8:30am, and then again September 7 at 9:30am and September 13 at 8:30am
Kids enjoy this popular tour while learning about out most common Sonoran Desert reptiles. Casa Grande ecologist and reptile enthusiast "Wild Man" Phil Rakoci will lead the August 9 tour.
Summer Sunday Bird Walk
August 10 from 6:30am until 8:30am
Learn to identify native Sonoran desert birds and exotic migrants on this tour guided by Scottsdale author Jim Burns. He will sign copies of his new book "Jim Burn's Arizona Birds: From the Backyard to the Backwoods" following the tour.
Bye-Bye Buzzards
September 27 from 7am until 2pm (Vulture viewing 7am until 8:30am; Bird Walk from 8:30am until 11am)
See the Arboretum's migrant flock of Turkey Vultures before the huge birds fly south to spend the winter in Mexico. Exhibitors include the Desert Rivers Audubon Society and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Autumn Guided Bird Walks
October 4, 12, 18, 26, from 8:30am until 11am, and then again November 6, 9, 22, 23
See the Arboretum's one-of-a-kind hybrid hummingbird and watch seasonal migrants alongside expert tour guides.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is located on U.S. Highway 60 three miles west of historic Superior. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3.00 ages 5-12. Summer hours are from 6am until 3pm every day. Phone 520-689-2723 or click www.btarboretum.org for more information.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
323 acres of plants, trees and animal communities
3,200 different desert plants
230 bird species observed through the years
three miles of paths and trails
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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Learn more about Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
link to this page:
http://azstateparks.com/press/2008/PR_08-02-08.html
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