Don't miss the deadline! Desert Foothills Land Trust will accept entries in the Mountains of the Land Trust Photo Contest through

4:00 pm on Friday October 18, 2013.

The photo contest is intended to encourage a deeper appreciation for the unique characteristics of Black Mountain and Daisy Mountain - the landmarks at the heart of our Desert Foothills communities. Photos can be taken any time, but should feature Black Mountain or Daisy Mountain in some way.

In 2009, Desert Foothills Land Trust merged with Black Mountain Conservancy and continued the Conservancy's Black Mountain Photo Contest. Earlier this year, Desert Foothills Land Trust merged with North Country Conservancy, who had also long hosted a photo contest celebrating Daisy Mountain. We are pleased to now host a contest that celebrates BOTH of these iconic mountains in our communities!

 

Desert Discovery Day on November 16, 2013 will allow children of all ages to explore the preserve, learn about the diversity of life in our desert, and to examine the geology and archaeology underlying this magnificent landscape.

 

The day will include a "scavenger hunt" of informational stations along the Harry Dalton Trail. Children will receive a stamp at each station, and they'll receive a goody bag for collecting all the stamps. There will be live animals, crafts, and even free refreshments! 

 

The focus for the day is to share the beautiful Sonoran Desert and the Jewel of the Creek with the community in a way that encourages support for conservation efforts, education and participation in hiking and other healthy outdoor activities. Other participants include:

• AZ Archaeological Society, Desert Foothills Chapter
• Cave Creek Museum
• Desert Awareness Committee of Foothills Community Foundation
• Phoenix Herpetological Society
• Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
• Wild At Heart 

The Jewel of the Creek is a 26-acre preserve adjacent to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. Parking will be available at Spur Cross.  The Jewel supports sensitive and high quality riparian habitat along Cave Creek. This perennial water source is important to both plants and wildlife, and has supported a rich human history, as well.

 

Desert Discovery Day is sure to be an exciting event for our community, and for our children in particular. Wear your hiking shoes and come prepared for fun, hands-on desert adventures. We can't wait to see you out there!

 

• The event is FREE on November 16, 2013; 10 am - 2 pm
• Parking is available at the lot at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, 3.9 miles north of Cave Creek Road on Spur Cross Road.
• The activities will be found on a trail that includes one steep and rocky slope down to the creek - and back up! Come prepared for trail hiking, including proper footwear, sunscreen and water. We will have plenty of activities for the whole family!

  

 

Earlier this month, we hosted journalists from around the world (Brazil, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Mexico and Japan) on a hike at the Jewel of the Creek Preserve. We were thrilled to share this special place with visitors from across the globe, and to help our community attract visitors that support a healthy, thriving economy! Thanks to the Arizona Office of Tourism for including us in the visit!

Volunteer Steve Jones shares Sonoran Desert natural history with travel journalists from around the world at Jewel of the Creek Preserve.

  

You can now visit the Cave Creek Museum to view Jerry Sieve's beautiful photographs of Land Trust preserves. The exhibition will remain at the Museum through early January, when it will move to the Desert Broom Library.  Please visit our website for more information about the exhibition.

ImagesAZ magazine also had a wonderful piece about Jerry, including the exhibition. You can view that on pages 60-63 of the October 2013 Carefree/Cave Creek issue of the magazine, or on the ImagesAZ website. Enjoy!