ESTRELLA
MOUNTAIN
REGIONAL
PARK
MONTHLY
PROGRAMS
PARK HOURS:
Sunday – Thursday: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
365 days a year
NATURE CENTER HOURS:
Monday - Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
ADMIN. OFFICE HOURS:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
PARK FEES:
$6 vehicle day-use entry fee (no additional
fees for programs, unless otherwise noted)
ONLINE RESERVATIONS:
http://www.maricopacountyparks.org/
DIRECTIONS:
From central Phoenix, take I-10 west to Estrella
Parkway exit. Travel south to Vineyard Ave.
Turn east on Vineyard Ave. to the Estrella
Mountain Regional Park entrance on the south
side.
February 2017
FEATURED PROGRAMS
Use it Wisely
Date: 2/3/2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Description: Everything around usevery convenience, everything we need
to survive, the things we use for
entertainment- comes from nature in
some way. In this program, through
activities and projects we’ll learn about
our natural resources, how to sustainably
use them and how to protect them. Meet
at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Full Moon Hike
Date: 2/10/2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Description: Here’s a chance to explore
the desert at night! Treat yourself to this
relaxing hike in the peace of the desert
outdoors. Clear your mind and feel
refreshed by getting up and out! Bring
water and good shoes and meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Grandpa Cactus Hike
Maricopa County
Parks and Recreation Dept.
Estrella Mountain Regional Park
14805 W. Vineyard Avenue
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Ph: 623-932-3811
Fax: 623-932-7717
[email protected]
Date: 2/12/2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Description: Join us for a special hike
to visit "Grandpa," the 5th largest
saguaro in the state! Bring your cameras,
good shoes and water and meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Plants
•••••
Desert Dance
Date: 2/18/2017
Time: 12 p.m.
Description: Let’s learn the desert
dance! We’ll learn about different desert
animals and even meet some up close, all
while learning how to do the desert
dance! This program is ideal for families
with young children (8 and under) as a
way for them to start learning about the
desert environment. We will reinforce
basic lessons learned in pre-K-1st grade
while having tons of fun!! Meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Animals
•••••
Citizen Science
Date: 2/25/2017
Time: 1 p.m.
Description: Join our local citizen,
Tammy Tomich - Adventurer & Scientist
for Conservation with National Geographic
for a day of freshwater data collection!
Enjoy a relaxing hike by the river, view
the wildlife and learn about how everyday
citizens can help gather data to expand
our knowledge of micro-plastics in
freshwater. By participating, you will have
the opportunity to be part of a world wide
effort to protect our water ecosystems!
Meet at the Nature Center with water and
close-toed shoes (that you don't mind
getting a little muddy). If you're
interested in helping with water sampling
bring an aluminum water bottle and wear
cotton clothing. This event is open to all
ages.
Core: Outdoor Skills
•••••
ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MONTHLY EVENTS
Nature Center.
Core: Animals
Date: 2/2/2017
Time: 9 a.m.
Description: Explore Estrella’s beautiful
trails and views while getting in a great
workout! These 3-5 mile hikes will have
you feeling great in no time! Please bring
plenty of water and close-toed shoes and
meet at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Wildlife Tracking
Fitness Thursday
Use it Wisely
Date: 2/3/2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Description: Everything around usevery convenience, everything we need
to survive, the things we use for
entertainment- comes from nature in
some way. In this program, through
activities and projects we’ll learn about
our natural resources, how to sustainably
use them and how to protect them. Meet
at the Nature Center.
Core: Outdoor Skills
•••••
Scorpion Search
Date: 2/3/2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Description: Scorpions have great
camouflage, but we have an extra trick to
help us spot them! We’ll take a short,
safe hike and use special lights to help us
find scorpions by making them glow. We’ll
learn all about these awesome arachnids
along the way! (Although most scorpions
are hidden in the winter, don’t worryRanger Tippy’s rigged the game!) Bring
water, close-toed shoes and a black light
if you have one (they’re also available for
purchase at the gift shop). Meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Animals
•••••
Passport Estrella Day 14!!
Date: 2/4/2017
Time: 7 a.m.
Description: Note: Participation in 2 of
days 7, 8 or 9 is required for participation
in backcountry hikes. Can you see the
finish line, champions? Almost there!
Please note the earlier start time!
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Believe it or Not! Weird
Creatures
Date: 2/5/2017
Time: 11 a.m.
Description: While all of nature can be
amazing, there are some things out there
so spectacularly outrageous that it will
blow your mind! This indoor presentation
will focus on truly unique and strange
plants and animals. These bizarre
creatures will have you scratching your
head and wondering…why? Meet at the
•••••
Date: 2/5/2017
Time: 12 p.m.
Description: Evidence of animal life is
everywhere, if you know what you’re
looking for. Join Ranger Tippy and learn
all about animal signs and what they tell
us. How much information can you get
from a track? What can you tell about an
animal from its scat? Bring water and
close-toed shoes and meet at the Nature
Center. (PS-This program also meets at
least 3 of the requirements for the Fur,
Feathers and Ferns Cub Scout
adventure.)
Core: Animals
•••••
Fitness Thursday
Date: 2/9/2017
Time: 9 a.m.
Description: Explore Estrella’s beautiful
trails and views while getting in a great
workout! These 3-5 mile hikes will have
you feeling great in no time! Please bring
plenty of water and close-toed shoes and
meet at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Full Moon Hike
Date: 2/10/2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Description: Here’s a chance to explore
the desert at night! Treat yourself to this
relaxing hike in the peace of the desert
outdoors. Clear your mind and feel
refreshed by getting up and out! Bring
water and good shoes and meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Birds of Estrella
Date: 2/11/2017
Time: 8 a.m.
Description: Explore the bird life of
Estrella Park with special guest guide Joe
Ford. With our wide range of habitat
types, we have some of the best birding
in the valley! Whether you’ve been
working on your life list for decades or
you’re a brand new birder, you can enjoy
this opportunity to spot and observe
many bird species. Bring plenty of water
and close-toed shoes and meet at the
Nature Center. Rain cancels event.
Core: Animals
•••••
Rattlesnakes!
Date: 2/11/2017
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Description: Join guest speaker Joe
Ford for a presentation about
rattlesnakes! This program offers lots of
information on the lives of one of our
most feared reptiles in the United States.
Special traits that aid this group to be
successful predators, toxicity of venom,
how to deal with snakebites, courtship,
mating, birth are all discussed. We’ll also
learn about the 13 rattlesnake species in
Arizona and their special characteristics.
Core: Animals
•••••
Passport Estrella Party!
Date: 2/11/2017
Time: 1 p.m.
Description: Passport Estrella
Champions!!! Let’s celebrate our
accomplishments by having a party at the
Nature Center! During the party, we’ll
also enjoy a slide show from all of our
adventures!
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Grandpa Cactus Hike
Date: 2/12/2017
Time: 10 a.m.
Description: Join us for a special hike
to visit "Grandpa," the 5th largest
saguaro in the state! Bring your cameras,
good shoes and water and meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Plants
•••••
Fitness Thursday
Date: 2/16/2017
Time: 9 a.m.
Description: Explore Estrella’s beautiful
trails and views while getting in a great
workout! These 3-5 mile hikes will have
you feeling great in no time! Please bring
plenty of water and close-toed shoes and
meet at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Meditation Night Hike
Date: 2/17/2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Description: We’ll work on being
present, connected and on quieting the
internal chatter on this easy 3.3 mile
guided meditation hike. The peacefulness
of nature will help us on the way. Bring
water, wear comfortable close-toed shoes
and meet at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Desert Dance
Date: 2/18/2017
Time: 12 p.m.
Description: Let’s learn the desert
dance! We’ll learn about different desert
animals and even meet some up close, all
while learning how to do the desert
dance! This program is ideal for families
with young children (8 and under) as a
way for them to start learning about the
desert environment. We will reinforce
basic lessons learned in pre-K-1st grade
while having tons of fun!! Meet at the
Nature Center.
Core: Animals
ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK CALENDAR OF EVENTS
•••••
Investigating the Past
Date: 2/18/2017
Time: 1 p.m.
Description: How do we discover what
we know about cultures and civilizations
of the past? This program will explore the
science of archeology and the techniques
used by archeologists to piece together
the evidence they painstakingly uncover.
How can we learn about the history of an
area from hundreds or even thousands of
years ago? What do we know about rock
art? What have we discovered about the
history of our local region? After the
indoor portion of our program, we’ll take
a short hike to see real rock art from the
Hohokam and put your new knowledge to
the test! Meet at the Nature Center and
bring good shoes and water.
Core: Archaeology & History
•••••
Your Inner Snake
Date: 2/19/2017
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Description: Can you imagine what the
world would be like if you were a snake?
These snake-y activities will help you get
in touch with your inner snake and to
imagine what it’s like to experience the
world from their perspective! We’ll also
get to meet a real snake friend up close!
Slither into the Nature Center and we’ll
meet you there.
Core: Animals
•••••
Fitness Thursday
Date: 2/23/2017
Time: 9 a.m.
Description: Explore Estrella’s beautiful
trails and views while getting in a great
workout! These 3-5 mile hikes will have
you feeling great in no time! Please bring
plenty of water and close-toed shoes and
meet at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Believe it or Not! Extreme
Defenses
Date: 2/25/2017
Time: 11 a.m.
Description: While all of nature can be
amazing, there are some things out there
so spectacularly outrageous that it will
blow your mind! This indoor presentation
will explore some of the most bizarre
and/or unlikely survival mechanisms
found in nature. Meet at the Nature
Center.
Core: Animals
•••••
Citizen Science
Date: 2/25/2017
Time: 1 p.m.
Description: Join our local citizen,
Tammy Tomich - Adventurer & Scientist
for Conservation with National Geographic
for a day of freshwater data collection!
Enjoy a relaxing hike by the river, view
the wildlife and learn about how everyday
citizens can help gather data to expand
our knowledge of micro-plastics in
freshwater. By participating, you will have
the opportunity to be part of a world wide
effort to protect our water ecosystems!
Meet at the Nature Center with water and
close-toed shoes (that you don't mind
getting a little muddy). If you're
interested in helping with water sampling
bring an aluminum water bottle and wear
cotton clothing. This event is open to all
ages.
Core: Outdoor Skills
•••••
Sunset Hike
Date: 2/25/2017
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Description: This short hike will lead us
to an excellent view point to witness one
of the breathtaking sunsets of the
Sonoran Desert. Bring water and closetoed shoes and prepare to be dazzled!
Meet Ranger Tippy at the Nature Center.
Core: Health & Fitness
•••••
Wildflower Hike
Date: 2/26/2017
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Description: Let’s look for the first
blooms of spring! We’ll take a 2-3 mile
hike in search of wildflowers! Meet at the
Nature Center with good shoes and plenty
of water... and your camera if you’d like!
Core: Plants
•••••
STAFF:
Park Supervisor: Don Harris
Interpretive Ranger: Tippy Jackson
Office Asst. Bruce Zavoda
Maintenance: Richard Castillo and
Alexandre Dos Santos
•••••
MESSAGE FROM THE PARK
SUPERVISOR:
Thank you for your continued support
and interest in Estrella Mountain Regional
Park. We realize that you have a choice
when it comes to selecting recreation
venues and appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Don Harris
•••••
WHAT TO BRING:
Please wear closed-toe shoes or boots for
most programs, and bring plenty of
drinking water. See descriptions below for
specifics.
Notes: Fees for our programs are
included in the park entry fee of $6 per
vehicle or with your annual pass or
camping fee. Reservations are not
required unless specified in the program
description. Hikes/programs are canceled if
heavy inclement weather is imminent. If
possible, canceled hikes will be posted on
our website.
MEDIA PARTNERS:
Thank you for helping us advertise Estrella
Mountain Regional Parks programs and
events! Please include Ranger Amy’s email
address – [email protected]
- in your postings so park visitors can
contact the park directly for with general
questions about programs, updates, and
changes.