Maricopa County, Arizona Usery Mountain Regional Park Events Update

On 1/5/2013 9:00:00 AM: Interested in archery? Curious about how to shoot a bow? Come to Usery Park and find out! You will discover how fun archery really is! Participants will experience a fun and safe introduction to recreational and international-style target archery. Equipment will be provided. This class is open to anyone ages 8 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Advanced registration is required. Please call the park at 480-984-0032 to register. Limited to 20 participants. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Meet at the Archery Range. Note: This class is also offered at 10:30am.

On 1/4/2013 7:30:00 PM: We are the nocturnal animals of the desert and we like to hide. Help Ranger B find us if you can! If you would like to learn about us and enjoy a night walk in the desert, then join Ranger B as he takes you on this exciting 1-mile/1-hour walk along the Merkle Trail. The Merkle Trail offers universal access and the hard-smooth surface of this trail will accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Please bring water, a flashlight, and closed-toe shoes. No pets, please. Location: Area 6. Join our “All About Mountain Lions” program inside our Nature Center at 6pm, and our snake feeding at 7pm at no extra cost!

On 1/4/2013 6:00:00 PM: Just how dangerous are mountain lions? What should you do if you encounter one? How do they survive and thrive in our desert? If you would like to know the answers to these questions, or any questions you may have about mountain lions, then this one-hour presentation is for you! Bring your sandwich to the “Brown-Bag It” series inside our Nature Center as Ranger B shares some amazing facts about these elusive cats. Watch us feed our snakes after the program at 7pm. Then join our “Animal Flashlight Walk” at 7:30pm at no extra cost! Location: Nature Center.

On 1/4/2013 10:00:00 AM: Interested about getting into bird watching but don’t know where to start? Want to know which bird is which and how to spot them? Join bird expert, Sandy Hornbaker, for this introduction to bird watching as she guides you on a quarter-mile stroll along our Desert Hawk Trail. Bring binoculars if you have them, otherwise, Sandy has some to loan. Please bring water and closed-toe shoes. Location: Nature Center.

On 1/3/2013 12:00:00 PM: What are the birds of prey that live around here? What makes them so special and unique? How do they survive and thrive in the wild? If you would like to know the answers to these questions, or any questions you may have about raptors, then this one-hour presentation is for you! Bring your sandwich to the “Brown-Bag It” series inside our Nature Center as our bird expert, Sandy Hornbaker, shares some amazing facts about these beautiful birds. Location: Nature Center.

On 1/3/2013 10:00:00 AM: This 1-mile hike is designed for parents and grandparents with small children, ages 3 – 6 years. Using their senses, kids will discover lots of cool things about the plants and animals that call our desert “home.” We will explore the desert along the scenic Merkle Trail. The hard-smooth surface of this trail will accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Please bring water, hats, and closed-toe shoes. Location: Area 6.