This hike will be about 1.5-2 miles roundtrip on Slate and Flume Trails. We will learn about safety around venomous animals and how to coexist with them where we live. This weekend (April 26-29) is the City Nature Challenge, so we will also discuss free apps you can use for identifying plants, animals, and more, while also participating in citizen science (see info. below)! The hike will be on easy-moderate grade, with frequently rocky or uneven ground. Please wear protective clothing and/or sunscreen, wear sturdy footwear, and carry ample water, electrolytes, and snacks for yourself. Restrooms are available at the Slate Trailhead parking.

MEETING LOCATION: Slate Trailhead. See park map here: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/assets/1/6/cave-creek-8×111.pdf

Limit 12 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at 602-506-2930 ext. 8 with your name, phone number, and number of people attending. If you find you cannot attend a program after you have registered, please call the Nature Center ASAP so we may contact those on the waiting list. Registration for this program will close on Wednesday, 4/24/24.

We invite everyone to come out as a park citizen scientist on April 26-29 for the City Nature Challenge, an international effort that encourages everyone to find and document plants and wildlife on iNaturalist in cities across the globe. This bioblitz-style competition challenges local communities to make the most observations in nature during this 4-day period, and then this data is available for science, management, and conservation. So this April 26-29, connect with your open spaces, your community, and other global naturalist using only your phone or camera to record nature wherever you go! For more info, check out www.citynaturechallenge.org.

*If you would like to learn how to document via iNaturalist, please download the free app at home and register with a username prior to arrival, as cell coverage can be spotty out in the park.