Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Citizen Science Nature Walk

Learn about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert and easy citizen science you can do with your smartphone with Ranger Eric. Join Ranger Eric for an easy to moderate hike to learn about the flora, fauna, and ecology of the Sonoran Desert 0.5-1 mile roundtrip on part of the Blevins and Crismon Wash Trails. The trails are rated easy to moderate grade, with frequently sandy or uneven ground. Please wear protective clothing and/or sunscreen, wear sturdy closed-toe footwear, and carry ample water, electrolytes, and snacks for yourself. Restrooms are available at Area 10 Trailhead. Along the hike we will also discuss a couple of related apps that you can use to identify any living organism on the planet, Seek and iNaturalist. Seek is the basic version for identifying organisms, but iNaturalist takes it a step farther by allowing you to share your photographed sightings to a global citizen science database to help scientists and conservationists learn more about biodiversity of our world. If interested in learning how to use Seek or iNaturalist, please download one of them before the program (both are free and available for iOS and Android smartphones) and register an account with the app, as cell service can be spotty in the backcountry of the park. MEETING LOCATION: Area 10 / Crismon Wash Trailhead. Park map here: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/assets/1/6/usery-8x14.pdf Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JeejzVwQQCokC5oDA Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at 602-506-2930 ext. 4 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 Thursday, 4/10. P.S. If you would like to get more practice with the iNaturalist app, check out the Greater Phoenix City Nature Challenge on the weekend of April 25-28! We will have events scheduled at many of the Maricopa County Parks that weekend, but you can participate across the Phoenix Metro area. More information on this 4-day event here: https://greaterphoenixcnc.com/