Get out! even if you don't want to go far

Want to get out and hike but don't want to drive too far to get started? Been to Sabino Canyon a million times already?
Pima County has a fairly extensive system of trailheads, starting from various points around the city.  It makes a lovely arc from Explorer Trailhead, providing access to Tucson Mountain, on the southwest; up to points north such as Honeybee Canyon in the north, all the way down to Davidson Trailhead in the southeast. You will need a little more information for your full hike, many of these are detailed on Local Hikes or Trails.com. I'll try to log some of the ones we do. One hike that I've taken my kids on since they were small is the Freeman Homestead Trail in Saguaro Nat'l Park east. It is a short loop, about a mile, and we've hiked it in all seasons. It goes through a sandy wash and hugs a cliff face where there are usually owls roosting for the day. If you want a trail guide you will probably have to ask at the visitor's center, they do not stock the box at the trailhead. You will have to pay an entrance fee to the park to reach this trail.

More Earth Day!

h Our pack is going camping this weekend. But..if we weren't, we might look at going to GreenFest. It's sponsored by Tucson Botanical Gardens, the Girl Scouts, and Bookman's. Lots of good info on fun on greener living (all part of the front-country Leave No Trace, right?) Can help with the gardening requirements and ecology requirements for cub badges.

We're moving our campout to Roper Lake because Mt. Lemmon is just going to be too darned cold--briefly thought about moving it to Catalina State Park. If we did we could drop in on the Solar Potluck by Tucson Citizens for Solar!

Science, ecology, and nachos baked by the sun. What could be better?

Well..we're hoping that fishing, dissecting owl pellets, and marshmallows will come close!

Earth Day

Took the scouts to Earth Day at Reid Park today. They had a good time. Did a little networking with Habitat for Humanity and the wastewater people--may have a hook-up there for a couple of activities. Just for future reference, this is the shortest parade ever, during a community event--so it makes a quick add for the kids' Citizenship Pin requirements, #8 and #10. It is very easy to also accomplish #9 (list ways you can recycle various materials and conserve and protect the environment.)

Just watch out for the guys who want to argue with the PETA people.