Lend a hand for our public lands!
SONOITA, AZ - Empire Ranch Foundation will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of National Public Lands Day (NPLD) - the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in our country.
National Public Lands Day is an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and just plain enjoyment. Last year about 175,000 Americans participated at more than 2,200 sites in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit the website at publiclandsday.org
Get outside to join volunteers of all ages at the historic Empire Ranch to help maintain the Heritage Discovery Trail, remove litter, and learn about the legacy of Empire Ranch and unique ecosystem of the scenic Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.
WHO: Empire Ranch Foundation’s Wild About the Grasslands! (WATG) youth education and outreach program, Bureau of Land Management, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC)
WHAT: Trail maintenance; remove litter along main road (6900) to ranch headquarters; hands-on activities for the whole family; Geocaching 101 course, guided nature hikes, and ribbon cutting ceremony for new visitor information signs created by WATG alumni.Two new caches will be released after 8:30am and will remain after the event. Please bring a GPS unit, reusable water bottle, hat, and wear long pants, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and bug repellant. Water, refreshments, gloves, and trash bags will be provided.
WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2013, 8:00am-3:00pm
(If you can’t stay for the entire event, then please join us for as long as you can!)
WHERE: Empire Ranch Headquarters
From Tucson, go east on I-10 and exit Route 83 (scenic highway) Proceed south on Route 83 approximately 18 miles to vehicle-friendly gravel road on your left between mile post 40 and 39. Watch for brown Historic Empire Ranch sign on the right side of the highway. Turn east (left) onto gravel road and follow for 3 miles to the Empire Ranch House on your left.
From Sonoita, go north on Route 83 for 6.6 miles, to vehicle-friendly gravel road on your right between milepost 39 and 40. Watch for brown Historic Empire Ranch sign on the right side of the highway. Turn east (right) onto gravel road and follow for 3 miles to the Empire Ranch House on your left.
CONTACT: Empire Ranch Foundation, (888) 364-2829, admin@empireranchfoundation.org
Schedule of Activities
8:00–8:30am Registration - Coffee and continental breakfast provided! (Location: Welcome Center)
8:30– 11:00am Cache In Trash Out Volunteer Project (Location: Stone Corral)
Heritage Discovery Trail Maintenance Volunteer Project (Location: Trail head)
11:00–12:00pm Guided Hike (Location: Trail Head)
Geocaching 101(Location: Stone Corral)
Nature Heritage Discovery Quest (Location: Welcome Center)
12:00-1:00pm 20th Anniversary of National Public Lands Day Opening and Ribbon cutting ceremony - Refreshments provided! (Location: Main house)
1:00-2:30pm Guided Hike (Location: Trail Head)
Geocaching 101(Location: Stone Corral)
Nature Heritage Discovery Quest (Location: Welcome Center)
2:30-3:00pm Closing & Volunteer Appreciation (Location: Main house)
This event is FREE. More information can be found at wwww.empireranchfoundation.org.