Desert Awareness Committee Report
Celebrating 30 Years of Educating Area Residents

Submitted by Brenda Olive - DAC President

As the educational branch of the Desert Foothills Land Trust, the mission of the Desert Awareness Committee is to educate residents and visitors so that they may join us in understanding and preserving our fragile Sonoran Desert, its plants, animals, water and other natural resources.

A series of classes will again be offered this winter to groups at Terravita and at The Boulders. The committee brings in experts to lecture and answer questions about the diverse Sonoran Desert. On November 5th the Terravita Nature Trail was unveiled and dedicated to the memory of Janet Law, a Terravita resident and DAC member who learned to embrace the beauty and uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert. Janet had been working on the self-guided trail of discovery when she died in March 2005.

The DAC has been asked back to the 4th grade classes at our local elementary schools for the team-teaching project designed by DAC member Diane Vaszily. The students experience a 2-hour, hands-on introduction to cactus skeletons, desert soils, plant skins, ancient civilizations, predators and Navajo sand-painting. This program is very exciting to watch and all are encouraged to visit a class, in which you'll feel compelled to jump in and volunteer.

The ever popular hikes are scheduled once a month and our leader, Barbra O'Brien takes you to places with spectacular views and ancient artifacts. In April, the committee and its experts will focus on educating participants on the desert's bouquet of wildflowers.

The new expanded edition of the "Fragile Desert" book is available through the DFLT office, Cave Creek Museum and the Book Barn. Written and illustrated by DAC members, the "Fragile Desert" is a source of practical information for all who make our homes in the desert.

We welcome anyone who is interested in really doing something about preserving our Sonoran Desert with hands-on activities and interactions that make a difference in those we touch. Call the Land Trust office for more information!
 
We welcome anyone who is interested to join in our projects. Call the Land Trust office, 480-488-6131, for information.