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Oracle State Park Center for Environmental Education will open to the public on Saturdays in September, October and November, offering a variety of guided nature walks as well as the popular morning and afternoon tours of historic Kannally Ranch House. Visitorscan enjoy the cool oak woodland environment and miles of hiking trails, including a section of the Arizona Trail. The park has many spots with shaded picnic tables.
Park hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the gate fee is $7 per vehicle. The park was also open on Saturdays this spring after being closed for more than two years as a result of state budget cuts.
Guided tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. of the ranch house will be featured every Saturday. Starting September 15 and continuing on Saturdays through November, Gaston Meloche will lead a guided hike starting at 8:30 a.m.; reservations are required.
Sept. 1: Wildlife slide show of animals caught on-camera at the waterholes this summer; continuous in the ranch house living room 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Botany walk with Jim Verrier, native plant and grasses enthusiast. Meet at 8:15 a.m. Call for reservation.
Sept. 15: Guided hikes with Gaston Meloche. Meet at 8:30 a.m.; call for reservations.
Sept. 22: Papermaking with Local Plants workshop taught by Val Bembenek, local paper artisan, using iris leaves, ocotillo flowers, and creosote. 1-3 p.m.; $15 fee includes park entrance. Reservations required..
Sept. 29: Guided hike with live llama led by Cyn-d Turner. Reservations required; call for details.
Oct. 6: Guided bird walk with Doug Jenness. Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Oct. 13: Desert Harvest event featuring mesquite goodies, live music, food booths, education activities, and the mesquite pod hammermill to grind pods into mesquite flour. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 20: Make Your Own Nature Journals workshop taught by Val Bembenek, local paper artisan. Learn Japanese stab binding to create blank journals of any size for your notes or sketching or to give as gifts. 1-3 p.m.; $15 fee includes park entrance. Reservations required.
Oct. 27: Worm-Composting talk and demonstration with Linda Leigh. Details to be announced.
For registration and information on any park activities,contact Jennifer Rinio, Park Ranger, 520-896-2425. Info at www.azstateparks.com and Friends of Oracle State Park website www.friendsOSP.org. November activities and events will be posted soon.
Oracle State Park is a 4,000-acre wildlife refuge featuring the historic Kannally ranch house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the ranch house patio and on many of the 15 miles of hiking trails, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the Santa Catalina foothills, San Pedro River Valley, and Galiuro Mountain Range.
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