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Black Bear (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Anyone looking for amazing facts about black bears of Arizona will love the “Bear Necessities” interactive program by interpretive docent Richard Boyer, set for Sunday, Dec. 6. at the Kannally ranch house at Oracle State Park Center for Environmental Education. Safety around bears, an appearance of “Everywhere Bear”, and a prize for the visitor with the most knowledge about black bears add to the fun. Program begins at 11 a.m.; reservation requested.
The program is free with park admission, as are almost all other scheduled events. When reservations are requested, they can be made by calling Jennifer Rinio, ranger, at the park office at 520-896-2425.
Other December weekend activities include a holiday wreath-making workshop on Saturday, Dec. 12, where participants will develop their designs with locally-gathered materials like soapberry, mistletoe, buckwheat, manzanita, and juniper. It begins at 1 p.m.; a $10 fee includes park admission. Space is limited; reservation required.
Guided tours of the historic Kannally ranch house with docent Mary Bast are scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Dec. 13 at 1 p.m.; and Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. The 45-minute tour visits rooms and patios extending down the hillside. The multi-level Mediterranean-Revival style house, built in 1929-33 by one of the earliest cattle ranching families in Oracle, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An exhibit of impressionistic-style cowboy paintings by self-taught artist Lee Kannally is on display in the living room and dining room.
Also on display is a special exhibit of seven out-of-this-world astronomical images by Adam Block from the University of Arizona Mt. Lemmon Sky Center. Adam, recipient of the 2012 Hubble Award, is recognized around the world as a leading astrophotographer. His images are published in magazines, books, posters and widely on the internet. He will offer a presentation and film about astro-photography on Sunday, Dec. 20, beginning at 3 p.m. Reservation suggested.
For hikers, a guided hike along six miles of park trails with Gaston Meloche is set for Saturday, Dec. 19, starting at 8:15 a.m. Call Gaston for reservations at 520-638-5404. The park, at a comfortable elevation of 4,500 feet, has 15 miles of hiking trails, including a section of the National Scenic Arizona Trail, and numerous day-use picnic areas as well as vista patios at the ranch house.
The park is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; park admission is $7 per car at the main gate on Mt. Lemmon Rd. in Oracle. Full Oracle State Park event information is always posted on the state parks website: www.azStateParks.com/Parks/ORAC.
For information about all 28 Arizona State Parks, the Trails and Off-Highway Vehicle Programs, and the State Historic Preservation Office, call 800-285-3703. Campsite reservations can be made online at AZStateParks.com or by calling the reservation call center at 520-586-2283. Follow AZStateParks on Twitter and Facebook.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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