Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » McDowell Sonoran Month

Upcoming McDowell Sonoran Month Events

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:54:57 +0000

Wednesday Night Lecture: Gila Monsters with Dale Denardo

When: Wednesday, October 8, 7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Where: Scottsdale Community College, Turquoise Room

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Thursday Night Lecture: Water and Sustainability with Bruce Rittman

Dr. Rittmann was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2004, cited for pioneering the development of biofilm fundamentals and contributing to their widespread use in the cleanup of contaminated waters, soils and ecosystems. In addition to being a member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Rittmann has been a member of the E.P.A. Science Advisory Board, president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and vice-chair of the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council. He is the author of more than 300 books and articles, serves as editor-in-chief of the international journal Biodegradation, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Environmental Science & Technology. Dr. Rittmann’s textbook – Environmental Biotechnology”: Principles and Applications – is used by universities around the world to educate students about the ways in which microorganisms can be used to improve environmental quality.

When: Thursday, October 9, 7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Where: Mountain View Community Center, 8625 E. Mountain View, south of Shea and east of Hayden

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Hydrogen House Open House: This house is AMAZING and nationally recognized as innovative. You will love this!

When: Saturday, October 11, 8 to 1 pm,
Fee: $10 in advance (480-998-7971×100) or $15 at the door
Where: 10989 East Tusayan Trail – Tusayan Trail and Happy Valley Rd. – south of Rio Verde (Dynamite) and east of Pima; Take Pima north to Happy Valley; right on Happy Valley; 3 blocks past Alma School on the left is Tusayan Trail; this street will lead you into a gate; there will be an assistant there to help you with the gate code

The Hydrogen House is one of the most innovative green built projects in the country if not the world. After 3 years of planning and 1.5 years of construction, the first green hydrogen house in the country is complete. The project has numerous passive and active sustainable design features including the use of mass, radiant barriers, and convection air for natural cooling. In addition to using materials for a healthy living environment, the house will improve the air, recycle the water, and literally integrate into the landscape. Photovoltaic (solar electric) power will produce hydrogen from water to use as a fuel for heating water, cooking meals, producing electricity, and running the cars.

The owner, Bryan Beaulieu, is a mechanical engineer with 20 patents in structural systems. Mr. Beaulieu has been working with the American Hydrogen Association, architect Bob Bacon, and the Scottsdale Green Building Program to design the most sustainable desert home possible. He has designed unique building systems to naturally cool the house and produce its own energy. His central focus is to produce hydrogen as a fuel to heat water for household needs and interior heating, for cooking, to run electric generators, clean the air and fuel cars. The project is a part of the city Green Building Program and is the highest scoring project to date.

Celebrate McDowell Sonoran Month

JoAnne Zeterberg — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:44:02 +0000

October is McDowell Sonoran Month and you can join the celebration at a host of scheduled events, including guided hikes, educational lectures and discovery walks – all in honor of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Well on its way to becoming one of the largest urban preserves in the nation, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses mountains, Sonoran Desert and wildlife corridors that link open space in the Preserve with open spaces in adjacent communities, the Tonto National Forest and Maricopa County Regional Park. In addition to a year-round schedule of guided hikes and education programs, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy offers special programming every October to encourage residents and visitors to get out and explore all of the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. This year’s highlights include:

Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series

If you’ve ever wondered if birds can change colors or how plants and animals have adapted to the Sonoran Desert’s unique climate, this series is for you. A different topic is explored every Wednesday evening in October.

Discovery Walks

Every Saturday morning in October, experts in desert ecology and ethnology will lead groups on short walks into the preserve to discover nature’s hidden treasures.

Hydrogen House Open House

On Oct. 11 and 22, you can tour the country’s first green hydrogen house. This unique home has numerous passive and active sustainable design features, including convection air for natural cooling.

Click here for a complete schedule of McDowell Sonoran Month events.

McDowell Sonoran Month Calendar of Events

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:41:50 +0000

Schedule of Events

October 1	Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series Dr. John Alcock, Solitary Bees
October 2	Current Issues in Conservation Lecture Series Janet Holston and Dr. Jim Holway, Decision Theater at ASU
October 3	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts REI, Family Trailhead Program Leave No Trace
October 4	Discovery Walk Public Hikes
October 5	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts 5th Tour de Scottsdale Public Hikes
October 6	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 8	Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series Dr. Dale Denardo, Gila Monsters Photography Exhibit Focus on Conservation
October 9	Current Issues in Conservation Lecture Series, Dr. Bruce Rittman, Water and Energy Sustainability
October 10	Family Trailhead Program, Pinnacle Peak Park Staff, Skull, Scat, and More Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 11	Hydrogen House Open House Discovery Walk Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 12	Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 13	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 15	Current Issues in Conservation Lecture Series, Dr. Robert Roberson, Biofuels in the Desert
October 16	Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series Glenn Walsberg, The Preserve’s Small Mammals
October 17	Family Trailhead Program, Phoenix Herpetological Society, Reptile Awareness (will have reptiles present) Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 18	Book Launch for Sonoran Desert Life Discovery Walk Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 19	Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 20	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 22	Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series Dr. Kevin McGraw, Coloration in Birds Hydrogen House Tour and Lunch
October 23	Current Issues in Conservation Lecture Series, Harvey Bryan, Building Impacts in Ecologically Responsible Environments
October 24	Family Trailhead Program, Adobe Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Birds and Mammals Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 25	Cookout at the Ranch Discovery Walk Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 26	Public Hikes Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 27	Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts
October 29	Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series Ron Rutowski
October 30	Current Issues in Conservation Lecture Series, Ben Minteer, Conservation Ethics, Old and New
October 31	Family Trailhead Program – NO PROGRAM Pathfinder Trailhead Hosts