Gilbert, Arizona, is taking a hands-on approach to celebrating nature's little helpers with the "Parks for Pollinators" Fall 2024 Event Series at the Riparian Preserve. According to the town's official announcement, the series boasts a range of educational activities, catered to all demographics, from tots to teenagers, and extends to those well beyond their formative years.
One of the blend-into-nature experiences includes the "Parent/Tot Class," where for a thrifty $3 fee, on September 13, from 9:00 to 9:50 AM, toddlers, aged 2 to 5, get to bask in relevant storytelling and crafts in the comforts of the Southeast Regional Library's Dr. Seuss Conference Room, parents or guardians are required to join, so it's bonding time with an educational spin. As the sun dips, the "Ranger Night Hike" on the same day provides a free opportunity for the community to experience the desert under the moonlight; hikers should bring a blacklight and water but leave pets at home.
Furthermore, for the age group pinched between childhood and teen years, "Southwest Pollinators" offers a workshop from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on September 21 that will navigate through games and hands-on activities right after which, a visit to a demonstration garden brings the lesson full circle, and it's only for a cost of $5. Now, for individuals over 16, say green thumbs, or those who aspire to be one, the series presents "Pollinator Garden 101" on September 25, promising an introductory course on setting up a pollinator-friendly oasis in your backyard, desert-adapted plants and seeds included in the $5 charge.
Cap the series with a bit of "BioBlitz" from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on September 28, it's a cost-free call to arms for anyone willing to identify and document plants and critters making a buzz, through iNaturalist's citizen science project—be sure to have the app ready on your smartphone.
