Red Rock District of the Coconino National Forest. Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service.
This year, a nonprofit cooperating association in northern Arizona has made progress in offering regular activities for visitors to the forest. From educational talks about native snakes to presentations on hiking essentials and Leave No Trace principles, Arizona Natural History Association (ANHA) has begun to offer free weekly events, walks, and ranger talks in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service).
ANHA entered into a contract with the Forest Service this summer to help lead four to five programs each week. This work is in addition to ANHA operating retail stores at 14 locations throughout the forest.
According to ANHA Executive Director Pam Marshall, the nonprofit is excited about the education work they have done this summer and explained that their retail operations and educational programs link well together: “Retail is how we generate revenue,” she said, “but educating the public about the forest is part of our nonprofit mission.”
ANHA hosts "Live Snake Day" for visitors: one of the most popular programs offered in the district. Photo Credit: ANHA.
ANHA Leads Hike Essentials Class in the Red Rock District
ANHA’s Education & Interpretation Coordinator, Tori Marshall, leads many of the education programs and said that she enjoys the daily interaction with visitors and feels that they appreciate her presence in the forest.
“Sometimes, I may be the only person these visitors see on site and I may be the only one to tell them about the forest or about what they need to be ready for a hike,” she said.
At 160,000 acres, the Red Rock District of the Coconino National Forest and its campgrounds are considered remote, and visitors may not have easy access to a visitor center before they start their day. Tori Marshall explained that the “Hike Essentials” class she leads in the campgrounds helps inform visitors and helps them feel more prepared.
“A lot of visitors are pleasantly surprised that they are well prepared,” she explained, “but when I meet those who aren’t ready, it’s really important to help them understand what they need. It can get really hot in the forest and we want to lower the amount of Search and Rescue missions needed out there.”
Hike Essentials: Typical table displaying hiking essentials and information. Photo Credit: ANHA.
She also explained that while ANHA programs cover a variety of education topics - from flora and fauna, to birds of prey, to riparian zones and water quality - that most of them encompass the “Leave No Trace” ethic.
“Conservation on public lands and stewardship of these special places is something we really want the public to understand and adopt," Tori Marshall said. "We want them to have fun out there, but we also want them to leave the trails better than they found them.”
According to the Forest Service's Red Rock Visitor Center Supervisor, Nina Hubbard, ANHA's help this summer has been invaluable.
“In the Red Rock Ranger District, ANHA's help in implementing a 'roving ranger' program has brought education to the people where they play," said Hubbard. "This effort has really expanded our efforts, taking our programming to a new level, and we look forward to more great partnering."
To view a full list of events, visit Arizona Natural History Association’s event calendar at http://aznaturalhistory.org/events.