Coronado Outdoors

09/02/2019

Trails and greenways impact our economy through Tourism, Events, Urban redevelopment, Community improvement, Property values, Health care costs, Jobs and investment, and General consumer spending.
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/evidence-of-many-varieties-of-economic-benefits-linked-to-trails

08/30/2019

Is your trail a good candidate for National Recreation Trail designation? This page will tell you the requirements and how to nominate your trail.
https://www.americantrails.org/national-recreation-trails/apply

08/28/2019

These are the most commonly used Lifting and Hauling Tools with tips on using them safely and effectively.

For trail work a rockbar 4-foot in length and weighing 16 to 18 pounds with a beveled end is best. This is an essential tool for prying and levering large, heavy objects such as boulders, logs, and beams. The secret of using a rockbar is leverage. Slip the beveled end under a heavy object, and then....

08/26/2019

Available resources: The Wildlife and Trail Planning Checklist is a sequence of wildlife-related questions and possible steps to consider in planning a trail.

The Wildlife and Trail Planning Checklist is a sequence of wildlife-related questions and possible steps to consider in planning a trail.

08/23/2019

Lessons to be learned: The story behind the development of LA Counties world-class trails mobile app and website covering 600+ parks, over 550 linear miles of trails, hundreds of points of interest.
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/connecting-10-million-people-to-the-outdoors-in-los-angeles-county

08/21/2019

Let’s face it. Motorized, equestrian, biking, and hiking users do not always get along. When conflicts inevitably arise, what do we do, and how can we avoid it in the first place?

04/10/2019

The Arizona Native Plant Society reminds us of the beauty found around us!

04/08/2019

Check out this brave coyote walking among prickly pear cactus! Caught by Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection wildlife camera

Coyotes take hide and seek to the next level. Caught on our CSI Critter Cam in Oro Valley. Data from this camera is used as a part of our Critter Cams for Kid program in partnership with the Catalina Foothills School District and Arizona Game and Fish.

04/04/2019

Thank you, Friends of Madera Canyon and Tucson Herpetological Society for sharing this fun infographic! Let's be safe and respect wildlife as we explore the outdoors!

Here is an easy flow chart for figuring out if a snake is dangerous. It’s pretty simple: It isn’t dangerous if you leave it alone. A snake is only dangerous when it feels threatened and needs to defend itself.

There is very little reason to fear any snake here in Ohio. Of the 25 types of snakes native to Ohio only three are venomous—the Northern copperhead, timber rattlesnake and Eastern massasauga. Two of these species are even more rare as they are listed as State Endangered. If you live in the Columbus metropolitan area, no snake in your yard is dangerous.

As the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife’s "Reptiles of Ohio Field Guide" notes, "An average of five to 15 people die of snakebites ANNUALLY in the UNITED STATES. Considerably more people are killed by dog bites and lightning." Your risk is so minimal here in Ohio it seems like a silly thing to worry about all things considered.

The Division of Wildlife field guide also notes that Ohio's three venomous snakes generally must be "thoroughly provoked" or aroused to strike. Venom is not primarily a weapon of defense—it is a weapon of the hunt. Venom is metabolically expensive to make and venomous snakes want to conserve the resource. They will generally choose to bolt before bite. Most bites occur from direct harassment of the snake, which leaves the animal with no choice but to defend itself.

Aren’t sure if what species you encountered is harmless? Give it space to escape. Allow it to move on its way or go around. There is truly no need to kill encountered snakes. Snakes will ALWAYS choose escape first. If you are unsure if a snake is dangerous, and you are close enough to kill it, you are too close. Period. –Tara, Reptile Keeper

04/01/2019

Curious about Native Medicinal plants? Check out this class offered by Borderlands Restoration to learn more

In this class we will look specifically at what spring in the desert brings forth; the shifts, the blooms, the bursts of new energy and how those environmental changes affect our physical and energetic bodies. The practice of herbal medicine is a study of relationships between plants, people, and environments. What are our bodies telling us about our mental, emotional, physical needs? What are the plants telling us about their uses? How can the anticipation of seasonal patterns help us to keep our balance throughout the year? In this class we will approach these questions (and hopefully inspire new ones) by focusing on the following areas of exploration:

+ Medicine of Place: Sustainability and the healing potential of engaging with our environment. We will discuss and demonstrate the process and potency of flower & environmental essences.
+ Herbal Bitters & Intro to Taste as Teacher: We can read about herbal constituents in books, but we can also deduce a great number of medicinal actions and value from our highly accessible sense of taste. What are the five main flavors and what can they tell us about a plant’s therapeutic potential? *Emphasis on the seasonal relevance of bitters. We will also be making an herbal bitters in class for home use.
+ Spring Ailments: The old herbal adage goes that the medicine you need is growing around you. Don’t curse the flowers for your seasonal suffering! Often the cause is also the remedy. Herbal allies for southern Arizona allergies.
+ Native Medicinals for Home Gardens: We will highlight a few popular native plant remedies who deserve protection in the wild and a spot in your yard.

Carla Vargas-Frank is the herbalist behind Yerba Nomadica has been immersed in the study and practice of herbal medicine for over a decade. Born and raised in the Sonoran desert, it was the familial lineage of the use of botanical medicines from Arizona's diverse bioregions that first inspired her to pursue a greater understanding of the interaction between plants, place and people. We’re so thrilled to host Carla for our Herbal workshop series!!