Arizona Master Naturalists Annual Conference Highlights

  AZMNA Board of Directors

A wonderful time was had by all at the AZMNA Annual Conference!

 After strolling through the Las Milpitas Community Farm and greeting fellow members, the board of directors had a relaxed, no business meeting. We then went on to Bianchi's Pizza for a delicious dinner attended by 11 of our chapter members and the conversations flowed! We knew each other much better by the time the last plate was cleared.

Saturday morning was cold and windy, but no lingering in bed for us! Off to the University of Arizona Environmental and Natural Resources Building 2 to set up the Borderlands Chapter table with chilled fingers (a challenge!). If you haven't been to the ENR-2, you should put it on your list! Designed to look like a slot canyon, we were amazed at the trees, lush hanging plants, rocks and landscaping. The general meeting classroom was capacious and the chairs were comfortable. The art show was being set up when we arrived, and Joelle Buffa stole the show with her unique and creative desert southwest mosaic.

Would you believe that this mosaic was constructed using discarded Bic lighters and other items of beach trash? Joelle, Clyde and their colleagues collected these items on Midway Island the past two years.

Jeff Babson, of Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources, highlighted some of the interesting "critters" found in the Sonoran Desert. Jeff's presentations are always informative and enjoyable! Dr. Mike Johnson, of the University of Arizona, Arizona Institute of Resiliency, talked about the history of tribal agriculture in Arizona, now, and in the future. He also addressed the cultural and health value of tribal agriculture. My take? Tribal agriculture systems are more efficient, more adapted to environmental conditions in the Sonoran Desert, and require much less land and water. Dr. Johnson is a member of the Hopi nation and lives and farms in the desert.

There were three breakout sessions throughout the day, and attendees chose one topic to learn about per session. I attended "Wildlife Corridors and Crossings" by Jessica Moreno, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. It was not only timely, but informative and gave hope for the future of wildlife preservation amongst an ever-increasing human population. "Tracking Bats, Radio-frequency Identification Technology to Track Bats at Hummingbird Feeders" was quite interesting and lends itself well to community scientist participation. My third session was a visit to the UA Herbarium and looking at flower parts under a microscope.

Certification and re-certification pins were awarded after lunch, as were bronze, silver, and gold pins for 250, 500, and 1,000 hours of volunteer service. Two awardees were recognized for 2,000 hours of service. Joelle Buffa was one of them. Congratulations, Joelle!

The post-lunch presentation was "Community's Role in Sonoran Desert Conservation". by Brian Powell, Executive Director of the Arizona Desert National Parks Partnership. He concluded that volunteer programs can help cultivate a "radical center" of care, healing, and collaboration, urgently needed in a divided world.

Susan Malusa, Director of the University of Arizona Wildcat Research and Conservation Center, was the keynote speaker on Sunday morning. The center tracks jaguars (now 5) and ocelots and relies on community scientists to maintain and download data from camera traps and to review the photos obtained.  More volunteers are needed, if this study is of interest to you.

Sunday morning field trips offered were Sweetwater Birding, King Canyon Wash Trail Hike and Nature Journaling, Honeybee Canyon Archeology, Field Geology, and Tracking Southern Arizona's Mammals.

Did I mention food? Everyone seemed happy with the array of foods offered. Pima County members provided breakfast treats made with white Sonoran wheat flour, mesquite flour, and sourdough, as well as fruit. Master Naturalists don't go hungry!

All in all, it was a fun and educational weekend. Both advanced training and skills-based training was provided, and a total of 14 hours could be attained if all activities were attended.

Watch for notice of next year's conference and save the dates if possible!