Please join us and partner with the Bureau of Land Management, Friends of Ironwood Forest, Tucson Soaring Club and the Arizona Native Plant Society for the 21st annual National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2014.

As friends of the Sonoran Desert we’ve worked hard to protect and care for the most sensitive and biologically rich desert habitats.  We’ve protected thousands of acres, but our protected lands still face a variety of threats including illegal trash dumping, unapproved use off road vehicles and invasive buffelgrass.  Volunteer project details are still being worked out for this year’s event and include removal of vegetation from around a water catchment for bighorn sheep, access barrier maintenance and buffelgrass spraying and/or removal sites.  High clearance vehicles are needed to reach most of the work sites.

Volunteers should wear outdoor appropriate clothes (long sleeves and pants recommended), sturdy shoes, hat and sunscreen. Bring a water bottle and your friends. Tools, gloves, snacks, T-shirts, and brunch will be provided.

 Volunteers will meet at the Marana Airport on Avra Valley Rd at 7:30 am, (11700 W. Avra Valley Rd, Marana, AZ 85653, from central Tucson take I-10 to Avra Valley Rd. then west about five miles to the airport), carpool to work sites and be finished by 10:30 am. Please pre-register before September 25th.

After a morning of work all volunteers are invited to attend a free brunch and presentations at the El Tiro Glider Port, just a short drive from the work sites, where the Monument Manager will provide an IFNM update and status, the Soaring Club will talk on Southern AZ Aviation History and the AZ Wilderness Coalition speak on the 50^th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

Please sign up by pre-registering at IFNM National Public Lands Day and also get more info by contacting Jim Avramis, Friends of Ironwood Forest, at jim@ironwoodforest.org or at 520-628-9028.