Presenter Renee Lizotte, raffle winner Ginny Schneider, and program director Carole Chase
Vicki Malueg
Our March program was an overview of the history of the Raul M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park presented by Renee Lizotte. Renee previously worked at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and became a volunteer at the Ranch after retirement. The Ranch includes 4,800 acres of the original 17,000-acre San Ignacio de la Canoa Land Grant issued by Spain in 1820. Canoa was a working cattle ranch from 1820 to the 1970’s and at its peak under the Manning family expanded to a huge 500,000 acres. The ranch declined in the 1950’s and in 2001 the Arizona Open Land Trust purchased the land that became the Park. Today visitors can take tours of the historic grounds and buildings as well as hike and watch for local wildlife. The program was attended by 84 people.
The winner of this meeting’s raffle was Ginny Schneider who received a copy of the book Sahuarita, Arizona; Treasured Nuggets from the Past.
The Nature Club has organized a field trip to Canoa Ranch on March 26. This trip is for members only.
Our next program will be on April 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the DesertView Theater. The topic is “Water in SaddleBrooke” presented by Thomas Brothen. (Note: our April program had been scheduled for April 13 but had to be delayed due to room scheduling)
For more information on the Nature Club please check our website at saddlebrookenatureclub.org.