FRIENDS OF CAVE CREEK CANYON Our mission is to inspire appreciation and understanding of the beauty, biodiversity and legacy of Cave Creek Canyon through volunteer work and outreach programs. 

April, 2022

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Cedar Waxwing by Carol Comeau

SPRING GARDEN PARTY RETURNS!! SATURDAY, MAY 14 9 am - 1 pm

After a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic, FOCCC is very pleased to bring back this very popular event.

Participants: Portal-Rodeo Hiking Club - improve your health! Bisbee Science Lab US Forest Service Portal Rescue

The Wizard of Portal will cast his spell and entertain you!

Northern Jaguar Project Ray Mendez with his amazing creatures Portal Firewise Project Sew What? Butterflies with Lori Conrad FREE MORNING TREATS & FREE LUNCH [while supplies last]

· Rick Beno from Arizona Sky Village & 2 solar telescopes - you can see spots, granules, filaments, flares

Birding Information with Rick Taylor and James Peterson Celebrate International Bird Day Book Signings: Rick Taylor & Birds of Southeastern Arizona         Debb Johnson & Wolves of the Skies –Harris Hawks Reptiles with the Chiricahua Desert Museum  Kim Vacariu with Peaceful Skies The Chiricahua-Peloncillo Historical Society The Hiking Group Brian Stultz with Wild Arizona Portal Volunteering Information   And More!

Music from the Geezers!

FOCCC Projects in 2022 This year Friends of Cave Creek Canyon has been working on many projects. We thought you might be interested in seeing the scope some of these projects: Willow Tank Refuge: with a very generous $15,000 donation, we will be adding a new large pump which will enable keeping the water level higher during the dry months [all months now?]. This higher water level will provide water for fighting fires, using helicopters from the Forest Service. Currently there is NO other water source, this side of the Chiricahuas.

Trails: we have been working with Arizona Wild and other organizations to raise funds to improve and extend the trails in Cave Creek Canyon and the Chiricahuas. FOCCC committed $23,000 late last year and another $15,000 this year. With Arizona Wild, US Forest Service, and the Youth Conservation Core, FOCCC will be involved in a new trail to connect the Visitor Center to Silver Peak trailhead. FOCCC will also provide the gates on this trail.

Visitor Information Center: Visitation continues to hit record levels, up over 20% above previous records. Sales revenue is also up very well. The net income more than pays for the cost of operation. The excess funds go to Education Outreach and other activities.

Education Outreach: Because of the pandemic. outreach to schools has been in abeyance. We plan to reach out to schools again this Fall. We are also planning for some weekend outreach during the interim at the VIC. Currently we are having "Birding Hosts" on South Fork of Cave Creek on Saturdays. Recently they helped 40 people in one morning.

Peaceful Skies Initiative: FOCCC strongly supports this movement. Come to the Garden Party and visit with Kim Vacariu to learn more about the potential impact of the Air Force proposal and the movement to stop it.

Heritage Days: planning is well advanced for the annual Heritage Days event in September.

Photo Gallery

Phainopela by Lori Conrad

Cedar Waxwings by Carol Comeau

 Gray Hairstreak by Lori Conrad

Common Black-hawks  by Lori Conrad

Bunnies by Statia Dougherty

Western Tanager by Debb Johnson

Visitor Information Center [The VIC!] By Rolf Koford

The VIC depends on volunteers. Hosting is one way of volunteering, but there are numerous other ways you can help. Contact me to learn more. Thanks in advance. Rolf Koford (520) 558-0038 or rolfruns@gmail.com

Support Friends of Cave Creek Canyon Lifetime Members

Linda Castor Paula Baldwin Jacqueline Foutz Caryn George Mike Leuthold Patricia Parran Steve & Laura Paulson Reed Peters Thomas Roseman  Rick & Joan Schneider Delia Scholes Lee Simpson and Howard Szczech Denise Ward Mike & Cecil Williams David Zittin

Become a Member Today! [Click Here]

Friends of Cave Creek Canyon Board Members

Bob Ashley Sheri Ashley Geoff Bender Rick Beno Rene Donaldson Rolf Koford Pat Parran Reed Peters Kim Vacariu Alice Wakefield Cecil Williams Mike Williams

Help us thank our Business Members who have given generously to Friends of Cave Creek Canyon. Without their assistance, we would be hard pressed to accomplish our goals. Click on the underlined names to check out their websites.

A.S.K. Pest Control  Cave Creek Ranch  Chiricahua Gallery Ed Newbold Wildlife Artist Lone Mountain Natives Painted Pony Portal Peak Store and Lodge  Sky Islands Grill & Grocery   The George Walker House      Wynne Brown  Cable Publishing Casa Petra Vera  Chiricahua Desert Museum Daussin & Associates    Migration Taco OL' Morani Ranch  Quailway Cottage Sky Island Rolfing   Terry Miller Umphres Propane Valley Vista Getaway

Friends of Cave Creek Canyon Website

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Would you or a friend like to submit and article for the FOCCC Newsletter? Our goal is to share information about current events in the Canyon. Always include: your email, pictures w/credits (jpeg format) and text. We can't guarantee your article will be used but all submissions will be reviewed and considered. Remember to keep it relevant, timely, and brief. Send your plain text article with photos attached via email to Mike Williams the Newsletter Editor.