b'CHARITY OF THE MONTHWickenburg Conservation FoundationE ach day more than 100 acres ofHug a Tree and Survive, and Citizen Arizonas stunning SonoranScience options. A six-part desert desert is plowed under forawareness class is taught in West development or damaged throughValley classrooms and community overuse and misuse. Thiscenters while desert navigation alarming fact rallied a groupand survival, interpretive hikes, of people in the Wickenburgand astronomy are scheduled area in 1999 to start a 501at multiple venues throughout 3 nonprofit organizationthe year. to preserve and protect the remaining open areas forWCF also works with recreation and education.teachers and students to Volunteers joined the effortdevelop interpretive nature and within a few years thetrails adjacent to the schools.Wickenburg ConservationA registered Monarch Foundation (WCF) hadWaystation at Nadaburg assisted the Bureau of LandElementary School andManagement (BLM) withmile trail behind Hassayampa improving and signing the original Red Top TrailElementary School in Wickenburg are used to system. WCF, along with volunteers and donationssupplement the STEM curriculum with Citizen from local businesses, was then instrumental in helpingScience projects. BLM get Sophies Flat Trailhead designed and built. The Red Top/Sophies Flat is now enjoyed each year byMore recently, WCF recognized the need to encourage thousands of locals and out of town hikers, mountainpeople to keep our desert clean and safe for recreation bikers and equestrians. so it revitalized its Wickenburg Clean and Beautiful program. Volunteers help with monthly cleanups ofThe trailhead, located northeast of Wickenburg onthe popular Hassayampa Blue Tank Road, one andmiles west of ConstellationRiver Box Canyon and Road, offers an interpretive kiosk, toilets, picnic tables,other nearby areas. two staging areas for equestrians, a ramada, and acresVolunteer ambassadors of dry camping. WCF volunteers maintain the trails.are staged at the Box Trailhead on weekends to WCF quickly realized that education and awarenesshand out trash bags and were important components of responsible use andask people to Pack It enjoyment of our fragile desert. It now has a growingIn, Pack It Out. WCF portfolio of free, volunteer-led educational programsprovides a dumpster at that include nationally recognized Leave No Trace,the trailhead. WCF relies on donations and volunteers to continue its important work. Donations can be made at wickenburgtrails.org. To find out more information on how you can help with trail work, in-classroom or outdoor programming, publicity and events, or assist with the Clean and Beautiful program,email info@wickenburgtrails.orgEach day more than 100 acres of Arizonas stunning Sonoran desert are plowed under for development or damaged through overuse and misuse.62 December 2022'