The Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills (SCFH) begins the new year by inviting interested individuals to an information meeting with SCFH leadership Sunday, Jan. 7, at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Adero Canyon Trailhead.

No registration is required but an RSVP to contactscfh@gmail.com would be appreciated. Leaders will talk about the various programs and how volunteers help - Trailblazers (build and maintain trails), Stewards (lead and support hikes and events), Trailhead Hosts (assist visitors to Adero Canyon) and Desert Botanical Garden (maintain and conduct interpretive programs). Information on how to sign up as a Town and SCFH volunteer will be available. Refreshments are provided.

On Friday, Jan. 12, Pam Cissik and Larry Mills will help kick off the new year leading a hike from Golden Eagle Trailhead to the Adero Canyon Trailhead and return.

This will be an exercise-paced challenging hike from the Golden Eagle Trailhead. The total distance is about nine miles round trip. For an extra challenge, some participants may wish to add 1/2 mile by climbing the Western Loop. It is possible to shorten the hike by arranging to be picked up at the Adero Canyon Trailhead. Bring two to three liters of water, lunch or snacks. Wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs.

The group will leave from Golden Eagle Trailhead, 14425 E. Golden Eagle Blvd., at 8:30 a.m. Register for Course # 2432.

Paul Stark will lead a class in desert landscape photography using a mobile phone Monday, Jan. 15.

Learn how to capture the unique beauty of the desert using an I-Phone. Stark will show how to work with light to capture the foreground and use the background to get better pictures with a phone.

Although Stark will use an I-Phone, most tips will also apply to Android phones. This activity will travel to a spot by the Salt River. Anyone who would like to experiment with long exposure photographs should bring a tripod or small support for the phone.

A National Parks pass, Senior Pass or Tonto National Forest day pass is required for each car. To purchase a day pass online visit myscenicdrives.com/store/item/forest-passes/tonto. Bring a fully charged cell phone, water, snacks, and wear closed-toed shoes and a hat.

Meet at the library parking lot to car pool at 8:30 a.m. Register for Course #2433.

Those enjoying the easy pace hikes at sunrise will head out on the Ridgeline Loop Wednesday, Jan. 17, beginning at the Adero Canyon Trailhead at 7:30 a.m.

Cathy Pepperd will again lead the sunrise hike. The hike starts at the Overlook Trail and follows the Ridgeline Trail to the Scenic View for a 3.3-mile out and back hike. Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please. Register for Course #2434.

The Dixie Mine is the destination for a hike Wednesday, Jan. 24. Steve Ehrlich and Nancy Whitton lead this moderate 5.2-mile round trip hike to a historic mine in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Only trace amounts of valuable minerals were ever found.

This hike requires a $2 park entry fee. Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs. The hike departs from the Golden Eagle Trailhead at 8 a.m. Register for Course #2435.

Tuesday, Jan. 30, is the opportunity to enjoy moonless stargazing from the trail. Vicky Derksen of Night Sky Tourist and the FH Dark Sky Association will lead the group along with Janice Holden of SCFH on this moonless evening to observe the night skies with less moonlight interference. See a planet or two and locate and identify constellations and their stars while Vicky recounts some myths and stories held by ancient cultures. After the hike the Star Dudes will point their telescopes at deep space objects that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Bring preregistered children over eight years, wear comfortable clothing, close-toed shoes, bring water, hiking poles if needed, and a red flashlight to protect everyone’s night vision. Be prepared to hike approximately two miles. No pets, please.

Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast, President of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and serves on the board of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center. You can find her online at nightskytourist.com. Meet at the Adero Canyon Trailhead at 7 p.m. Register for Course #2436.

The program “What’s in my Pack” will be hosted at the Adero Canyon Trailhead Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. Also, there will be an introduction to the AED equipment at the trailhead.

Whether new to hiking or have had the same contents in a backpack for years, it’s time to refresh. In addition to an overview of desert safety, this class includes an introduction to CPR and using an AED. This information can be lifesaving in the desert, at home and in public spaces. A link to a 20-minute video on the SCFH You Tube channel with basic first aid practices for hiking in the Preserve will be made available.

Presenters will be two professionals who have been managing first aid and saving lives in the Sonoran Desert - Yvonne Massman, Natural Resources Coordinator, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Lori Stauffer, Public Information Officer, Community Relations, Scottsdale Fire Department. Register for Course #2531.