Wrap-Up Photo Gallery

10th Anniversary Celebration: November 7 & 8, 2009

Opened & Dedicated Fall 1999

On November 7 & 8, 2009, the park hosted a weekend of insightful presentations, a large variety of interesting booths and fun kid's activities to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the park's Grand Opening. Check out the event photos below, or for a blast from the past, check out the Development of the Caverns Photo Gallery . The event schedule with speakers is listed below the photos. Renée Bahl, Arizona State Parks Director spoke at the event, as did former Director Ken Travous.

Learn more about Cave Tours or Watch Video of the Cave or Read a Cronkite News Service article about the Anniversary

Kartchner Caverns State Park

Saturday November 7th, 2009

9 am: Official welcome by Arizona State Parks
9:30 am: Max Kartchner, A Family Perspective
- Herbalist Charles Kane will lead a half-hour edible and medicinal plant walk. Meet outside main entrance to the Visitor's Center.
10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Bobcats
10:30 am: Charles Kane will be signing his book: Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest, available for purchase in the gift shop.
11 am: Introductions of special guests
Noon: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
1 pm: Dr. Raina Maier, University of Arizona, The Microbiology of Kartchner Caverns
2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Mountain Lions
3 pm: Dr. Robert Cassavant, Arizona State Parks and Dr. Rickard S. Toomey, National Park Service, Both cave specialists will discuss 10 years of cave conservation
4 pm: Chuck Duncan, Ranger at Katchner Caverns State Park, Presentation and discussion on the construction of the tunnels and trails of Kartchner Caverns

Sunday November 8th, 2009

9 am: Official welcome Arizona State Parks
- Mark Kartchner, MD, A Family Perspective
10 am: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Jaguars
11 am: Gary Tenen, Co-discoverer of Kartchner Caverns
Noon: Break for lunch and exhibits
1 pm: Debbie Buecher & Ronnie Sidner, Bat Biologists, Discussion of “pit-tag” program at park, used to monitor migration and population of resident bats
2 pm: Kevin Hansen, Southwest Regional Interpreter, New Mexico State Parks, Presentation on Rattlesnakes
3 pm: Dr. Dale Rucker, Past, Present & Future of Geophysics at KCSP
- Ranger Steve Willsey, Inciting Public Interest and Partnership in the Inventorying and Monitoring of Cave Invertebrates
- Ranger Heidi Lauchstedt, Rusticles of KCSP Lessons in Speleogenesis, Engineering, and Show Cave Management