HIKING – Members of the Dishman Hills Conservancy are leading a variety of group outings to acquaint more people with the expanding conservation areas in Spokane Valley.

For information about these and other conservancy activities, see the group’s website or contact Jeff Lambert, (509) 999-5100:

Hike and Sketch,  May 7 Saturday, with artist Megan Perkins. Meet 11 a.m. at Camp Caro for a three-hour session of hiking with time for tips on sketching and adding color to natural artistic works. Space limited. Preregister at dishmanhills.org.

Forest Ecology Hike, May 15, with Art Zack, retired forest ecologist, 5-mile hike starting at 10 a.m. and lasting 4-5 hours with climb to Big Rock and discussions along the way.

Butterfly Walk, June 4, with John Baumann, president of the Washington Butterfly Association., leading a slow-paced survey of these colorful insects in the Dishman Hills.

Big Rock Hike, June 19, with Chris Kopczyinski. A moderately difficult three-hour hike from the Stevens Creek Trailhead with the Mount Everest and Seven Summits mountaineer who honed his climbing skills at the Rocks of Sharon in the 1960s.