Recreational Swim Team "The Manta Rays"

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The City of Mesquite Recreation & Parks Department is now taking registrations for this summers’s Swim Team “The Manta Rays”. This is a both a recreational and competitive level swim team program that focuses on teaching and promoting good sportsmanship, encourages self-esteem and team work.

The team will officially begin practice on June 13th and will run until August 4th, practicing every Monday through Thursday. There will be 2 practices; an 8:00 A.M. advanced practice for the more seasoned and competitive swimmers and a beginner/intermediate practice that will start at 9:00 A.M. Monday through Thursday. The Swim Team coaches will determine what level and time your child will be practicing.

The Purpose and Philosophy of the program is to practice and develop strong swimming strokes and improve personal times and skills. This program emphasizes personal improvement. The City of Mesquite Recreation & Parks Departments purpose is to provide opportunities where youth can learn the fundamentals of a sport and learn sportsmanship through participation. The ultimate goal is to encourage skill development and foster a positive attitude. There is a program fee which includes practice four days per week, T-shirt, and three home meets. Away meets are also available for swimmer participation. All swimmers wanting to join the program should be able to swim a minimum of 25 yards in Freestyle, Backstroke and Breaststroke, or have a Red Cross Level 4 certificate.

For more information on this and other programs, please contact the Mesquite Recreation & Parks Department at 346-8732. To register for all youth and adult programs online go to: www.mesquitenv.gov and at the Mesquite Recreation & Parks Department Administrative Office, 100 W. Old Mill Road. The City of Mesquite is an equal opportunity employer.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.