Calling All Young Architects and World Explorers! Are you ready to embark on a global adventure — all within the exciting world of Minecraft? In this immersive class, students will travel...
A walk with Ranger Shaun to watch for early morning birds and bugs at the North end of the Lake. Hike the 1.2-mile Yavapai-Pipeline loop and look for pollinators in the cooler weather of the morning. We’ll look for any remaining night blooms and early bugs or late nocturnal roamers. We’ll discuss the relationship between...
Stop by and chat with Ranger Shaun about pollinators today at the Discovery Center! Got a minute? Swing by the Discovery Center to get out of the heat, cool off in the A/C and chat about some of the most important critters on the planet: pollinators! Ranger Shaun’s here to talk about some of the...
It’s SepSTEAMber! Head to BlockMania on the 1st floor and engineer your own creations with PVC pipes and connectors! From ladders and mazes to forts and tunnels, kids will explore structural design, problem-solving, and creative thinking—all core elements of STEAM learning.
Construct a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in the Art Studio using recyclables plus a dash of imagination!
Interact with some of our special animals, which for many people is a once in a lifetime experience. Guests will get to learn about endangered species, how we contribute to conservation of those animals, some of the considerations we must take into consideration when having these reptiles in Arizona, which reptiles are good pets for children or adults, adaptations...
A late morning walk on the lovely Pipeline Canyon Trail with Ranger Shaun. As the weather ever so slowly cools, short mid-day hikes become viable again! Join Ranger Shaun for...
Learn about the importance of water as our most valuable resource while making a hands-on water filter! Perfect for Elementary students and their families. Free.
Free hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math fun! STEAM projects for kids in grades 1-8 Takes place every Friday in the STEAM trailer when weather permits, otherwise inside the...
Stop by the Nature Center to learn about San Tan’s animal ambassadors with Ranger Nikki during this drop-in session. Ranger Nikki will introduce you to San Tan’s animal ambassadors, including snakes, tortoises, a chuckwalla and a Gila monster. Learn about their life cycles, adaptations and what you should do if you encounter their relatives on...
Choose Health is a fun and interactive nutrition class series designed for youth ages 8 and up! Younger siblings are welcome to join too. Join us for a weekly program brought to you by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Below are the lesson titles: Power...
Drop in and build your imagination brick by brick! Explore creative designs and challenges in our cozy LEGO Lounge. For ages 8–12.
Bring your imagination and join us for an afternoon of brick building. You can follow our themes and challenges or make your own. Creative thinking, teamwork, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving are just a few of the skills learned while having fun with bricks!
Kids will build towers, create animals, and tackle exciting challenges! 9/19 Mythical Creatures
Before your evening hikes in the park, stop by the trailhead and learn from Ranger Derik how to hike responsibly and protect the Sonoran Desert. Ranger Derik will have a...
Explore the night skies from the summit of Mt. Lemmon using Arizona's LARGEST publicly available telescopes! Under the guidance of a professional, visitors will enjoy a brief astronomy lecture, a...
Questions about the Sonoran Desert or the things that live there? Ask Ranger Kevin! Come to the Trailhead Staging Area and say hello to Ranger Kevin from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Bring your burning desert questions, or let’s just talk. We’ll also have a table full of interesting objects like bones, feathers, snake sheds, cactus boots...
Join Ranger Olivia for a hike to see the iconic desert sunset over the Estrella Mountains. Ranger Olivia leads this picturesque hike to watch the sun set while also talking about anything plants or animals that are of interest along the way. We will see the sunset, a beautiful mountain view, and maybe some evening...
Let creativity take flight at Butterfly Brushstrokes, an intimate and inspiring painting event at Butterfly Wonderland. Perfect for a fun night out or a unique date night, this guided class leads participants through creating a stunning butterfly-themed masterpiece—no experience necessary! With all materials provided, guests can simply relax, paint, and enjoy the artistic journey. Limited...
Young Makers is our free form workshop night for passionate kids and their parents. We work with driven young people to empower them to turn their ideas into reality. No babysitting. No lectures. This is discovery learning and creation. Questions to: [email protected] HeatSync Labs is a makerspace with tools and equipment which create a community...
An artistic interpretation of this year's Keynote Presentation with a powerful performance merging ballet with concepts of Indigenous land stewardship, health, and sustainability. Immerse yourself in a poetic dance that...
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy 2-mile stroll to search for scorpions and other nocturnal critters. Ranger Nikki will lead you on an out-and-back walk to search for bark, striped-tail and giant hairy scorpions. We will also be on the lookout for other nocturnal critters such as bats, owls, tarantulas, kangaroo rats, stink bugs and...
The 2025 W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation: Indigenous Food Systems Science features speaker Mariah Gladstone, Piikuni (Blackfeet) and Tsalagi (Cherokee), who was raised in Northwest Montana and holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from Columbia University. Gladstone is a nationally recognized advocate for food sovereignty and sustainability. At Northern Arizona University's Ardrey Auditorium,...
Join Ranger Kevin for an evening of fun late-summer stargazing! Clear skies permitting, we’ll be viewing a selection of objects through a portable telescope. Possibilities include planets, galaxies, nebulae, and...
Join us after dark on a night-time adventure with our Education Staff! Discover the amazing world of nocturnal life in the Sonoran Desert on this family friendly ‘crawl’. Learn about...
Open House Viewing at the 20" Barry Lutz Telescope: Explore the wonders of the night sky at NAU's Campus Observatory. Part of Flagstaff Festival of Science, a free annual 10-day event wholly designed to promote awareness and enthusiasm for science in and about northern Arizona and beyond, and is fondly known as...