Join Ranger Eric for a guided bird walk to look and listen for resident and migrant species within the diverse desert riparian habitat of the Hassayampa River Preserve. Along the way we will discuss how to identify birds by sight and sound, about the behavioral and ecological traits that make them unique, and about citizen...
Explore the arboretum this summer with our Docents on a golf cart tour! We invite you to join us for an hour long cart ride to some of our most scenic spots of the arboretum. Our knowledgeable Docents will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens...
Experience the opportunity of a lifetime with our Capybara Encounter! Come meet Chewy or BB and their care team at Shipwreck Cove. This encounter will give you the opportunity to feed our capybaras and learn from their care team about what it takes to care for such unique animals. Feel the texture of their fur...
Experience the best dressed encounter opportunity at Wildlife World Zoo! Meet one of our endangered African Penguins and their trainers in the Wild and Wonderful aquarium building in front of...
Discover the art of shaping molten glass in this exciting flameworking class designed for teens! Students will learn the basics of working safely with a torch Learn the basics of flameworking in this beginner-friendly class. Using a torch and borosilicate glass, you’ll create your own glass turtles while learning how to safely handle tools, shape...
This is a casual drop-in program, that will have a fresh water sample from the wildlife pond to be examined under a microscope to see the tiny little critters that are hiding in plain sight! Seeing what things live in our water is not only fun, but it also tells us about the health of our water and the...
In this beginning-intermediate class, we will be using watercolor pencils and pens to create beautiful florals! In the first three classes, you will be guided through different methods to create flowers using our materials, giving you a chance to figure out which skill works best for you. In the final class, you will get to...
Babysitting is a big responsibility! Learn essential skills to care for younger children, handle emergencies, and build trust with families in this Safe Sitter® Babysitting and Safety Skills class. Training...
LEGOs are fun for the whole family! You’ll build with LEGOs of all sizes. Free coloring sheets and bookmarks. LEGO Clubs helps improve math skills, science skills, literary skills, social...
Have you ever wanted to meet one of our Sea Lions up close and personal? Join us for a WILD encounter at Wildlife World Zoo! Learn what it takes to care for our amazing marine mammals, and see what goes in to training them. You will be able to get an individual or group photo,...
Journey into the mysterious world of black holes in this visually stunning, immersive show. Featuring cosmic simulations and narrated by Liam Neeson, explore star birth and death, colliding galaxies, and a thrilling dive into our galaxy’s core. Audience: General, all ages Style: Fulldome film + live star talk All-Inclusive Planetarium Show Tickets Show...
In 1914, Arizona's first veterinarian and hotel magnate, Dr. A.J. Chandler, expected the delivery of a herd of 210 ostriches from Avondale's Pan American Ranch for his menagerie at the San Marcos Hotel. Along the way, the birds stampeded into the wild, some reaching as far south as Tucson. Hear the true story as told...
Have you ever wanted to meet a sloth? Come meet Luna and her care team. This encounter will give you the opportunity to feed Luna and learn from her care team what it takes to raise and care for such a unique animal. Feel the texture of her hair and take a selfie with our...
STEAM Time is a pop-up makerspace for kids and teens that provides hands-on opportunities to design, experiment, and invent as they engage in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) through...
We are all Scientists! CMT’s educators lead hands-on experiments designed to inspire a love of science every weekend at Brain Boost. A STEM program designed for whole-family engagement, kids explore...
Curious about 3D printing? Join our weekly drop-in program where you’ll learn how to design your own 3D model using Tinkercad. Whether you're a beginner or just want to try...
Alan is a hamster scientist who lives in a junkyard. He tries to fit in with the local community of rats, but nobody takes him seriously. One day, Alan hears...
Escape the midday heat and head into the air-conditioned Nature Center for this special America 250 Lunch n' Learn! From the Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag to Hollywood legends like "Snakes on a Plane," our nation's relationship with serpents has been marked by both deep reverence and intense fear. In this engaging presentation, Ranger...
Want to learn earn to sew or just like sewing? Attend our open sewing sessions to learn or just be around others who enjoy sewing! Projects are prepared for those...
Create prints using the photographic process of cyanotype - with no camera required! Create a composition in deep blue uisng botanicals, fabric, and other textures, exposed with natural or artificial light. Class will cover coating and exposing cyanotype chemicals onto paper. Participants are encouraged to bring objects from to help create their artwork. All skill...
Ready for fun? Join us every week for a different family activity, such as STEM, art, games, or brick-building. ¿Listo para la diversión? Familias, únanse a nosotros cada semana para...
The Observatory That Began With Mars and Reached the Moon Lowell Observatory’s story begins with one man’s fascination with Mars and a telescope shipped by train to a small Arizona town. Explore the founding era that gave the world the Clark Refractor, sparked a generation of astronomical discovery, and laid the groundwork for everything that...
Deep beneath the earth's crust, hundreds of kilometres below the surface, with no light, no air, and very little water, in pores and fissures of hard rock, scientists have found an enormous biodiversity of micro-organisms that thrive in extreme conditions. The Dark Biosphere challenges everything we thought we knew and challenges us to rethink not...
What are we made of? Where did it all come from? The film explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry, explosive origins, and connects life on Earth to the evolution of the Universe. NSC Creative applies its trademark approach of making complex scientific concepts accessible to all ages by using immersive and engaging visualizations. We...
Do you love crafts, games, legos and experiments? Join us each week hands-on STEAM activities that will ignite your imagination and creativity! This is an intergenerational program, so the whole family is welcome! All supplies will be provided and some activities might get a little messy! Ages 0 - 13
Take a guided journey through the Solar System and explore what makes each planet unique—from Jupiter’s giant storms to Saturn’s rings. We’ll also visit moons, asteroids, and the Milky Way on this cosmic adventure. Audience: General, all ages Style: Live star talk All-Inclusive Planetarium Show Tickets Show tickets include access to all science...
A Live Tour Through Every Planet in Our Solar System. Join us on a journey through the solar system as we visit each of the planets! Travel from scorching-hot Mercury...
Interested in the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund? Come meet MYCAF Program Manager Kathrine Blomquist to learn more about Mesa’s award-winning youth grant program. Kathrine will be on hand to...
Celebrate 100 years of Route 66! Begin with an exclusive talk exploring how the Mother Road paved a path of astronomical discovery, then step inside a rarely seen private collections...
One small step was just the beginning. Now, we take one step beyond, driven by curiosity, bound for Mars, and ready to write the boldest chapter in human exploration. Experience the thrill of launch, the challenges of life in space, the cutting-edge technology of NASA’s Artemis program, and the search for life that could transform how...
Join Ranger Jacque for a roughly 1.8-mile round-trip hike to the Clay Mine, where Leila Irish built a unique business based on a remarkable natural discovery. This program features a tour of the mine itself...
New this summer! Twelve light installations now on view at Garden After Dark throughout the Garden trails. This brand-new shimmering display creates a playful break from the summer heat with cooling colors and designs inspired by the monsoon season. All Ages
Don't like to hike alone and want to learn more about Skyline trails? Join us for a 4-6 mile hike each month with fellow hikers that love the great outdoors. Bring extra water, snack, sun protection, and wear closed-toed shoes. Ages 13+
We’re setting up our version of the silver screen near the Wildlife Viewing Pond tonight. Once it’s dark, we’ll turn on the spotlight and enjoy the show that unfolds, as all manner of arthropods are drawn to the light. We’ll even have a few “creepy-crawlies” on hand to look at. Plus, conditions permitting, we’ll take a short night hike out on a nearby trail to...
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, geckos, centipedes, stink bugs and more! Bring your UV blacklight to see scorpions fluoresce and a regular flashlight to light your...
A celestial journey for the whole family! Fly beneath the rings of Saturn, float through the heart of the Orion Nebula, and plunge into a black hole during this captivating introduction to cosmology. Passport to the Universe, developed by the American Museum of Natural History, NASA, and the California Academy of Sciences and narrated by...
Experience the universe up-close with our state-of-the-art 24-inch Dyer Telescope. This private, personalized expedition across the stars lasts 75 minutes and offers an exclusive opportunity to view the cosmos through...