Join experienced birder and Park Volunteer Tom Locascio—a proud member of the Audubon Society and Sun City Birding Club—for a guided bird walk through White Tank Mountain Regional Park. After the walk, gather in the Nature Center classroom for an engaging presentation on the park’s feathered residents, from desert dwellers to seasonal visitors. Please wear...
Join Ranger Shaun as he makes his way up and around the stunning vista of Scenic Trail’s ridgeline. This approximately 4-mile medium difficulty hike requires closed toe shoes and water bottles. Hiking poles are useful but not required. The exposed nature of the ridge makes sunglasses or hats extremely pleasant to have as well. Tie...
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...
Register for a FREE guided tour of one of seven different collections of trees and plants in the Campus Arboretum. Led by Pima County Master Gardeners, the tours provide in-depth education, information and the opportunity to get all your questions answered. How can we have a lush but water-wise garden in the middle of a densely populated...
Join us for a Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz at the Riparian Preserve! A BioBlitz is a fun way for scientists and citizens to work together to document the plants and animals present at one time in a given area. Local experts will be on site all morning to teach you about the incredible pollinators, and pollinator friendly...
Enjoy a family-friendly morning of art and nature! Explore the acequias and create dragonfly art to take home. All materials provided, no experience needed, all ages welcome. This event is...
Learn lifesaving CPR and AED skills from Tempe Fire Medical Rescue paramedics in a hands-on, approachable class designed for everyday residents. 90% of cardiac arrests happen at home, and in Tempe more than half of bystander CPR in 2024 was started by family members or non-family bystanders before crews arrived. This class is designed to...
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...
If you've ever wanted to use paint to create something beautiful without overthinking the results, this is the workshop for you! In this class, we will explore using brushstrokes and color to create a vibrant "bouquet" of abstract flowers. There will be no need to be precise or to exactly render a particular flower; just...
Families who craft together stay together. We’ll provide supplies, tools, and ideas to get you started, but the final creation is up to you. Engaging in creative activities like crafting can stimulate your brain, boost focus, and reduce stress. Ages 6+
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,...
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...
Presented by the Flagstaff Festival of Science. Stop by for a humorously themed lecture about the natural and cultural history of coyotes in the Americas, their place in lore and literature, and some of the exciting things that set them apart as nature’s “tricksters.” This is a free event and all ages are welcome. Ages...
Enjoy a captivating experience at the heart of our mountaintop observatory with our guided daytime tours! Discover the rich history of our unique site, from its origins as a Cold War early warning radar station to its current role as a leading astronomical research facility. Our knowledgeable guides will lead you on a 90-minute walking...
Photograms are photo prints made without a camera using light-sensitized paper. Compositions are created using translucent glass or plastic, organic material, and other objects. Students can choose from the provided holiday-themed stencils and objects to arrange their composition, but are encouraged to bring objects from home. All skill levels, all basic materials provided. Ages 16+...
Museum free all day, activities 2 pm-4:30 pm Join us for a Science Day at MNA and free Open House as part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science. Enjoy hands-...
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 light dinner, and an exclusive opportunity to observe astronomical objects and phenomena. This five-hour program starts 2 hours before sunset and accommodates up to 28...
Watercolor and the sea are natural partners, and in this class, we bring them together. We will explore a few sea creatures, like jellyfish and octopuses, and learn how to create these alien yet beautiful animals with our watercolors! The focus will be on looser techniques to just relax and have fun. All skill levels...
Enjoy the cool evening weather with a hike to Grandview outlook at Pinnacle Peak Park! This after-hours event will allow guests to hike at their own pace, with staff and volunteers stationed along the trail to answer questions and assist visitors. The hike is 1.5 miles long and rated moderately challenging. Full moon events run...
Join Ranger Kevin as we greet this year’s Harvest Moon. We’ll be setting out before sunset on an easy-moderate, 2.1 mile loop. We’ll stop somewhere near the middle of the hike to watch the full moon rise, and then make our way back under fading colors and twilight skies. All the while, we’ll keep our...
Join Ranger Eric for a full moon hike on the Cottonwood Trail while we also look for and learn about nocturnal wildlife of the Sonoran Desert, including scorpions, snakes, tarantulas, spiders, owls, nightjars, mammals, and other animals. We will likely see or hear wild burros (donkeys), or at least signs of them. The hike will be on easy...
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...
We’re setting up our version of the silver screen near the Nature Center 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...
Zoo By Moonlight is an evening event held at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary from May through September. It provides a great opportunity to see the Sanctuary's nocturnal residents. Enjoy our Clouded Leopards, wolves, coyotes and much more by the light of the full moon. It's a howling good time! Don't forget to bring your flashlights, your...
Spend the night exploring Veterans Oasis Park after dark. You’ll discover the sights and sounds of nocturnal wildlife, observe the full moon, and talk astronomy as you hike the park....