Get your heartrate up and enjoy front country of the park with Ranger Derik. The hike is rated as moderate and will combine sections of the Quail, Saddle, and Baseline trails for 4 miles. Expect the trails to be rocky, loose, and steep in many places. If you have mobility issues hiking poles and sturdy...
Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's expert birders. We'll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with...
Join Ranger Shaun for an intro to arthropods and a short bug catching trip! Come learn about the different groups of arthropods! What is the difference between a bug and an insect? Do scorpions eat spiders or the other way around? Can a whipscorpion sting? Do camel spiders eat camels? What about camel crickets? Water...
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, chuckwallas, tortoises, and a Gila monster. Learn about their life cycles, adaptations and what you should do if you encounter their relatives on the...
We encourage our guests to visit the Children’s Garden every Tuesday and Thursday morning to water the garden, and enjoy the flowers, insects, veggies, herbs, and more! Free with Admission
After your morning hikes cool off in the nature center at a discovery table and talk to Ranger Derik about the diverse plants and animals that call the desert home. A table will be set up in the nature center with artifacts that have been throughout the Maricopa County Park System. Artifacts will include Hohokam...
Construct a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in the Art Studio all month using recyclables plus a dash of imagination. Free with Admission
Review different types of animal teeth and create your own animal puppet! Funded by the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation’s “Back to School” Dental Hygiene Support Program. Free with Admission
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...
Looking for scientific adventures? Homeschool Days offer hands-on exploration while enhancing early-education curriculum through STEM programming led by Nature Center staff. Lessons are designed to encourage curiosity and spark a lifelong love of science. Days also provide students and their families the opportunity to share ideas and expand their network of like-minded learners. Age at...
Performances at 10:30am and 11:30am “The Great Flossini” is an interactive magic character designed to educate and entertain his young audience about the importance of oral hygiene. The Totally Tooth-Ular Magic Show is a comedic adventure where oral health is the star. Audience members become part of the show with highly interactive magic routines designed...
Missed the class? No worries? Ranger Shaun is still hanging out with the bugs! Come chat! Ranger Shaun will be on location at the Cave Creek Nature Center with the...
Zoom away from planet Earth and take a guided tour through the Solar System! Let's stop by each of the planets and learn why they are unique. On our journey, we will be pointing out interesting facts along the way. Audience: General, all ages Style: Live presentation about planets and space exploration Planetarium Tickets...
Ages 5 to 9 can learn science with hands on activities and projects.
Join us for MACH1’s Open Hours to explore the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)! Explore our extensive collection of STEM games, robotics toys, circuitry kits, craft supplies and more. Engage in coding, digital art, 3D modeling, and more using our available computers, or showcase your crafting kills with access to sewing...
Explore a variety of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities and projects. Activities are open play, but staff will be on hand for guidance. Please be aware that materials used are age specific and caregiver supervision is required. Open STEAM Lab (Ages 6-12): Thursdays, 4 pm
Narrated by George Takei, Incoming! explores asteroids, comets, and meteors. Viewers will embark on a dynamic journey and get an up close look at the advanced technologies that allow scientists to detect asteroids. Audience: General, all ages Style: Fulldome show followed by an OSIRIS-REx talk Planetarium Tickets Adults: $14 Children (ages 3-15): $10 Children ages 2 and...
Join us at MACH1 for Thursday Maker Hour: Crawling Caterpillars! Together we'll transform simple household supplies into magnificent caterpillars and beautiful leaves while learning about the butterfly life cycle! Plus we'll look at photos of a dazzling array of caterpillars from around the world! This program is a walk-in program for children of all ages and...
Families are welcome every Thursday to design, create, and collaborate! Try out sewing, animating, programming, inventing, and more! Join us to CrEaTE! Every Thursday. Every Thursday, 4:30-6:00 Free thanks to generous support from the Rosenbluth Family Foundation No need to signup, just show up: 301 N. Willard St. Room 202
Help Ranger Kevin celebrate Tarantula Appreciation Day by joining him for a closer look at these amazing arachnids. Are you scared silly of spiders? Deathly afraid of arachnids? Well, perhaps...
Join Ranger Kevin for a family-friendly evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife. We’ll be taking an approximately 3-mile evening hike amidst the scenic beauty of the North trail. As we go, we’ll be looking out for all kinds of evening-active critters, from skunks to scorpions, spiders, snakes,...