Some of the most sought-after birds in North America spend their winters here in Cochise County. The tour travels the wetlands, grasslands, agriculture fields, and foothills of the Sulphur Springs...
A shorter version of the Daylong Hawk Stalk exploring Sulphur Springs Valley in pursuit of the same types of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Morning and afternoon tours offered. NOTE: Due to the excitement this trip offers, the tour may run 15-20 minutes behind schedule. Caravan-style with many stops along the way. Less than 1/2...
Learn and practice basic identification skills. Time will be spent at the Willcox ponds and nearby areas observing and identifying common bird species. The trip leader will likely have a spotting scope; however, this tour will require that you bring your own binoculars. Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner. Part of Wings...
The grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley are well known for the diversity of sparrows, towhees, and longspurs that are winter residents. Over 24 species of Passerellidae (members of the sparrow family) may winter in Cochise County and as many as 19 species have been observed during the festival weekend. The tour includes a field...
Have you ever wondered what that plant is, or why it only grows in certain locations? Join our expert botanist to learn this and a lot more. Location: Brown’s Ranch...
Explore the birds/bird life at Estrella Park with special guest Joe Ford. With the park's wide range of habitats, you will encounter some of the best birding in the valley! Beginner birders and long-time enthusiasts will enjoy this opportunity to spot and identify many bird species. Bring close-toed shoes, water, and a snack. Rain day...
Trip difficulty: Easy; Walking Distance: 2.5 miles; Trip Duration: 2 hr 45 min; Elevation Gain: none; Ground Condition: groomed trail. Drinking water not available on trail. Restrooms at the Mason Center and one restroom midway on the 2.5 mile loop. Join us for an introduction to birdwatching basics at the Tucson Audubon Mason Center. After...
Invasive species are among the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, and increase wildfire occurrences and magnitude. Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on removing invasive species in parks. The Invasive plant species have severely impacted our park’s natural ecosystems and contributed to our most recent...
Join biologists from the Chiricahua National Monument for a wondrous hike through select trails of the Chiricahua National Monument. The monument is an enchanting wonderful of towering and inspiring rock...
Meet in the lobby at Liberty Wildlife for a departure of 8:30 Will return about 9:30am Nature Walk is free. If you chose to stay for open hours, we ask that you go to the lobby and pay your admission (Open Hours 10am until 1pm)
As an Important Birding Area, Boyce Thompson Arboretum serves as a revered stage where avian life takes the spotlight. Whether you’re a curious novice or a seasoned birdwatcher, our guided walk offers a window into a world of winged wonders. Walks are subject to availability. Registration is first come, first serve. To register for a...
It’s time to get your birding on! On this tour, you’ll learn how to identify resident birds and those just passing through. You’ll also learn where they like to hang out and what their habits are, so you can be ready to spot them in their natural habitat. View the Tohono Chul bird guide here....
Location: Gateway Trailhead – 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to find out all about the elusive ringtail; Sonoran Desert resident and state mammal. One of the most exciting small animals to see out hiking in the Preserve is the elusive ringtail,...
Huge rock boulders are prominently exposed along Interstate 10 in Texas Canyon a few miles west of Willcox. How did these strange-looking rocks get there? We'll examine them and learn how they formed and how they've been changed by geological and related processes. Discussion is encouraged. No prior knowledge of geology is needed. Part...
Lush grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley supported large ranches, and ranchers once shipped more cattle from Willcox than any other point in the U.S. Visit an historic, working cattle ranch continuously operated by descendants of one of the earliest pioneer ranchers. Your rancher-guide will discuss ranching history, show and explain modern cattle and range...
This class is for puppies 5 months to 12 months old starting basic obedience skills The skills being addressed but not limited to are loose leash walking, sits, downs, stays, coming on recall and manners. Learn basic obedience training skills in a fun, positive environment using games to teach. Equipment: flat collar or training...
What really covers the desert – little organisms can make a big difference! Some of the most common sights in the desert – and indeed the living things that probably cover more of the desert than any single kind of plant – are lichen, desert varnish, and soil crust. These organisms actually have much in...
Does your child want to be a Zoo Keeper? Through this interactive, hands-on program your child will experience a snapshot of a day in the life of a Zoo Keeper. Travel behind-the-scenes to the Zoo’s kitchen to learn what the animals at the Zoo eat and watch a training demonstration with an animal ambassador. Creating...
Join Ranger Derik on a short nature walk below the Malpais Hills and learn about the plants and animals that call the Sonoran Desert home. Get your morning started off...
Chat with paleontologists at work in the Museum Demonstration Lab and peek in the windows to view the fossils they are cleaning and conserving from Petrified Forest National Park. Free with Park Fee
Head to the south end of Sulphur Springs Valley looking for Sandhill Cranes foraging in the fields along the way. Then enjoy their return to Whitewater Draw as they fly in to loaf after their morning feeding. Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner to Intermediate. Includes rest stops and lunch. Part of...
Join a ranger at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center at our back patio to learn about the wildlife found at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Topics may include javalina, gila monsters, cougars, and more! Free with Park Fee
Its prime hiking time in Arizona! Join expert hikers, Alix Shafer & Stephen Brown, as they discuss the Arizona Trail’s history, points of interest, and what it takes to maintain our...
Learn about the fascinating world of “bugs” with Ranger Shaun. What they are, what they aren’t, why I put that word in quotation marks. We’ll discuss some names, some myths, where they live, and general bug basics. This is an indoor, sit-down program, that will be followed by a Bugs Walk (walk is optional; register separately...
Bird Program talk and Power Point Presentation with Joe Ford in the Estrella Park Nature Center Classroom following the Bird Hikes. Topics cover bird images, habits, maps, details and bird life. Free with Park Fee
Learn about Grand Canyon's natural world on a 1 hour guided walk on a paved pathway along the canyon rim. Topics vary and may include: animals and plants adapting to...
Even though we don't get blizzards here in Yuma, they are still a scary weather phenomena in many parts of the world. Learn how they form by simulating one of your very own to take home. Supplies will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while they last. This program is best for kids ages...
Museum opens at 9.00 am for event check-in, The ARIZONA GOLD MINING EXPERIENCE™ begins at 10:00 am. The Cave Creek Museum’s AZ GOLD MINING EXPERIENCE™ is unique with its display of the complete hard rock ore extraction process, with the mine shaft, tramway, ore carts, crushing and extraction, that are always on display, but operated on 2nd...
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are certified volunteers who answer questions about gardening, landscaping, plant identification, and plant problems. If you have been wondering when, what, where, and...
Let your interest reach new heights and join us for a hike through the heart of the cactus forest, getting to know the giant cactus. Hike will up to 2...
Enjoy gardening? Do you have garden challenges you’d like to overcome? Need help with your landscape plants? Don't know what to plant or when? Want to start a vegetable garden, but don't know where to start? Join the Maricopa County Master Gardeners Saturdays once per month from 10am-12pm at Georgia Lord library for free home...
Join us to walk around Liberty Wildlife during our public open hours and see us fulfilling our mission! October through April we are open to the public from 10am until 1pm. Our admission is $10 per adult (18+) and $5 per student (under 18). Children 4 and under are free. We will have daily programs...
Experience Tohono Chul while learning some of the basics of the ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Join us for a Walk in the Gardens and get an intimate look at the plants and animals that call Tohono Chul home. During this guided tour, you’ll hear about desert wildlife and learn how to identify some of...
Save the date for the 31st anniversary of Rockin' Minerals! Dig into the rockin’ world of minerals with fun hands-on activities for families. Shop for your own mineral and fossil treasures at rock-bottom prices! We have thousands of mineral specimens for sale for the novice to the serious collector.
Join a ranger for a 15 minute talk at the Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center and learn about a variety of park topics including the Coronado Expedition, wildlife, and more! Ask a ranger at the visitor center desk for the topic of the day. Free with Park Fee
Explore the seasonal world of butterflies and discover the plants favored by caterpillars and adults! This tour through the gardens provides a unique opportunity to observe these colorful creatures up close and personal in a natural environment—that is, if you know which plants caterpillars prefer and what flowers adult butterflies love! View the Butterfly ID...
Living side by side for millennia, plant use has shaped people along the way Eco-Stations at the Overlook These touch carts, staffed by Docents, feature hands-on Sonoran Desert learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Stocked with everything from binoculars and hand lenses to mounted specimens and scientific models, and supplemented with an amazing...
Join us for a surprise program. Topics change daily. Come curious, leave inspired! Program may include a walk to Mather Point or along the Canyon Rim Trail. Program duration: 30 minutes. Presented daily. We all have our favorites - favorite restaurants, favorite music, favorite parks. Join a ranger, or a park volunteer, for a program...
Talking about bugs got Ranger Shaun in the mood to go hunting for some, feel free to come along! We’ll walk the Overton loop and see what we can find. This is an easy rated 3.2-mile hike. Attendance to the previous program not required. Please dress appropriately and bring plenty of water. Remember temperatures can...
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...
Willcox is a thriving vineyard and winemaking area, and grows roughly two thirds of the grapes produced in Arizona. This tour will visit the "Willcox Bench" area off Kansas Settlement Road, a popular birder area to see Sandhill Cranes, hawks, and other winter migrants. Learn about why Willcox is a great area for vineyards, what...
A shorter version of the Daylong Hawk Stalk exploring the Stewart District in pursuit of the same types of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Morning and afternoon tours offered. NOTE: Due to the excitement this trip offers, the tour may run 15-20 minutes behind schedule. Caravan-style with many stops along the way. Less than 1/2...
A slow pace and comfortable, easy viewing that will be emphasized on this trip designed for birders with limitations of endurance or mobility. We will visit locations identified by local wildlife experts to view a variety of species such as waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, sparrows, and Sandhill Cranes. Most birding will be done from the vehicle...
The grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley are well known for the diversity of sparrows, towhees, and longspurs that are winter residents. Over 24 species of Passerellidae (members of the sparrow family) may winter in Cochise County and as many as 19 species have been observed during the festival weekend. The tour starts with an...
Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead – 12601 N 124th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~0.5 miles Time: ~2 hours Join us as we explore the challenges of...
In this workshop, Ranger Steve will introduce beginner photographers to their equipment and the craft of photography. Join Ranger Steve for the inaugural run of the Maricopa County Parks Photography Series. We will be running a series of exciting photography workshops in 2024! Part I: Introduction to Photography is designed for the novice/beginner photographer. If...
This new and exclusive Cave Creek Museum adventure is a “must” for everyone! Cave Creek Museum is partnering with Rackensack Canyon Tours to bring Arizona’s first and only total gold mining experience to life. After seeing the interactive, action-packed Arizona Gold Mining Experience (AZGME), Gold Fever lovers break for lunch and return to Cave Creek Museum to...
Join us as we guide you through the awe-inspiring abundance of the Sonoran Desert. Far from barren, this vibrant landscape is home to an unparalleled variety of over 540 medicinal...
Come join us for a stroll through our ethnobotanical garden where we will discuss some of the fascinating plants found in the Sonoran Desert! From the mighty saguaro cactus to...
Join a ranger on the back patio of the Kris Eggle Visitor Center to discover more about Organ Pipe Cactus' fascinating cultural or geological history, ecology, wildlife or other fun topics! Free with Park Fee
Enhance your afternoon with quick insights into the geologic story of Grand Canyon at our "Geo Glimpse" ranger program - presented daily at 2 pm. Meet in front of Yavapai Geology Museum. Learn how this immense canyon formed and the science behind the landscape. The program is 30 minutes long and is accessible. Grand Canyon is one-mile deep, up to...
Expedition Reef show reveals in exquisite detail the breathtaking beauty and biodiversity of coral reefs—and the scientists taking action to restore them. Recommended for general audiences. Themes: Sea, Climate, Biology Style: Fulldome documentary followed by live presentation Planetarium Tickets Adults: $12 Children (ages 3-15): $8 Children ages 2 and under: Free Discounted Rates Seniors (55+) and...
Join Ranger Steve after his photography workshop for a “golden hour” photography practice session! Join Ranger Steve for a “golden hour” walk around the Nature Center and trails close by to practice your creative photography skills in the golden evening light. Talk photography, gear, and ask all the questions you have! MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center...
Join a ranger at the Twin Peaks Campground Amphitheater to discover more about the amazing Sonoran Desert! Topics may including cultural history, wildlife, cacti, restoration projects, and more! Free with Park Fee
Banquet is held at the Elk's Lodge in Willcox at 247 E. Stewart Street Saving Jemima Naturalist/artist/writer Julie Zickefoose thinks of herself as an unsung, minor, rather dirty superhero. Her superpower: saving small, economically worthless wildlife that would otherwise die. An orphaned jay named Jemima was one such foundling. Spending nearly a year healing, studying...
Take a stroll in the twilight as night-prowling creatures emerge to enjoy the cooler hours after dark. Bats expected! Meet at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center entrance. Bring water, flashlight...