Look for and learn about reptiles of Sonoran Desert riparian areas during this guided hike with Ranger Eric. Join Ranger Eric for a guided hike to look for reptiles of the...
Join the Southern Arizona Nature Journal Club to learn about Nature Journaling, an observational activity that immerses you in our natural world. This casual meet-up is perfect for those who...
Feel inner peace outside on this easy walk featuring a guided 4-step outdoor meditation led by Ranger Jacque. Would you like a break from noise and stress and a new way to enjoy nature? The Quiet process can help. It blends nine techniques or influences that research indicates have a calming or uplifting effect. This...
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
The course is divided into two sections. The first half of the course is a classroom lecture portion where participants learn about misconceptions and discuss real rattlesnake behavior. The second half participants with learn how to safely relocate a rattlesnake using proper safety equipment. Each participant receives a certificate once they learn how to safely relocate a rattlesnake. If the participant...
Have you ever wondered about the Preserve's historic stand of palm trees? Then join Ranger Jacque to learn about them inside the Visitor Center! Learn about the Preserve’s historic stand of California fan palms, how these tropical trees can grow in the desert Southwest, and their importance to both wildlife and native cultures. Did you...
Learn how to identify common desert and backyard birds with Ranger Eric at this stationary program at the Nature Center. Join Ranger Eric at the Usery Nature Center to watch birds around the feeders and learn bird identification basics, field guides and apps, and citizen science. Chairs will be available to use and the area...
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...
Come meet Ranger Olivia and learn more about how and why our desert tortoises love the desert so much! Have you ever wondered about the tortoises that live in the Sonoran Desert and how they survive the heat? Visit our indoor Nature Center anytime between 10am and 2pm to learn more about them and if...
Join us for open garden hours. Help us tend to the Valencia garden, do something crafty or just sit and read with the plants. All ages welcome. No registration required
THE EXOTIC SUBLIME | on plants will present a contemporary florilegium of plant life in the Sonoran Desert. Plants of all shapes and sizes, from basin to range, survive across five seasons— they seed, climb, roll, spread, poke, bloom, root, stem, branch, wither, bud, flower, and fruit. Mysterious, medicinal, and magical life cycles thriving or threatened...
Registration fee: $125/member, $175/non-member Ready to leap into the identification of Empidonax and Myiarchus flycatchers? Join local bird expert, Homer Hansen for this 2-part ID workshop. This workshop introduces you to the diverse family Tyrannidae and highlights the ways to separate the kingbirds, pewees, empids and other flycatchers of southeastern Arizona. The workshop will focus...
Garden spaces come in all sizes. But there are some unique challenges and opportunities for those with smaller spaces. In this presentation we will discuss gardening in containers, grow bags, and compact garden beds as well as the soil and nutrient considerations, sunlight, watering, and varieties recommended for smaller garden spaces. This workshop is targeted...
Join Ranger Nikki on an evening stroll to search for scorpions and other nocturnal critters. Ranger Nikki will lead you on a walk to search for bark, striped-tail and giant...