Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens of Historic Canoa Ranch. Join Raydine Taber from the Green Valley Gardeners to explore the variety of themed gardens within the ranch headquarters....
Learn about reptiles and amphibians on this guided hike with Ranger Eric. Join Ranger Eric to go herping (looking for reptiles and amphibians) on this a short hike on parts of the Bajada Trail. We will discuss identification and behavior of Sonoran Desert herpetofauna as we go and discuss safety around venomous wildlife. Please wear...
Join local bird expert Dan Hoobler on a visit to the world famous Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains. Owned by The Nature Conservancy, this area has been a hot spot for birding for decades. The lower canyon is good for Montezuma and Gambel's Quails, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Rufous-crowned, Chipping and Botteri's Sparrows, Blue and Black-headed Grosbeaks,...
Join international birding guide Greg Homel, on this tour of Carr Canyon, beginning in the lower canyon, where we will look for Gambel's Quail, Rufous-crowned, Chipping and Botteri's Sparrows, Blue and Black-headed Grosbeaks, and other canyon outlet species. We may stop at the Carr House Nature Center to check the hummingbird feeders. Venturing to the top...
Join professional guide, Ken Blankenship, on an exploration of Scotia Canyon, a lesser-known 'hotspot' on the west side of the Huachuca Mountains. The rich Madrean woodlands and sycamore-lined riparian habitat hosts breeding birds like Sulphur-bellied and Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Elegant Trogon, Plumbeous Vireo, Painted Redstart, Red-faced and Grace's Warblers and much, much more. The area will...
A visit to what was formerly one of the Southwest’s largest cattle ranches. This expansive BLM National Conservation Area is home to Pronghorn Antelope, Prairie Dogs and a wide variety...
Join Enjoy a scenic exploration of the south side of the Huachuca Mountains with professional guide and environmental educator, Jeff Babson. The tour begins with a drive through the grasslands which carpet the foothills on the way to the entrance to the Coronado National Monument. Here there are both Botteri's and Cassin's Sparrows as well as...
Lake Cochise, near Willcox, is a magnet for waterbirds. Shorebirds, like Black-necked Stilt and Wilson's Phalarope, wildfowl like Cinnamon Teal, and others like White-faced Ibis, are drawn to the water here. Join local bird expert Steve Tracey to spend a few hours checking the lake and the area around it before heading for the nearby Chiricahua Mountains....
Join professional guide Kristy Gallo on a half-day hike up Hunter Canyon where the 2011 Miller Peak Wilderness fire left its mark, with the result being a unique combination of habitats that are home to a nice diversity of bird species. The initial hike is dominated by successional oak-scrub with birds like Crissal Thrasher, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Black-chinned...
This casual meet-up is perfect for those who enjoy going outside, sketching, observing, and meeting fellow nature enthusiasts. Join the Southern Arizona Nature Journal Club to learn about Nature Journaling, and immerse yourself in the natural world. The group meets at our park’s entrance at 7 am and explores a different aspect of the park each week....
Join Ranger Kevin for an introduction to birding in one of Arizona’s premiere birding locations. Enjoy a roughly 2-mile walk on the Palm Lake, Mesquite Meander, Lions, and Willow Walkway trails. We’ll cover birding basics, from tools and equipment to bird identification tips and strategies. Trails are rated easy, although thick sand is possible in...
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...
Join leader Rich Bailowitz (co-author of several butterfly books as well as Field Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Arizona and Sonora) as we search for some of the butterflies and dragonflies of the Sierra Vista area. The day will include stops in Escapule Canyon (near the San Pedro River) and in Huachuca Canyon, at various elevations...
Plateau Perspectives: Nature Through Art celebrates the profound and evolving relationship between art, ecology, and the unique landscape of the Colorado Plateau. Set amid the natural beauty of the Arboretum at Flagstaff, this exhibition invites artists to explore and amplify the stories of native plants and ecological processes that define this extraordinary region. The exhibition centers...
Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...
This Summer, join a ranger at 9 am for a 45 to 60 minute fossil discovery walk. This is a fun, family-friendly activity. The program is a favorite of Junior rangers who are able to explore a fossil bed and discover brachiopods, sponges, and other marine creatures preserved here in limestone for millions of years....
Come explore the Children’s Garden every Tuesday and Thursday morning! Water the plants, discover vibrant flowers, observe buzzing insects, and check out the veggies and herbs—there’s always something new to see and learn!
Stop by to chat with Ranger Eric and ask your nature-related questions or show your nature photos! Do you have questions about nature or the Sonoran Desert you’ve been wondering, or have animal or plant photos you want some help identifying? In honor of World Ranger Day today, stop by and talk with Ranger Eric...
The Museum Demonstration Lab at the Painted Desert Visitor Center is where you can see one-of-a-kind fossils from Petrified Forest National Park being prepared by trained paleontologists! Peek through the window to see fossils from the museum collection. Watch a live microscope feed on the TV as paleontologists remove rock from fossil bone. Chat with...
Join a Park Ranger on the outside shaded patio overlooking the magnificent saguaro forest to learn a little about the unique diversity of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. 30 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.
Listen along as we read a nature-themed story!
Enjoy koi fish feeding in the Conservatory every morning as aquatic experts share their knowledge about this unique and beautiful species. Meet “Hoover”, and the important role he plays in the pond that takes center stage at Butterfly Wonderland’s Conservatory! FREE WITH ADMISSION
Celebrate the summer monsoon season with Thunderstorm Thursdays at Children’s Museum Oro Valley—a weekly storytime and craft session designed to spark curiosity and creativity in little learners! Kids will dive into desert weather through hands-on fun, from lightning-inspired art to rainy-day tales. Each visit to CMOV this summer counts toward the Kids Cactus Club, CMOV’s summer-long reward program!...
Join Butterfly Wonderland for a magical adventure in the Butterfly Theater! Dive deep into the rainforest with a Story Time session, featuring captivating tales about butterflies and other rainforest critters. Parents and kids will embark on an exciting journey through these lively stories read by dynamic storytellers each week. Many of these delightful books will...
This quick and informative session covers common desert critters like bees, snakes, scorpions, and spiders, and what to do if someone gets bitten or stung. From the University of Arizona and presented by Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
Come by and visit Ranger Kevin to learn about some of the animals native to the Sonoran Desert. Have a picture of a critter, but don’t know what it is? Want to know what you might have seen scurrying across the trail? Drop in on this Discovery Station with Ranger Kevin. There will be objects...
Explore the wonders of the Colorado Plateau—right at your fingertips! Join us today at the Museum of Northern Arizona from 10 a.m. to noon and explore our Fossils Touch Table. Our friendly museum guide is ready to share fascinating stories about the region’s natural wonders. FREE with Museum admission.
Learn about Grand Canyon's natural world on a one hour guided walk on a paved pathway along the canyon rim. Topics vary and may include: animals and plants adapting to changing seasons, man's impact on nature, how nature inspires writers and poets, rare and endangered species, or Indigenous people's use of plants and animals. Program duration:...
Join a Park Ranger at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center for a quick presentation about Glen Canyon. Topics vary.
Today is World Ranger Day, and we’re celebrating by sharing some of our favorite places, pictures and experiences of the fabulous Maricopa County parks system with you. Join Ranger Kevin as we celebrate World Ranger Day! What do Maricopa County’s Interpretive Rangers do? What’s a typical day like? What’s it like to handle venomous animals?...
We’re celebrating our Rangers for World Ranger Day! Come talk to Ranger Shaun about what it’s like to be a Ranger! Rangers go some pretty cool places and do some pretty weird things. Moreover, they LOVE to talk about it. So for World Ranger Day, we decided to let them. Come ask Ranger Shaun your...
Join a park ranger at the Red Hills Visitor Center for a theater presentation about Saguaro National Park’s unique cultural, historical and natural resources. Presentations vary daily depending on the Ranger hosting, but a few popular ones go over: wildlife in the park, plants in the park (including saguaros), local indigenous culture, park history and even...
Enhance your afternoon with quick insights into the geologic story of Grand Canyon at our "Geology Talk" ranger program - presented daily at 2:30 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...
Join Ranger Derik in the park as the sun sets and desert comes alive with the nocturnal creatures. The hike will cover 3 miles round trip as an out and...
After the sun sets, a whole new world awakens, largely unseen by most. Join Jeff Babson to explore the Huachuca Mountains at night and step into the nighttime world of moths and other insects. At historic Carr House, set at the entrance to Carr Canyon, we will set up a black (or UV) light to see what...