Award-winning artist and naturalist Walt Anderson and professional photographer Kevin Floerke lead a 4-hour in-the-field bird photography workshop. Learn how to use insights into avian behavior to anticipate, plan, and...
This field trip begins in Camp Verde where we will turn off from South Oasis Road and go up Forest Service Road 136 to trailhead parking adjacent to the Copper Canyon...
Known as the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness It is a remote, protected, and scenic area that cuts through the Mogollon Rim, offering a stunning, less-visited alternative to the nearby Sedona red rocks,...
The San Pedro River, a narrow green oasis rippling through desert grassland, is one of the last wild rivers in the Southwest and one of the most endangered. These 3-hour guided walks through desert grassland and among towering cottonwood trees will introduce you to the birds and other wildlife that make their homes in the...
Learn about birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate guided hike with Ranger Eric while participating in the City Nature Challenge! Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate walk. We will meet at the Nature Center first and...
In the Black Hills Range, Mingus' summit is the second highest at more than 4,000 Ft.. Birds we have encountered include the Steller’s Jay, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush,...
The name comes from a freshwater source that Native Americans used centuries ago. Although not flowing like descriptions of the past, it is a lovely spot protected by towering cottonwoods....
One of the many reasons we hold the festival at Dead Horse Ranch State Park is its location in the heart of the Verde River riparian corridor. An easy walk...
Granite Basin offers great higher-altitude birding in Ponderosa Pine habitat while still being close to the town of Prescott. A popular USFS recreational site, with a small lake, Granite Basin...
We'll begin at Cornville's Windmill Park, on the banks of Oak Creek. We'll look for tanagers, blackbirds, orioles, sparrows, and flycatchers in the adjacent pastures, and swallows over the creek....
Sparrows are challenging to identify and Homer is not only knowledgeable, he can help you to master this skill. As one of our most popular guides, he will help you to hone your skills of birding by ear while seeking a variety of species. Learning to identify birds through sound will improve your success at...
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy to moderate hike to use your phone to document biodiversity in the park for the City Nature Challenge global Citizen Science competition that runs April 24-27. The City Nature Challenge is a global competition between cities to document biodiversity in regions around the world, taking place this year...
Free- MUST RSVP Let the birds come to you! Bring your favorite camp chair, binoculars, a little refreshment, and just enjoy birding as the time slips by. You will only have to walk a short distance on the handicapped accessible Canopy Trail to a spot where feeders bring the birds up close. A knowledgeable...
Join us at the Birding Trail kiosk (next to campsite #12 in Patagonia Lake State Park) for a ranger led hike to learn about the diverse avian wildlife at Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek. The park is designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. If you are a bird watcher you may hit...
This trip is about backyards and attracting birds. We will visit two very different backyard habitats. First stop the Armstrong yard-- an all riparian setting on Oak Creek followed by...
Cockscomb-Ground Control-Outer Limits Loop On this hike guests will climb the shoulder of the Cockscomb formation in West Sedona using a moderate three trail loop. We’ll depart from the Aerie Trailhead and travel through pine and juniper woodlands. The Ground Control Trail slithers up the side of the Cockscomb, a narrow passage hugging the cliff...
This plant walk will begin at the Tuzigoot Visitor Center, and will descend from there to Tavasci Marsh. Severed from the Verde River nearly 10,000 years ago, Tavasci Marsh is the largest spring-fed freshwater marsh in Arizona unconnected to the Colorado River. Intense human and mining developments within and around Tavasci Marsh until the early...
Dr. Larry Stevens, director of the Springs Stewardship Institute will lead an easy walk through Montezuma Well to look at this world-renowned spring ecosystem, its geologic setting and evolutionary history, and its remarkable biota. We’ll walk the talk through a free-wheeling discussion about the importance of groundwater and springs to the Verde River, its diverse biology,...
Part art. Part engineering. Totally amazing! Add a pop of wonder and a pinch of nostalgia to your spring with Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop! Marvel at over 40 wildly creative sculptures made entirely of LEGO® bricks at this exhibition, included with Zoo admission and free for Zoo members from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily....
Using recyclables plus a dash of imagination, construct a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Discover the beauty of saving water at the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden at Chaparral Park. See amazing desert plants and learn how they survive in an arid desert. We will take a short tour of the garden and do a fun, nature discovery activity in one of our outdoor classrooms. This class is designed for Parent...
Trees are awesome! They’re also complex, long-lived, and not always forgiving to care for. It can be hard to tell good advice from bad. This 90-minute class will teach you key tree caregiving, what to cut and how to cut it, water requirements, when it’s time to call in an expert, and more. Our trees...
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...
Help with the April 24-27 City Nature Challenge and learn about the free smartphone app iNaturalist that can help you identify plants, animals, and more, while helping contribute to science! This hike accommodates both barrier-free (wheelchair-accessible) and more moderate difficulty trail grades for those that want to hike farther. *Please note time change to 10am-12pm....
An engaging and exclusive presentation of the town of Jerome, as told by long-time local, Henry Vincent, in an outdoor setting. Featuring an overview of the geology, United Verde Copper Co. and United Verde Extension mines, and the Douglas family.
Come learn about the Common black hawk. Consider signing up for the Common Black Hawk graphite drawing class, which follows immediately after this lecture. Cost: $15 Part of...
Two hours to exercise mind, body, and spirit while communing with nature and engaging your creative muse. All while in Dead Horse Ranch State Park! This is a unique location...
Arizona’s rivers, streams, and wetlands are home to two fascinating semi-aquatic mammals—the North American Beaver and the North American River Otter. While they share similar habitats, these animals live very...
Geoff will be teaching an old-fashioned method called graphite transfer. This is a simple process that uses graphite paper to transfer an image reference onto drawing paper. One helpful way...
Arizona's Venomous Snakes—identification and desert safety, by Brett Smith of Sonoran Reptiles Reptiles are an often undervalued cornerstone in every environment, including your very own backyard. These animals play an extremely important role in maintaining homeostasis in most habitats around the world. Without snakes and other reptiles we would be overrun by vermin en masse...
Watching warblers is a truly satisfying experience. This presentation will focus on characteristics, behaviors, and other clues for the identification of warblers and will be useful for the expert and...
Following a catered dinner, Melissa and Steve will share their talk. Melissa and Steve will discuss the theme of "Reciprocal Birding", sharing insights (and bloopers) from the writing of their...
Have you ever wanted to try hunting, or harvest your own food? The Outdoor Skills Network is your one-stop resource for events offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and a network of partners who conduct hands-on events to teach you the basics about hunting, fishing, trapping, safety, wildlife, and other outdoor skills. Interested, but not...
Join Ranger Kevin for a hike to the top of Yavapai Point. Join us for a 3-mile hike on the moderately difficult Pipeline and Yavapai Point trails. These trails feature loose rock, uneven terrain and about 400ft of elevation gain. From Yavapai Point, you will be rewarded with perhaps the best view of the lake...
Learn about birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate guided hike with Ranger Eric while participating in the City Nature Challenge! Join Ranger Eric to look for...