Residents are still evident this time of year but many winter visitors will also be making their appearance. We’ll be walking up some length of the birding trail, taking stock of what is on the lake, and perhaps checking out the dam area as well. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, water, snacks and lunch, sun protection....
We’ll start the morning by meeting at James D. Kriegh Park in Oro Valley to check the mesquites and open park areas for a variety of birds including Costa’s Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Say’s Phoebe, Phainopepla, and Rufous-winged Sparrow. This park isn’t birded often, but could hold some good surprises! After birding for about 90 minutes...
Join us on a half mile 90-minute walk on the Jane Rau trail where we will talk about the people and events that shaped the history of the Brown’s Ranch area. We will discuss the Indigenous people who lived here, the role of the military in the region, the ranching history of the region and...
Join a naturalist-guided walk along Big Wash in Oro Valley, on an easy- to moderate-level trail. In addition to great views of the Santa Catalina Mountains, this area is designated an important wildlife corridor, so we’ll keep an eye out for native birds such as Gila woodpeckers and cactus wrens, and other desert wildlife. Trekking...
Join us for a walk through the Rio Salado habitat. Together, we’ll explore the trails, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and observe the wildlife that calls this area...
This class connects you and your child to the garden through hands-on activities, where you’ll learn where food comes from, explore nature, and create fun nature-inspired crafts. Ages 0 - 5
This is a nature-inspired class for children ages 2-5. Each session invites children to explore unique materials for art, construction, science, literacy, and more. Whether painting with mud, building with sticks, experimenting with water, or storytelling with found objects, children will engage in hands-on discovery that nurtures creativity, problem solving, and sensory exploration.
Make a 3-dimensional spooky tree to celebrate this fall season. Ages 5 - 12
Explore the arboretum with our Docents on a golf cart tour! We invite you to join us for an hour long cart ride to some of our most scenic spots of the arboretum. Our knowledgeable Docents will give you insights into our collections and take you to the best photo ops the gardens have to...
Experience the opportunity of a lifetime with our Capybara Encounter! Come meet Chewy or BB and their care team at Shipwreck Cove. This encounter will give you the opportunity to feed our capybaras and learn from their care team about what it takes to care for such unique animals. Feel the texture of their fur...
Join us for a month-long learning adventure with CAMP INNOVATION: Homeschool Unit Study - Teen Dissections, specially designed for homeschool students in grades 7-12! Taking place every Thursday in October at Arizona Science Center, this hands-on program provides students in grades 7-12 with interactive, grade-level appropriate science experiences focused on how to properly dissect different...
Join us for an exciting meet-and-greet with surprise 4-legged guests who help our community in unique ways! Space is limited, so please see a staff person 30 minutes prior to the start of the program to pick up a ticket which will be your registration. Program is limited to 75 participants. Ages 0 - 5
Nature Play & Story Time: Bats About Bats! Families will learn how desert bats live, including how they fly, sleep upside down, and use echolocation to find food. Children will discover the important role bats play in the desert ecosystem by controlling insect populations, and they’ll develop curiosity and understanding about these unique nighttime animals....
Have you ever wanted to meet one of our Sea Lions up close and personal? Join us for a WILD encounter at Wildlife World Zoo! Learn what it takes to care for our amazing marine mammals, and see what goes in to training them. You will be able to get an individual or group photo,...
Have you ever wanted to meet a sloth? Come meet Luna and her care team. This encounter will give you the opportunity to feed Luna and learn from her care team what it takes to raise and care for such a unique animal. Feel the texture of her hair and take a selfie with our...
Are you mammal obsessed? This is the tour for you! Our Private Mammal Tour is a great option to meet some of our furry friends, watch feeding demonstrations, and learn more about the mammal residents at PHS! Your VIP-Inspired Experience Includes: Capybara interaction for the group. Meet, pet, and feed our adorable capybara "Spud"! Opossum interaction...
Presented by Jack Ward (Lab Analyst, Centre for Ore Deposits and Earth Sciences CODES, University of Tasmania, Australia) This year's colloquium series will consist of a mixture of researchers across the University of Arizona along with visiting scientists as well! The colloquium series will be conducted in the Gould-Simpson “Fishbowl” (2nd floor) from 2-3PM on Thursdays....
Discover the wonders of the natural world through hands-on STEAM exploration at Curious by Nature! For children ages 6 to 12 and their caregivers, Curious by Nature helps young explorers ask questions, solve problems, make observations, and learn about the world around us. Join us as we discover, investigate, and have fun together. Drop-in and join us, space...
Join Ranger Jacque for a special evening hike to explore the edible plants of the Sonoran Desert. We will walk along the Wagner Trail, identifying native plants that have served as vital food and medicinal sources for generations of inhabitants. This 2.2-mile loop is rated easy, featuring gravelly terrain and 124 ft elevation change. Please...
Connect with local gardeners and others with a passion for gardening and sustainability. Bring labeled seeds, plant starts or potted plants to trade with other plant enthusiasts. Explore our seed library and enjoy hands-on activities. Ages 18+
Come out October 22nd, 6pm for a wonderful fun filled evening with the book release of “Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods”, book signings, and tasty treats. Join editors Liz Carisle and Aubrey Streit Krug as they have an in-depth conversation with Gary Nabhan about his contributions to their book. Book Overview “Just four...
Enjoy A Bewitching Evening! Dig up your zombies and grab your ghouls! Show off your boo-tiful costumes at Reid Park Zoo for a delightful, not too frightful, family friendly evening at Boo at the Zoo, presented by One AZ Credit Union. You’ll have an enchanting time with the whole family at this Tucson Halloween tradition. Proceeds...
Spiders, scorpions, and snakes OH MY! It’s spooky season in the Sonoran Desert and Ranger Shaun is here to celebrate! Come along on this Halloween themed hike to look for creepy crawlies in the desert with flashlights and blacklights and learn about how the spooky things in the desert get by! Where do they live,...