At Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

March 3-6, 2024

Spring is beginning in the desert. Hummingbirds sparkle in their search for nectar and mates. Thrashers sing and gather sticks for nests. Brittlebrush blooms along the roadsides. Secret ephemeral flowers emerge from the ground. The sunsets linger later into the night. The cactus are calling…

Pack your bags and join Professor David Gilligan in the heart of the Sonoran Desert for quality time in cactus country with fellow naturalists. We will spend our mornings birding, our afternoons botanizing, and our evenings telling stories by starlight. Each day will include structured sessions on desert ecology, hikes to field sites, and ample time for break-out sessions focused on plant and bird identification and the practice of natural history. We will explore the Ajo Mountain Drive, Bull Pasture, and Senita Basin, as well as the Twin Peaks area.

Hiking will include both moderate and intermediate options. We will camp in the park’s Twin Peaks group campground, which has flush toilets and solar showers. Camping is primarily tent camping with a shared ramada and picnic tables for our group. There are three parking spots available for people with camper-vehicles. However, we highly encourage you to tent camp to further immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. Options are available for either driving your own vehicle to Organ Pipe or traveling from NHI by group van.

The field camp is a meet-up concept rather than a guided trip. You can expect professionally facilitated natural history programming throughout each day and a casual, relaxed, communal environment in the evenings at camp. All parts of the program are designed for maximum participation: our goal by day is to practice natural history together, and by evening to tell stories about it. Daily natural history sessions are well-suited to all naturalist ability levels, from beginner to advanced.

You will be provided with a thorough packing list, including ideas for food and meals for the duration of the trip. You will need your own tent, sleeping gear, and cooking equipment.

WHERE: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

WHEN: March 3-6 (3 nights, 4 days)

GROUP SIZE: 12 participants

AGES: Adults and youth 16 or older

COST: $625 per person. Van transportation additional $50