Multiple Small Group Mentored Rabbit (cottontail & jackrabbit) Hunts throughout the year for new or beginning hunters. Date, time and location by arrangement. Topics include firearm shooting, safety and target shooting practice at a safe shooting range prior to going out hunting. Then in the field, your group will learn the ins and outs of [...]
A resident bird expert leads a walk through Mission Garden to observe the birds that live in or visit the garden. Take your time, explore the grounds, and learn about local birds. Everyone is welcome, whether you are an experienced birder or just curious. Bring binoculars and comfortable walking shoes. Meet at the front entrance. [...]
A guided walk exploring lichen, desert varnish and soil crust with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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 [...]
Bikes need to be in condition and ready to ride. Helmets are required. Our rides are social, not competitive, with distances determined by the leader and depending on who shows up. If you are not yet on the mountain bike list, please send an email to Suzanne Milligan at suzanne.milligan@yahoo.com.
Join us every Thursday for nature-based science and art activities at the Nature Center! For elementary kids aged 6-11. Parent or Guardian must attend.
Watch expert trainiers work with beautiful raptors such as a Red Tail Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Eurasian Eagle Owl, and Aplomado Falcon. Events are held indoors most days, and outside in our patio when the weather permits. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Doors are closed and locked at 3PM. Tickets are available online on [...]
The East Valley Astronomy Club sponsors a free public star party each month at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert. The event is scheduled on the second Friday of each month, weather permitting. The star party begins at dusk. You are encouraged to attend and observe through member's telescopes.
Yavapai Trails Association has worked with Prescott National Forest to set up each 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month as a trail workday. At our work events you may enjoy routine brushing or trail building, and occasionally we’ll spend a Saturday doing something a bit more adventurous. We may hike out further or do [...]
Sonoran Audubon bird outing at Estrella Mountain Regional Park led by Tom Locascio. Questions: locascio2000@hotmail.com.
An interpretive hike to the historic Brown's Ranch homestead with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
Yavapai Trails Association has worked with Prescott National Forest to set up each 2nd Saturday of the month as a trail workday. Contact yavapai.trails@gmail.com to sign up Look for an email just before each scheduled workday to remind you to RSVP and announce the location. Thank you for all your volunteer hours. *If you have [...]
Do you want to learn more about falconry? Come to this day long camp and learn about raptor biology & ecology, state regulations, equipment requirements, raptor health and husbandry, and attend hunts with master falconers. For participants ages 11 and up Contact: email arizonafalconers@gmail.com Important: Registration is required for each person in the party attending the [...]
Session 2 of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy's beginner mountain biking clinic. It reviews Session 1 skills and adds balance drills, Relaxed and Ready positions, smooth shifting and emergency stopping, followed by a 3-5 mile ride on easy trails. Session 1 (Nov 7) is required; one ticket covers both sessions. Meet at the south end of [...]
A guided walk on medicinal plants, global and local, with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
A free community nature festival at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, 7th Avenue Trailhead, hosted with Sonoran Audubon and partners. A river cleanup runs 8-9am before the festival.
Are you a kid between the ages of 7 & 15? This skills day camp is for you! Outdoor skills classes include: archery, wildlife, gun safety, survival bracelets, animal tracks, owl pellet dissection, kayaking, horsemanship and other skills and activities. Kids receive event shirts and goody bags. Information: www.arizonaelksociety.org, 623-444-4147 Important: Registration is required for each person in [...]
Join us for Desert Discovery Day on November 14, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at beautiful Jewel of the Creek Preserve in Cave Creek. This free family festival features hands-on activities, close encounters with native wildlife, and interactive exhibits celebrating the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Hosted by Desert Foothills Land Trust, the [...]
A lecture on the future of Scottsdale's water supply and sustainability planning, part of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy's lecture series.
Phoenix Astronomical Society workshop on choosing your first telescope, at Apache Wash Trailhead Park, 1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix. End time is approximate.
Public star party hosted by the Phoenix Astronomical Society at Apache Wash Trailhead Park, 1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix. The gate closes at 7pm. End time is approximate.
Open to guests and members of the Wickenburg Sportsmen club. Wickenburg Sportsmen's Club is a 501 C7 nonprofit social club where our members and their guest enjoy organized sporting events, potlucks and campfires. We promote organized sporting events with a focus on safety and sportsmanship. Events are for recreation, there are NO prizes. There is [...]
This June, join the bird walk along Higley Ponds. These four ponds along Higley Road are renowned for bird watching.
Volunteers will meet staff outside of the main building at the Entry Station, where they will sign them in. After signing in, volunteers will be directed to where to park for litter pick-up efforts. Volunteers should be prepared to pick up litter along the shoreline and throughout the park as directed by staff. Volunteers should [...]
Join a ranger on a ~1 mile, mostly paved, walk through some of the most biodiverse terrain in central Arizona. A combination of plant communities and habitats surrounding the world’s largest travertine bridge supports a wide variety of bird species that call the park home and we will be searching for. Meets between the Waterfall [...]
A half-mile, 90-minute walk on the history of Brown's Ranch with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
A very difficult 7.5-mile hike (1,300 ft gain) from the Gateway Trailhead to Windgate Pass with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
The San Pedro River is a haven for over 250 species of migratory and breeding birds that are either passing through or making nests for the Spring. This spot hosts weekly bird walks and watches. Bring binoculars, water and other tools to last several hours.
Desert Rivers Audubon field trip to farm fields and ponds in the Buckeye/Arlington area, led by Kathe Anderson. Meet at 1900 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe. Registration required; limited to 7 participants.
Bird walk at the San Pedro House led by docents from the Friends of the San Pedro River and other local organizations.
Want to add your event? Go to Build A Nature Walk.