13/04/2026
Announcing pima County Conservation Lands and Resources in-person nature programs for May and June
To register: https://www.explore.pima.gov/
Gardens of Canoa Ranch
Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens of Historic Canoa Ranch with Raydine Taber from the Green Valley Gardeners. Designed for ages 12 and up.
Dates: Friday, May 1 and June 5
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley 85622
Cost: Free.
Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome when space permits.
Tour of Historic Canoa Ranch
Join a walking tour of the Canoa Ranch headquarters. Visit the historic buildings and corrals and enjoy the special exhibits of the people of Canoa.
Dates: Every Saturday in May
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Self-guided tours only from June – August
Location: Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley 85622
Cost: Free.
Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome when space permits.
Birding El Rio Preserve
El Rio Preserve along the Santa Cruz River provides excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Join birding expert Jeff Babson at one of Marana’s birding hotspots. We expect to see a nice mix of waterfowl, sparrows, and other birds that are in town for the winter, as well as resident regulars. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water; wearing a hat and sunscreen are also recommended.
Dates: Tuesday, May 5 and June 2
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: El Rio Preserve, 10191 N Coachline Blvd, Marana 85743
Cost: $5.00 (Resident) | $6.25 (Non-Resident)
Registration: Online registration at: www.maranaaz.gov/recreation
Register through Marana Parks and Recreation
Signs of the Season Phenology Walk
Phenology is nature’s calendar – the timing of annual life-cycle events that are influenced by climate and weather, like blooming, migration, and nesting. Join us for a stroll along the Santa Cruz River as we gather data on seasonal changes in native plants to learn more about phenology, its importance, and how you can help contribute to our understanding of the natural world.
Dates: Sunday, May 3, May 17, June 7, and June 21
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Location: Group meets in front of Pima County Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library, 7800 N Schisler Dr, Tucson 85743
Cost: Free. Registration required.
Smartphone
Nature Photography Walk
Normally we’d suggest you put your cellphone away and focus on the wonders around you, but those cellphones can be a tool to help you engage in the moment AND relive those memories for years to come. Join us for a workshop on the move as we explore El Rio Preserve and get some tips on photographing the great outdoors.
No complicated photography jargon, no expensive equipment – just your phone, a bit of walking, and plenty of guidance and inspiration.
Dates: Wednesday, May 6 and June 3
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: El Rio Preserve, 10191 N Coachline Blvd, Tucson 85743
Cost: $5.00 (Resident) | $6.25 (Non-Resident)
Registration: Online registration at www.maranaaz.gov/recreation
Register through Marana Parks and Recreation
Birding Agua Caliente Park
In southern Arizona the natural world begins to think about spring in March. This walk at Agua Caliente Park offers opportunities to view our desert denizens alongside some pond-loving riparian birds
Dates: Wednesday, May 6, May 20, June 3, and June 17
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson 85749
Cost: Free*.
Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome when space permits.
*Now free thanks to the generous support from the
Friends of Agua Caliente
Stargazing
Tucson Mountain Park
Join us to explore the wonder and unfold the mysteries of the cosmos. Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association volunteers provide an introduction to the night sky and set up telescopes for celestial viewing. Weather permitting – notice of cancellation emailed by 4:30 p.m. on event day.
Date: Saturday, May 9
Time: 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area, 2000 N Kinney Rd, Tucson 85743
Cost: Free. Registration required.
El Rio Preserve
Nature Stroll
Join a Pima County Naturalist for a guided nature stroll through the desert and riparian habitats of El Rio Preserve. Wander along level, well-maintained trails as we explore the unique plants and animals of the pond and surrounding Sonoran Desert. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water; a hat and sunscreen are also recommended.
Dates: Thursday, May 14, May 28, June 11, and June 25
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: El Rio Preserve, 10191 N Coachline Blvd, Marana 85743
Cost: $5.00 (Resident) | $6.25 (Non-Resident)
Registration: Online registration at www.maranaaz.gov/recreation
Register through Marana Parks and Recreation
Spring/Summer
Nature Journaling Series
Journaling is a great way to focus the mind, build creativity, deepen curiosity, and learn more about the plants and animals around us. Join us to explore how we can slow our pace and connect with the natural world by capturing words, images, and numbers on the page. Nature Journaling is not about art but it may make you a better artist.
All experience levels welcome. All materials provided, including a new journal to take home.
Cost: $5 Registration required
Pima Prickly Park
3500 W River Rd, Tucson 85741
Thursday, May 14 | 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Why are so many plants in and around Pima County so darn spiky? Let's journal about it. Explore the advantages, some obvious some less so, of donning a coat of spines, thorns, and prickles. Learn about the form and function of these botanical features and discover just how elegant these adaptations are to some very prickly problems.
Historic Canoa Ranch
5375 S. I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley 85622
Thursday, May 21 | 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Journaling at the nexus of nature and architecture. Explore the organic and geometric shapes at one of Pima County's historic ranches and capture the interplay of wild environments and our human-made landscapes.
Feliz Paseos Trails Park
1600 N Camino De Oeste, Tucson, AZ 85745
Thursday, June 11 | 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The interconnected web of arroyos that wend their way through wild and urban spaces serve as animal superhighways linking together now fragmented resource-rich areas. Put on your detective's hat to discover just who has been traveling to and through this park.
Colossal Cave
16721 E Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641
Thursday, June 25 | 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Caves are cool features – literally – in our Sonoran Desert landscape.
Perched at the mouth of the cave, we’ll use our senses to explore this transition zone of contrasts in light, temperature, humidity, and sound. We’ll record observations and develop questions, make discoveries, and deepen our own connection to the natural world.
Nature Stories: Pollinator Play
Meet the amazing and important pollinators through games and stories. Take a close look at the parts of a flower and discuss how, with the help of pollinators, plants create fruits and seeds.
FREE. Contact library to reserve your space.
Salazar-Ajo Library
15 W Plaza Ste 179 Ajo 85321
Friday, May 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Nanini Library,
7300 N Shannon Rd, Tucson 85741
Tuesday, June 2 |10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Living River Ramble
Phenology is nature’s calendar – the timing of annual life-cycle events that are influenced by climate and weather, like blooming, migration, and nesting. Join us for a stroll along the Santa Cruz River as we gather data on seasonal changes in native plants to learn more about phenology, its importance, and how you can help contribute to our understanding of the natural world.
Dates: Sunday, May 17 and June 21
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Group meets in front of Pima County Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library, 7800 N Schisler Dr, Tucson 85743
Cost: $5. Registration required.
Birding Canoa Ranch
Spring migration is largely over in southern Arizona, but that doesn’t mean that there are not a lot of birds to be seen. On this walk we will be on the lookout for Lucy’s Warbler, Bell’s Vireo, Vermilion Flycatcher, and other resident desert birds.
Dates: Wednesday, May 20 and June 10
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley 85622
Cost: $5. Registration required.
Bat Walk at Agua Caliente Park
Explore the nocturnal world of bats, beginning with an introduction to their diversity, biology, and conservation. The group then sets off on a casual stroll with bat detectors to determine just which species are flying over our heads.
Dates and Times:
Wednesday, May 20 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson 85749
Cost: $10. Registration required
Tour of Barrio Viejo
Join us for a historical walking tour of Barrio Viejo. Discover the history, architecture, and art of one of Tucson's oldest neighborhoods. Barrio Viejo is home to one of the largest 19th century adobe communities in the Southwest. This 0.9-mile walking tour from the El Tiradito shrine to Lee Ho's former grocery store will highlight the transition of the Barrio from Territorial status to the arrival of the railroad, urban renewal and now gentrification.
Dates: Thursday, May 21 and June 18
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Meets at Bar Crisol, 196 W Simpson St, Tucson 85701
Cost: Free. Registration required.
Nature Stories:
Insects and Spiders
Insects and spiders are important and amazing! Through games and stories learn about their cool tiny world and the important jobs they do. Free. Contact library to reserve your spot.
Date: Wednesday, May 27
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Quincie Douglas Library, 1585 E 36th St, Tucson 85713
Creatures of the Night:
El Rio Preserve
Bats, and frogs, and snakes – oh my! Join Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation naturalists as we seek flying, slithering, and hopping creatures that come out at night.
Explore the nocturnal world using bat detectors to discover which species are flying above our heads, and flashlights to observe snakes and other creatures active during summer nights. Learn about the diversity, ecology, and conservation of these interesting nocturnal animals.
Dates: Thursday, May 28 and June 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: El Rio Preserve, 10191 N Coachline Blvd, Marana 85743
Cost: $10.00 (Resident) | $12.50 (Non-Resident)
Registration: Online registration at www.maranaaz.gov/recreation
Register through Marana Parks and Recreation
Welcome to Pima County
Southern Arizona features a deep interconnectedness of ecology, culture, and community.
Join us at this presentation for an introduction to the most biodiverse county in the United States and a journey through a Sonoran Desert sense of place.
Date: Friday, May 29
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Miller-Golf Links Library, 9640 E Golf Links Rd, Tucson 85730
Cost: Free.
Nature Stories:
Deep Down Under!
What will we find if we dig down? Learn about the amazing layers of history under our feet. Volcanos, dinos, mammoths, sophisticated civilizations – it all happened here and the story is recorded underground! Free. Contact library to reserve your spot.
Flowing Wells Library
1730 W Wetmore Rd, Tucson 85705
Wednesday, June 24 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Southwest Library
6855 S Mark Rd, Tucson AZ 85757
Friday, June 26 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Quincie Douglas Library
1585 E 36th St, Tucson 85713
Saturday, June 27 | 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Lizards and Other Critters at El Rio Preserve
It’s hot out there! Just the way some desert critters like it. Join a Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources naturalist for a guided walk in search of lizards, snakes, birds, small mammals, and other desert wildlife that call El Rio Preserve home. All ages encouraged.
Date: Saturday, June 27
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: El Rio Preserve, 10191 N. Coachline Blvd., Marana 85743
Cost: $5.00 (Resident) | $6.25 (Non-Resident)
Register through Marana Parks and Recreation
Nature Journaling
@ Your Library
Journaling is a great way to focus the mind, build creativity, deepen curiosity, and learn more about the plants and animals around us. Join us to explore how we can slow our pace and connect with the natural world by capturing words, images, and numbers on the page. Free. Contact library to reserve your spot.
Date: Saturday, June 27
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Quincie Douglas Library, 1585 E 36th St, Tucson 85713
Registered for one of our programs, but no longer able to attend? Please let us know; we may have a waiting list.
Email us at:
[email protected]
