Events
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Wildlife Extravaganza on Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill Boathouse (Base of Hill) Tucson, ArizonaMeet with various local organizations, including Sky Island Alliance, and ask all your wildlife questions. SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel will be there. This family friendly event, located at the base of Tumamoc Hill, will include kids activities, games, and free giveaways.
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Malpai Borderlands Conference
Geronimo Event Center 4 Rattlesnake Canyon Road, Rodeo, NMJoin us in person or virtually at this free annual conference, led by ranchers in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. There are several guest speakers who will present as part of the day's conference, including SIA's Eamon Harrity, who will give a talk on the border wall's impacts on wildlife. Other talks will feature tarantulas, spotted cats, ranching strategies, and rewilding landscapes.
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Sky Island FotoFauna Class in Green Valley
Green Valley Recreation 1070 S. Calle de las Casitas, Green Valley, ArizonaThis Oct. 6 and Oct. 27, we’re hosting a two-part class in Green Valley for folks interested in joining Sky Island FotoFauna and learning how to set up a wildlife camera in their backyard as part of our community science project. Registration for Green Valley Recreation members is already open and, for the rest of the public, it opens Sept. 22. SIA Wildlife Program Manager Eamon Harrity will be leading the class.
Course fee: $50
Optional fee: $100 for a camera kit -
Discovery Night: Bats and Snakes
Children's Museum Tucson 200 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesSky Island Alliance presents a special Discovery Night in partnership with the Children's Museum of Tucson. Free and open to the public, this event will feature live bats and snakes with crafts and expert presentations. At 5:30 p.m. bat biologist Debbie Buecher will present, followed by a 6 p.m. presentation from snake biologist Mike Cardwell. Come learn more about these misunderstood creatures from the experts, and get to see these animals in person, all while enjoying a free night at the museum.
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Wildlife and Walls: How Barriers on the U.S.-Mexico Border Impact Wildlife
Western National Parks Association 12880 N. Vistoso Village Dr., Oro Valley, ArizonaBorder walls are spreading around the world, including right here in Arizona. Since 2020, Sky Island Alliance has used motion-activated cameras to study the impacts of border barriers on wildlife movements. Join Eamon Harrity for this in-person talk to learn about these monitoring efforts and how different species respond to border barriers.
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Celebrate: 2025 Festival of the Sky Islands
Plaza Principal en Moctezuma, Sonora AZ, MexicoSave the dates! Oct. 16-18 is the 4th annual Festival of the Sky Islands in Moctezuma, Sonora. Let’s celebrate in an event filled with education, art, and conservation. This year, we are placing special emphasis on the Sky Islands’ grasslands, which are very important for bird migration, climate regulation, water filtration, and other ecosystem services. This event is made possible through a collective commitment, with the participation of organizations, students, artists, teachers, and schools, sharing their talent and knowledge through workshops, talks, exhibits, artistic performances, and community activities.
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Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us for a weekend in Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as we resume the fight against invasive vinca!
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Erosion Control in the Catalinas
Join us in the Santa Catalina Mountains for a weekend building erosion-control structures in areas burned by the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Together, we can protect springs from landslides and ensure the mountain absorbs even more rain and snowmelt, recharging the aquifer that plants, wildlife, and people like us depend on. Note: Carpooling from Tucson is available, and day-trippers are most welcome. We'll be camping at Whitetail Campground on Mt. Lemmon.
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Wildlife and the Wall: How Animals Navigate Barriers on the U.S.-Mexico Border
Tumamoc Hill Boathouse (Base of Hill) Tucson, ArizonaBorder walls are spreading around the world, including right here in Arizona. Since 2020, Sky Island Alliance has used motion-activated cameras to study the impacts of border barriers on wildlife movements. Join Eamon Harrity to learn about these monitoring efforts and how different species respond to border barriers.
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Volunteer at Rancho El Sahuaro
Join us for a volunteer camping weekend at the picturesque Rancho El Sahuaro, just 15 minutes south of the U.S.-Mexico border town of Naco, Sonora. As part of our larger Ranchos Regenerativos program, which aims to integrate traditional ranching practices with land stewardship, we will be working with the landowners on restoration activities at this mixed grassland ranch. For more info and to sign up, contact SIA’s Mexico Program Manager Zach Palma: zach@skyislandalliance.org.
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Tucson ‘Spring Cleaning’
Join our campaign to remove invasive species at nine priority springs in the Tucson area. Together, we can restore these crucial wildlife oases! We'll be working mostly in the Sabino Canyon area on the northeast side of town and near Vail and Davidson Canyon on the southeast side. Stay as long as you like, and leave whenever you need to. This is a great way to create an impact, get in a workout, and meet other volunteers.
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FotoFauna Class in Oro Valley
This Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, Sky Island Alliance is hosting a two-part class in Oro Valley for folks interested in joining FotoFauna and learning how to set up a wildlife camera in their yard as part of our community science project. We’d love for you to join us!
Course fee: $50 per adult (kids free)
Optional fee: $100 for a camera kit -
Mescal Spring Invasive Plant Removal
Let's get our hands dirty and help restore this beautiful spring southeast of Tucson by removing invasive plants. Note: Carpooling from Tucson is available, and we'll be camping at the Bar V Ranch Headquarters.
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Volunteer in the Sierra San José
Join us for a volunteer camping weekend at Ejido Naco, just south of Bisbee. As part of our larger Ranchos Regenerativos program, we will be working with the landowners on the ejido as they create a conservation area within the Sierra San José. Project activities will include trail building and erosion-control structures. For more info and to sign up, contact SIA’s Mexico Program Manager Zach Palma: zach@skyislandalliance.org.
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Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us for a weekend in Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as we resume the fight against invasive vinca!
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Springs Restoration in the Whetstones
Kartchner Caverns State Park 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ, United StatesJoin us for a day of removing invasive species at McGrew Spring in southern Arizona's beautiful Whetstone Mountains. Closed to the public, the spring is more than two miles from any other water source and is a favorite haunt of coatis, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and birds.
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The Border Wall: Updates & Impacts for Mexico
VirtualWe've all heard about "the line," "la migra," and the illegal market that exists between Mexico and the United States. But have you ever wondered how border infrastructure affects local communities, Indigenous peoples, and the wildlife that inhabit this region? We invite you this Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. to our next virtual Coffee Break, a panel and open conversation in Spanish about the new border wall construction in the Sky Islands region and the social and ecological impacts it’s generating. Panelists will be representing various Mexican organizations with experience and perspective on the border.
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us for a weekend in Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as we resume the fight against invasive vinca!
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Barrel Spring Arundo Removal
Arizona National Golf Club Tucson, ArizonaJoin us for a morning at a historic Tucson spring, now in an urban setting, as we remove this invasive plant and restore a wildlife oasis.
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Santa Cruz Watershed Days of Connection
Danny Lopez Park 4300 N Silverbell Road, Tucson, ArizonaJoin us and our allies for this family-friendly event along the Santa Cruz River in Tucson. There will be food, music, and fun, as well as a chance to help clean up along the river.
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Road Rewilding in the Canelo Hills
Join SIA for a weekend of camping as we physically decommission closed roads in the Canelo Hills south of Sonoita.
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Barrel Spring Arundo Removal
Arizona National Golf Club Tucson, ArizonaJoin us for a morning at a historic Tucson spring, now in an urban setting, as we remove this invasive plant and restore a wildlife oasis.
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Santa Cruz Watershed Days of Connection
Las Milpitas Community Farm 2405 S. Cottonwood Lane, Tucson, ArizonaJoin us and our allies for this family-friendly event along the Santa Cruz River in Tucson. There will be food, music, and fun, as well as a chance to help clean up along the river.
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Spring Seeking in the Catalinas
Join us for some wild and beautiful hikes on the east side of the Catalinas, near Redington Pass, as we survey springs by day and car camp at night.
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Barrel Spring Arundo Removal
Arizona National Golf Club Tucson, ArizonaJoin us for a morning at a historic Tucson spring, now in an urban setting, as we remove this invasive plant and restore a wildlife oasis.
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Erosion Control in the Catalinas
Join us in the Santa Catalina Mountains for a weekend building erosion-control structures in areas burned by the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Together, we can protect springs from landslides and ensure the mountain absorbs even more rain and snowmelt, recharging the aquifer that plants, wildlife, and people like us depend on. Note: Carpooling from Tucson is available, and day-trippers are most welcome. We'll be camping at Whitetail Campground on Mt. Lemmon.
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Santa Cruz Watershed Days of Connection
Verdugo Park 902 S. Verdugo Ave., Tucson, ArizonaJoin us and our allies for this family-friendly event along the Santa Cruz River in Tucson. There will be food, music, and fun, as well as a chance to help clean up along the river.
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Spring Restoration in Bear Canyon
Rancho Fundoshi Spring Northeast Tucson, ArizonaHelp us restore a wildlife oasis by removing invasive grasses and oleander along the Bear Canyon drainage around Rancho Fundoshi Spring. We'll be working in the soil, bending, kneeling, and using hand tools, picks, and lots of elbow grease.
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Coffee Break: A Floristic Tour of the Rincon Mountains
VirtualJoin us for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more about the Rincon Mountains’ exceptionally rich and dynamic plant diversity. As with so many of our sky islands, the plants in the Rincons originate from distinct regional floras and overlap across wide elevation ranges and rugged terrain. Our speaker is SIA Botanist Dan Beckman, who just recently joined us after 12 years with Saguaro National Park.
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Barrel Spring Arundo Removal
Arizona National Golf Club Tucson, ArizonaJoin us for a morning at a historic Tucson spring, now in an urban setting, as we remove this invasive plant and restore a wildlife oasis.
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Volunteer Open House
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesCelebrate the milestones of our hard-working volunteers, socialize with the Sky Island community, and learn about upcoming volunteer events!
This event will be held at the Sky Island Alliance office, with light refreshments provided. Please RSVP by March 19.
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Mescal Spring Invasive Plant Removal
Let's get our hands dirty and help restore this beautiful spring southeast of Tucson by removing invasive plants.
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Erosion Control at Rancho El Sahuaro
Rancho El Sahuaro Naco, Sonora, MexicoJoin us for a volunteer camping weekend at the picturesque Rancho El Sahuaro, just 15 minutes south of the U.S.-Mexico border town of Naco, Sonora. As part of our larger Ranchos Regenerativos program, which aims to integrate traditional ranching practices with land stewardship, we will be working with the landowners on restoration activities at this mixed grassland ranch.
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Trail Building in the Sierra San José
Ejido Naco, SonoraJoin us for a volunteer day trip just south of Bisbee in Naco, Sonora. We'll be helping build a trail in the Sierra San José, an area that's part of Ejido Naco and soon to be voluntarily designated for conservation.
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Wildlife-Friendly Fencing in the Mule Mountains
Part 1: Over the course of two weekends, SIA will be completing a new wildlife-friendly fence around Abbot Spring to help it recover from overuse by cattle. This is a great chance to see a new corner of the Sky Islands, meet people and camp, and either learn a new skill or share your expertise with others.
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Trail Building in the Sierra San José
Ejido Naco, SonoraJoin us for a volunteer day trip just south of Bisbee in Naco, Sonora. We'll be helping build a trail in the Sierra San José, an area that's part of Ejido Naco and soon to be voluntarily designated for conservation.
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FotoFauna Two-Part Class in Tucson
Tucson Botanical Garden 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, ArizonaThis April 11 and May 2, Sky Island Alliance is hosting a two-part class at the Tucson Botanical Garden for folks interested in joining FotoFauna and learning how to set up a wildlife camera in their yard as part of our community science project. We’d love for you to join us!
Course fee: $60 ($48 for Tucson Botanical Garden members)
Optional fee: $100 for a camera kit -
Rattlesnakes Are Awesome Moms!
VirtualReady to explore the surprising world of rattlesnake families and learn how these remarkable reptiles care for and protect their young? Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break. Our guest speaker is Melissa Amarello, co-founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation. For her talk, she’ll draw on more than two decades of studying and living with reptiles to show us what snakes are really like through stories and videos.
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Trail Building in the Sierra San José
Ejido Naco, SonoraJoin us for a volunteer day trip just south of Bisbee in Naco, Sonora. We'll be helping build a trail in the Sierra San José, an area that's part of Ejido Naco and soon to be voluntarily designated for conservation.
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Springs Restoration in the Whetstones
Kartchner Caverns State Park 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ, United StatesJoin us for a day of removing invasive species at McGrew Spring in southern Arizona's beautiful Whetstone Mountains. Closed to the public, the spring is more than two miles from any other water source and is a favorite haunt of coatis, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and birds.
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Binational Border BioBlitz
Cuenca Los Ojos Ranch Agua Prieta, Sonora, MexicoCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts! Join SIA and partners for a special binational event, starting at Cuenca Los Ojos ranch in Sonora. Groups will be surveying on both sides and will eventually meet at the wall. If you'd like to join from Arizona instead, see the event on April 25.
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Wildlife-Friendly Fencing in the Mule Mountains
Part 2: Over the course of two weekends, SIA will be completing a new wildlife-friendly fence around Abbot Spring to help it recover from overuse by cattle. This is a great chance to see a new corner of the Sky Islands, meet people and camp, and either learn a new skill or share your expertise with others.
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Binational Border BioBlitz
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, ArizonaCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts! Join SIA and partners for a special binational event, starting at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona. Groups will be surveying on both sides and will eventually meet at the wall. If you'd like to join from Sonora instead, see the event on April 23-26.
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Celebrate the San Pedro
San Pedro House 9800 AZ-90, Sierra Vista, ArizonaThe Friends of the San Pedro River spring festival explores the cultural and natural history of the beloved Upper San Pedro River Valley. The event is free and will feature activities for adults and kids, a series of talks, and informational displays.
The event this year will emphasize history — you will be able to throw an atlatl, make an adobe brick, learn about the Clovis mammoth hunters and other native cultures, find out about the Amerind Foundation, and much more. SIA's Ranchos Regenerativos tech Karen Aglaee Lopez Roman will also be there tabling, so stop by and say hello.
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Grassland Restoration at Rancho Agua de Enmedio
Rancho Agua de Enmedio Cananea, SonoraJoin us for a volunteer camping weekend at the beautiful Rancho Agua de Enmedio near Cananea, Sonora. As part of our larger Ranchos Regenerativos program, we will be working with the landowners on restoration activities including erosion control, work in the tree nursery, and making seed bombs.
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Coffee Break: Himdam, the Remarkable Ocelot That Traversed 4 Sky Islands
VirtualJoin us for this virtual Coffee Break to learn more about the remarkable journey of a male ocelot across four mountain ranges in the Sky Islands of Arizona, the longest-known trek by a single member of the species. This ocelot covered at least 111 miles and crossed I-19, AZ-82, and AZ-83 (at least twice) as it moved among the Atascosa Highlands, Whetstone Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, and Santa Rita Mountains. One of the more fascinating aspects of this story is that the ocelot was detected in four separate ranges by four organizations, who then collaborated to tell the story. We'll be joined by several partners for the talk to discuss this intrepid cat and what's next for ocelot conservation.
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Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us for a Memorial Day weekend in Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as we resume the fight against invasive vinca!
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Workshop: Springs Trip Planning and Navigation
Sky Island Alliance Office 3127 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin SIA staff for an evening at our Tucson office getting ready for upcoming volunteer trips to visit springs within the Sky Islands. Topics covered will include: reading maps and satellite images, navigation aids on desktop computers and smartphones, making tracks and reading elevations and contours on maps, planning backcountry vs. trail walks, etc. With these skills, you’ll be ready to volunteer with confidence.
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Spring Restoration in Bear Canyon
Rancho Fundoshi Spring Northeast Tucson, ArizonaHelp us restore a wildlife oasis by removing invasive grasses and oleander along the Bear Canyon drainage around Rancho Fundoshi Spring. We'll be working in the soil, bending, kneeling, and using hand tools, picks, and lots of elbow grease.
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Festival for the Grasslands
Cananea, SonoraJoin us in Cananea for a community weekend celebrating the grassland ecosystem of northeastern Sonora. Cananea lies in the heart of the Sky Islands region — a place where rivers are born, and where biodiversity and culture abound. We look forward to a couple days full of community, learning, celebration, culture, hiking, and camping! This gathering is part of the celebration of the United Nations’ International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, which seeks to recognize the importance of grasslands, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of rural communities.
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Erosion Control in the Catalinas
Join us in the Santa Catalina Mountains for a weekend building erosion-control structures in areas burned by the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Together, we can protect springs from landslides and ensure the mountain absorbs even more rain and snowmelt, recharging the aquifer that plants, wildlife, and people like us depend on. Note: Carpooling from Tucson is available, and day-trippers are most welcome. We'll be camping at Spencer Campground on Mt. Lemmon.
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Monsoon-Themed Open Mic
Hotel Congress - Century Room 311 E. Congress Street, Tucson, ArizonaIn partnership with the University of Arizona's Poetry Center, join us at Hotel Congress' Century Room to celebrate and call in the 2026 monsoon season! Participants can share their own work or a rain-themed poem that they love. Spots in the lineup will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to 30 people can read, with one poem per person. Learn more and sign up for a spot.
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Leaping Lagomorphs: A Deep Dive on Rabbits and Hares of the Sky Islands
VirtualJoin us for this virtual Coffee Break with SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel, who will take us on a deep dive into the different cottontail and jackrabbit species that make their home in the Sky Islands and bring so much joy with their every hop and step. Together, we’ll learn how to identify each species in the field and on camera. Meagan will also share their life history and distribution across the region using data from our FotoFauna and Border Wildlife Study cameras.