native plants
Aravaipa Canyon Restoration
During this trip we are continuing a new task in Aravaipa Canyon - removing an invasive plant called vinca (or periwinkle) from the understory of the creek banks. This will require digging and fastidious removal of root material, with tools provided by Sky Island Alliance. We'll be bending, digging, and getting dirty. We will also be installing native plants in previously cleared areas to improve pollinator habitat.
Madera Canyon Restoration
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson.
National Public Lands Day – Madera Canyon!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson.
Oracle Road Wildlife Crossing – Planting Day!
Santa Catalina Catholic Church 14380 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, United StatesThere is a new wildlife bridge just north of Tucson that crosses Oracle Road to connect the Tortolita Mountains with the Santa Catalina Mountains. We are working with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, the Tucson Audubon Society to install native plants on the southeast side of the wildlife crossing at the Santa Catalina Catholic Church.
Oracle Road Wildlife Crossing – Planting Day!
Santa Catalina Catholic Church 14380 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, United StatesThere is a new wildlife bridge just north of Tucson that crosses Oracle Road to connect the Tortolita Mountains with the Santa Catalina Mountains. We are working with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, the Tucson Audubon Society to install native plants on the southeast side of the wildlife crossing at the Santa Catalina Catholic Church.
Oracle Road Wildlife Crossing – Planting Day!
Santa Catalina Catholic Church 14380 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, United StatesThere is a new wildlife bridge just north of Tucson that crosses Oracle Road to connect the Tortolita Mountains with the Santa Catalina Mountains. We are working with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, the Tucson Audubon Society to install native plants on the southeast side of the wildlife crossing at the Santa Catalina Catholic Church.
Pollinator Planting in Brown Canyon
Brown Canyon Ranch Brown Canyon Ranch, Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesJoin us as we check up on our recent work at Brown Canyon Ranch Pond - we'll be installing pollinator plants and removing any weeds we find.
Monday Morning at Madera!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson. We start with a bird/nature walk, then do some restoration work.
Oracle Road Wildlife Bridge
Santa Catalina Catholic Church 14380 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, United StatesJoin us as we put the finishing touches on the new native plant buffer between the Santa Catalina Catholic Church and the new wildlife bridge! We will be installing a few more plants, spreading seeds, and moving rocks around to maximize water harvesting opportunities.
Monday Morning at Madera!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson. We start with a bird/nature walk, then do some restoration work.
Collect Seeds at Saguaro National Park
Red Hills Visitor Center 2700 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, United StatesJoin us at Saguaro National Park (west) for a morning of seed collection to support a new native plant pollinator garden!
Monday Morning at Madera!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson. We start with a bird/nature walk, then do some restoration work.
Bear Canyon Fountain Grass Battle
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area 5900 N Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson, AZ, United StatesRemove invasive fountain grass in beautiful Bear Canyon to make way for native pollinator plants!
Collect Seeds at Saguaro National Park
Join us for a pleasant morning of seed collection at Saguaro National Park! Seeds will be used to support new native plant pollinator gardens.
Monday Morning at Madera!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson. We start with a bird/nature walk, then do some restoration work.
Monday Morning at Madera!
Madera CanyonWe are bringing back nature! After two bridges were replaced earlier this summer, there were no plants and lots of potential erosion. Help us continue our work to bring back the natives and pollinators at this phenomenal birding spot with Sky Island Alliance just an hour south of Tucson. We start with a bird/nature walk, then do some restoration work.
Collect Seeds at Saguaro National Park
Rincon Visitor Center 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, United StatesSpend the morning in the beautiful Rincon Mountains collecting seeds with us! The seeds will be supporting new native plant gardens for pollinators at Saguaro National Park!
Collect Seeds at Saguaro National Park
Red Hills Visitor Center 2700 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, United StatesNative plant seeds will help us plant pollinator gardens at Saguaro National Park. Come learn how we do it!
Collect Seeds at Saguaro National Park
Red Hills Visitor Center 2700 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, United StatesSpend a gorgeous Tucson winter day learning how to collect native plant seeds with an expert crew!
Beat Back Buffelgrass Day – Bear Canyon
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area 5900 N Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson, AZ, United StatesCelebrate Beat Back Buffelgrass Day 2016 with Sky Island Alliance, making a difference in your local wild lands! Help us in our battle against fountain grass, buffelgrass and other invasives in the beautifully riparian, Bear Canyon.
TimBuckTwo Pond Restoration – Monday
TimBuckTwo Ranch Amado, AZ, United StatesHelp us to re-create habitat for Gila topminnows as well as a diversity of native bird, bat, and invertebrate species.
Pollinator Planting in Bear Canyon
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area 5900 N Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson, AZ, United StatesJoin us in Bear Canyon for a lovely day of planting natives for pollinators! We have cleared a huge area of fountain grass, and there are several areas ready for transformation.
Birding With a Purpose: Help Survey Springs in the Sky Islands
Virtual / In Collaboration With Tucson AudubonJoin us to learn more about SIA's Spring Seeker program from Habitat Conservation Manager Sarah Truebe. Next time you go birding, you can survey a spring too! It’s easy with our smartphone app. This will help protect these precious water sources, and it'll benefit the birds and other wildlife.
Training: Learn How to Become a Sky Island Spring Seeker
VirtualJoin us to learn more about the Spring Seeker program from SIA Habitat Conservation Manager Sarah Truebe. Spring Seeker is a community science program where volunteers can search for springs across southern Arizona and northern Mexico, documenting conditions using a simple smartphone app.
Spring Seeker Field Trip: Huachuca Mountains
Meetup at Pizzeria Mimosa 4755 E. Neapolitan Way, Hereford, AZJoin us in the field to explore Clark Spring in southern Arizona's Huachuca Mountains. This is an approximately 2-mile round-trip hike at 6,000 feet elevation.
Spring Seeker Field Trip: Patagonia Mountains
Paton Center for Hummingbirds 477 Pennsylvania Ave., Patagonia, AZJoin us in the field to explore a natural spring in southern Arizona's beautiful Patagonia Mountains. As a group, we’ll decide how to answer the Spring Seeker survey questions, and everyone will get a chance to submit their own surveys and pictures.
Critter Night at Tucson’s Mission Garden
Mission Garden 946 W Mission Lane, Tucson, AZEvery year in August, Tucson's Mission Garden invites experts from wildlife agencies, local nonprofits, and the University of Arizona to come teach about wildlife in our area. Some groups bring live animals. Join us for this fun, family-friendly night. Free with $5 suggested donation.
Coffee Break: The Forgotten Botanist
VirtualJoin us Sept. 1 for an exciting conversation with independent scholar, editor, poet, and author Wynne Brown, who will share details from Sara Lemmon’s life and work with an emphasis on Sky Island plants.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZWant to do something fun and meaningful this Labor Day weekend? Come join us in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Chiricahua-Peloncillo Heritage Days
Geronimo Event Center 4 Rattlesnake Canyon Road, Rodeo, NMJoin us for this two-day festival full of food, music, and fun in the heart of the Sky Islands. Highlights include a keynote speech from local poet-storyteller Petey Mesquitey, live music, regional field trips, farmer's market, a film screening, and more.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve this fall for a fun and meaningful weekend with other volunteers. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve this fall for a fun and meaningful weekend with other volunteers. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve this February for a fun and meaningful weekend with other volunteers. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, and exploration of remote park areas! Part one of three in this spring series.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, and exploration of remote park areas! Part two of three in this spring series.
Border BioBlitz Virtual Talk
VirtualJoin us for a virtual talk hosted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. Our Program Director Emily Burns will be presenting as part of a panel of speakers from both sides of the border. And you can learn more about how to participate in this April's binational Border BioBlitz.
Border BioBlitz: San Pedro Cleanup
San Pedro RiverJoin us for a day on the beautiful San Pedro River, helping clean up this important wildlife corridor near the border. This event is cohosted by the Sierra Club, and BLM representatives will also be on hand. Participants will meet up in Palominas and then carpool to the cleanup site.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, and exploration of remote park areas! Part three of three in this spring series.
Border BioBlitz: San Rafael Valley
San Rafael Valley 277 McKeown Ave., Patagonia, AZCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts to join us for a Borderlands BioBlitz!
Border BioBlitz: Parker Canyon Area
Parker Canyon Lake 3200 S Sonoita Hwy, Sonoita, AZ, United StatesCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts to join us for a Borderlands BioBlitz!
Border BioBlitz Weekend: Patagonia
Borderlands Campsite (TBD) Duquesne Road, Patagonia, AZCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts to join us for a Borderlands BioBlitz!
Border BioBlitz: Huachuca Mountains
Huachuca Mountains 4101 E Montezuma Canyon Road, Hereford, AZCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts to join us for a Borderlands BioBlitz!
Border BioBlitz: San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, ArizonaCalling birders, botanists, bug lovers, trackers, herpers, fungi folk, and naturalists of all sorts to join us for a Borderlands BioBlitz!
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us over Memorial Day weekend for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Spring Seeking in the Patagonia Mountains
Sanctuary at Sonoita Creek 376 Pennsylvania Ave., Patagonia, AZJoin us in the field for a day of exploring natural springs in southern Arizona's beautiful Patagonia Mountains. New Spring Seekers will be trained how to answer the survey questions, then we'll divide into small groups and carpool out to many different sites throughout the mountains.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Native Plantings at Mint Spring & Busch Spring in the Catalinas
Spencer Canyon Campground Mt. Lemmon, AZJoin us for a weekend of planting native shrubs and wildflowers at two natural springs in the Santa Catalina Mountains. We'll be getting dirty, bending, lifting, and digging with tools provided by SIA, then enjoying each other's company at the campground at night.
Erosion Control at Green Spring in the Catalinas
Spencer Canyon Campground Mt. Lemmon, AZJoin us for a weekend of building erosion-control structures near Green Spring in the Santa Catalina Mountains. We'll be getting dirty, bending, lifting, and digging with tools provided by SIA, then enjoying each other's company at the campground at night.
Critter Night at Tucson’s Mission Garden
Mission Garden 946 W Mission Lane, Tucson, AZEvery year in August, Tucson's Mission Garden invites experts from wildlife agencies, local nonprofits, and the University of Arizona to come teach about wildlife in our area. Some groups bring live animals. Join us for this fun, family-friendly night. Free with $5 suggested donation.
Erosion Control on North Slope of Catalinas
Oracle Ridge Trailhead Mt. Lemmon, AZJoin us for a day of building erosion-control structures near a priority drainage on the north slope of the Catalinas that was damaged in the 2020 Bighorn Fire. We'll be getting dirty, bending, lifting, and digging with tools provided by SIA.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us Labor Day weekend for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Chiricahua-Peloncillo Heritage Days
Geronimo Event Center 4 Rattlesnake Canyon Road, Rodeo, NMJoin us for this two-day festival full of food, music, and fun in the heart of the Sky Islands. Highlights include professional presentations, live music, a farmer's market, regional field trips, and more.
Art in the Park
Valencia Library 202 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, AZJoin us for this free, family-friendly event — the first in a series hosted by Saguaro National Park. Each event will feature a different aspect of our Sonoran desert and include hands-on art activities. There will be two sessions: 10:30 a.m. and noon. For the first talk, SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel will present on...
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Erosion Control in the Catalinas
Palisades Visitor Center Mt. Lemmon, AZ, United StatesJoin us for a day of building erosion-control structures near Caseco Spring in the Catalinas. The spring is a key source of water for wildlife but needs some love after being damaged in the 2020 Bighorn Fire.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of activities including invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, fencing removal, and reseeding. Part one of six in this volunteer series.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Survey Springs in the Pajarita Wilderness
Ruby Ruby, AZ, United StatesJoin us for a weekend of surveying springs in the Atascosa Mountains' Pajarita Wilderness. We'll be car camping each night in the old mining town of Ruby, Arizona.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of activities including invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, fencing removal, and reseeding. Part two of six in this volunteer series.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZJoin us for another volunteer camping trip in the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Preserve. We'll be continuing work to remove invasive vinca along the banks of the creek.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of activities including invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, fencing removal, and reseeding. Part three of six in this volunteer series.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of activities including invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, fencing removal, and reseeding. Part four of six in this volunteer series.
Aravaipa Canyon Vinca Removal
Aravaipa Canyon - East / The Nature Conservancy Guesthouse Klondyke, AZCome join us for one of our last volunteer camping weekends in Aravaipa Canyon Preserve as we finish this round in our fight against invasive vinca!
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park East 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park for a day of activities including invasive species removal, plant and animal ID, fencing removal, and reseeding. Part five of six in this volunteer series.
Saguaro Stewardship Experience
Saguaro National Park West - Red Hills Visitor Center 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZJoin us at Saguaro National Park West for a day of fencing removal to improve wildlife connectivity and benefit species like mule deer and bighorn sheep. Part six of six in this volunteer series.