Field Trip - Experimental Archeology

Program Content

Archeologists study people of the past using the tools of science like observation and inference. But what about everyone's favorite scientific tool -- experimentation! If you want to know how people grew crops in the Sonoran Desert landscape, try doing it yourself. If you wonder how far a projectile can be thrown during pre-historic hunting, grab hold of an atlatl and a measuring tape.

AZ Standards: 3.SP3.3, 3.SP3.4, 3.G2.1, 3.G4.1, 4.SP1.3, 4.SP3.2, 4.G2.1, 5.SP3.2, 5.SP4.2, 5.G2.1

 

Planning Your Field Trip

Where does it take place?

How many students can attend?

  • Maximum group size: 30

How long is it?

  • 2 hours

What about transportation?

If you need financial support for your transportation, the Friends of Saguaro National Park can help! Title 1 schools from the Tucson area can request a subsidy of us to $250. Schedule the bus through your district transportation office. After your field trip is complete, have your transportation department send the invoice to Environmental Education at 2700 N Kinney Rd. Tucson, AZ 85743 to apply for the transportation subsidy. If transportation requires more than 1 bus to accommodate your students, please let us know in advance of your trip.

 

Before Your Field Trip

You've scheduled the program, organized the transportation, and collected permission slips. Now let us make sure all your hard work is put to the most effective use during your trip to Saguaro. This short program ensures that your students know what to expect, what's expected of them, and that they will have a fun and successful day at the park.

After scheduling your field trip, you'll receive an invite to our regularly scheduled timeslots, presented via distance learning. They occur:

Mondays, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m.
20 minutes

If you cannot attend any of the available time slots, you can opt to present the video below at a time of your choosing.
 
 
 
 

Getting To Your Field Trip

 
Location of DRLC

The Desert Research Learning Center is located at 12661 East Broadway Boulevard, in Tucson. The facility is adjacent to the east district of Saguaro National Park. Drive east on Broadway until the road ends and then turn into the driveway marked with our sign. Visitor parking is available in front of the main building.

Additional parking and bus turnaround is available behind the building.

 

Last updated: July 31, 2026

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ 85730

Phone:

520 733-5153
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