Field Trips - Rincon Mountain District (East)

 

Pollinators and You

Grade K-2
AZ Standards: K.L1U1.6, K.L1U1.7, 1.L1U1.6, 1.L2U1.8, 2.E1U3.7, 2.L2U1.9

Explore the world of pollinators and how their work keeps plants and people happy. Students will rotate through stations that include a hike, an agriculture activity, close-up examination and the art of flower anatomy, and games to bring the super-senses of pollinators to life.

This program takes place at the Desert Research Learning Center, located at the end of Broadway Blvd, which is a scientific facility shared by parks across southern Arizona. Classes are encouraged to have lunch at shaded picnic tables after the program.

Available on a limited schedule October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum

 

Where is the Water

Grade 2-3
AZ Standards: 2.E1U1.5, 2.E1U3.7, 2.L2U1.9, 3.L1U1.5

Deserts are defined as places with sparse precipitation. So how does our Sonoran Desert support such miraculous biodiversity including aquatic environments with organisms like frogs and fish? And how have human beings thrived here since time immemorial? Bring your students on water's journey through the sky, the ground, and living creatures.

This program takes place at the Desert Research Learning Center, located at the end of Broadway Blvd, which is a scientific facility shared by parks across southern Arizona. Classes are encouraged to have lunch at shaded picnic tables after the program.

Available October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum

 

Volunteer Ranger shows students a Hohokam pit house model

NPS Photo/ Heather Taylor

Experimental Archeology

Grade 3-5
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

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!

During this program, students move through 4, 30-minute stations with discussion and hands-on activities exploring art, agriculture, shelter, and hunting.

This program takes place at the Desert Research Learning Center, located at the end of Broadway Blvd, which is a scientific facility shared by parks across southern Arizona. Classes are encouraged to have lunch at shaded picnic tables after the program.

Available on a limited schedule October through March
Group Size: 30 students maximum

 

NPS Photo

Geology Mystery

Grade 4-5
Location: Javelina Picnic Area
AZ Standards: 4th grade: 4.E1U1.6, 4.E1U1.7

Uncover the geologic mystery within the Rincon and Tucson Mountains and the powerful forces that made it happen.

Available October through March
Group Size: 30 students maximum

 

Fish in the desert? Yes!

NPS Photo

Saguaro-ology

Grade K-8
AZ Standards

• Career Awareness (K-5): 2.0, 4.1, 5.0
• eCTE Career Exploration (6-8) 1.2, 3.3, 6.1

The more we learn, the more questions we have. The Sonoran Desert landscape offers park scientists many avenues of study but the common themes in all of them is curiosity, observation, and experimentation. Students will have an opportunity to dabble in the four primary fields of science (and one surprise fifth science!) pursued at the Desert Research Learning Center. Our host site, located at the end of Broadway Blvd, is a scientific facility shared by parks across southern Arizona. Classes are encouraged to have lunch at shaded picnic tables after the program. This program is highly adaptable to various curriculum needs with diverse audiences, including both mainstream and exceptional education, life skills, or transition classes. Tell us about your audience so that we can custom build this to suit your students.

Available October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum

 

The "Other" Saguaro National Park

Looking for something on the west side of Tucson? Check out Field Trips - Tucson Mountain District (West)

 

Fall dates open August 1

Request a Ranger-Guided Field Trip