Events

Topic: Explore the Desert

A walk along a desert trail becomes more alive if you observe and interpret the many little stories you encounter along the way. It is especially fun to share your knowledge when you take grandkids or out-of-town visitors on a desert stroll. "Are those snake holes? Is that one of those cactuses that can jump on you? How old is that saguaro? Which animal ate that cactus and how can they do that? Why is that lizard doing push-ups?” These are but a few of the questions one may ask along that walk. Through photographs and video, we will explore these and other observations, which will help us understand more about the vibrant world of the Sonoran Desert.

Presenter: Doris Evans, retired educator in environmental education positions as Curator of Education at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and as Environmental Education Resource Teacher with the Tucson Unified School District

Register Here

*If you have questions about registration contact Laurie McCoy lmccoy1@.arizona.edu

Topic: Living with Native Wildlife

In the communities in which we live, we share the land with a variety of native wildlife--birds, bobcats, snakes, coyotes, javelinas, and other creatures who called this space home long before we moved here. As longtime residents have come to know, it is best to learn to live in harmony with them because they likely will always be a part of this high desert landscape. In this presentation, Ms. De Souza will focus on what attracts native wildlife to homes and yards and how these human resources are the reason wildlife spend so much time in and around our homes.

Presenter: Locana De Souza is an Urban Wildlife Specialist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Ms. De Souza has been working with residents and communities in southeastern Arizona for more than eleven years, helping them recognize that they have the tools to resolve conflicts with wildlife.

Register Here

*If you have questions about registration contact Laurie McCoy lmccoy1@.arizona.edu

Topic: A New World Flora: Selection of Plant Species for Biosphere

How would you choose the plants that would feed you, produce your oxygen, consume your CO2, and create a functioning biosphere for 100 years? This program discusses how and why the plants that made the desert, savannah, and rainforest inside Biosphere 2 were chosen.

If you have a chance, please take the time to view a documentary about the Biosphere 2 project called “Spaceship Earth.” You can rent it or stream on various streaming services. The rental cost is minimal.

Presenter: Dr. Leigh was the Director of the Terrestrial Ecological Systems for the Biosphere 2 project from 1985-1991 and crew member of the original 2 year closure of Biosphere 2 from 1991-1993. She directed species selections, collection, growing, planting and management of the terrestrial systems to support 8 people.

Register Here

*If you have questions about registration contact Laurie McCoy lmccoy1@.arizona.edu