Botany

The Sonoran Naturalist is available for educational wildlife presentations mostly on Fridays, but availability is limited so do contact early for availability. During the presentation, the introduction of different animal species that exist in the Sonoran Desert and information about them is included. A large variety of live animals available for shows! When safe, audience is allowed interactions with the animals present.

This activity is designed to teach students the fundamentals of pollination, including basic methods of plant reproduction and the role of animals as pollinators in plant reproduction.

Developed by Tuan Cao

Fire Ecology:

Are forest fires always a bad thing?

We'll look at the role of fire in our northern Arizona ponderosa pine ecosystem and how land managers use fire to maintain and create wildlife habitat.

Water’s Changing Journey

With the wonderful combination of an instructor’s guidance and our interactive exhibits, students learn where water comes from and how they can help to conserve it and keep it clean. Through the hands-on approach of our exhibits coupled with the outdoor experience of dipping for pond and river insects or conducting water quality surveys, students learn how important water is to all living creatures in our desert environment.

Nature is for the Birds: Bird Watching and Bird Biology

Interested in a career that helps the environment? Explore cool jobs in environmental sciences and resource management. Meet experts that will share what they do and how you can get training and experience necessary to enter environmentally-focused careers. These events are free to the public, as are all events at the Rio Salado Audubon Center. 

The 110 acre Riparian Preserve offers students access to a wide variety of environmental studies. Our unique setting provides opportunities to participate in fun and educational experiences not possible in the classroom.

All activities at the Preserve are correlated to the current Arizona State Standards and are cross-curricular in their approach.

Questing is a natural history scavenger hunt designed to connect people with the history and culture of a particular area.

Stop by Willow Bend Mondays-Fridays from 9:00AM - 4:00PM to take part in this exciting, informative adventure!