Youth Group Programs

Attention Youth Group Leaders!
The following programs are available free of charge at locations throughout Pima County. Programs are tailored to organized youth and family groups of 10 to 30 people.

Select from this menu of programs to schedule a time to bring your youth or family group to a Pima County Park, or we can bring the educational program to your facility.

For additional information and scheduling call (520) 615-7855 Ext 102 or email: eeducation@pima.gov.

Youth and Family Programs Brochure

Orienteering
Using a map and compass to find your way can be a fun and practical way to explore nature. 
Location: Agua Caliente Park, Feliz Paseos Park or appropriate outreach location

Sonoran Desert Discovery
Get down and dirty with a hands-on guided exploration of the Sonoran Desert - from soil composition to the mighty saguaro. Learn how energy flows and matter is recycled in the desert.
Location: Feliz Paseos Park or appropriate outreach location
Program Outline
Worksheet

Riparian Discovery
Experience life in a natural spring and pond through hands-on guided exploration. Use binoculars and hand lenses to make observations and work as a team to understand the connections between plants and animals and their environment.
Location: Agua Caliente Park
Program Outline
Worksheet

Hydrology
The quality of water is important to aquatic life and human life. Learn the basic techniques used by scientists to study water and get hands-on while measuring the quality of the water at Agua Caliente Park.
Location: Agua Caliente Park
Program Outline
Worksheet

Observing Birds
Use spotting scopes, binoculars and field guides to discover and identify common birds of the desert.
Location: Agua Caliente Park, Feliz Paseos Park or appropriate outreach location
Program Outline
Birding Basics
Duck Diagram Worksheet

Exploring Aquatic Life
Discover the diversity of life that inhabits the ponds at Agua Caliente Park. Use nets, skimmers and buckets to collect water samples and then watch the water come to life under the microscope.
Location: Agua Caliente Park

Experiencing Nature through the Senses
Animals use their senses to explore their surroundings, look for food and even find a mate! Use your senses to learn about the plants and animals that call the Sonoran Desert home.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Program Outline

Camouflage - Hide and Seek in the Desert
Have you ever wondered why a bobcat has spots or why female hummingbirds are so drab? Animals come in all sorts of colors to help them survive. Learn about how animals use colors and patterns to blend in.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Program Outline
Worksheet

Sounds of the Sonoran Desert
Immerse yourself in the natural symphony of the desert with a multimedia presentation. Learn about the significance of nature sounds and recreate what you hear using a variety of simple instruments.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Program Outline

Exploring Watersheds and Poetry/Visual Arts
Tucson’s River of Words Youth Poetry and Art Contest incorporates science and art for a truly unique experience. Create your own watershed model and discover the power of water. Then, express your knowledge through poetry writing or mixed media art. Contest entry forms will be available at the program. Contest deadline is February 1, 2008.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Watershed Outline
Poetry Outline

Animal Tracking
Many animals are very hard to find but may leave behind one tell-tale
clue - their tracks! Use rubber track replicas to recreate animal tracks and learn how to identify them in the wild.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Program Outline
Worksheet

Skulls from the Sonoran Desert
You can tell a lot about an animal by looking at the size and shape of its skull. Use the skulls of Sonoran Desert animals to learn about what they eat, where they live and how they hunt.
Location: appropriate outreach location
Program Outline
Booklet

Sonoran Desert Wildlife
Get excited about the diversity of life that surrounds us. Multimedia and live wildlife presentations will expose you to the beauty of nature. Use the presentation as preparation for a trip to one of our natural resource parks or as a stand alone program.
Location: indoor facility

Moon Mission
Use binoculars and telescopes to learn about the earth’s nearest neighbor, the moon. Work as a family to complete hands-on activities, then head outdoors to gaze at the man in the moon. Program availability is dependent on the phases of the moon.
Location: Appropriate outreach locations

Night Sky
Use binoculars and telescopes to learn about the planets and stars in our solar system. Work as a family to complete hands-on activities, and then head outdoors to search for some of the season’s galactic wonders. Program availability is dependent on the phases of the moon.
Location: Appropriate outreach locations