Social Events

We’re excited to share the social events planned for SLRF 2025, designed to help you connect with fellow attendees and enjoy some of the incredible sights Northern Arizona has to offer!

Conference Dinner

Friday, September 26, 6:30 PM

Health and Learning Center (HLC), Third Floor

Free for all registered attendees

Join us for an evening of great food and conversation with fellow researchers, educators, and students. This is a wonderful opportunity to relax and connect after a full day of presentations.

Please note: These excursions are organized by third-party providers. The SLRF team is simply helping to connect interested attendees. SLRF is not responsible for service delivery.

• Grand Canyon Tour: Sunday afternoon, September 28

  • Price: $139 per person (minimum of 13 participants required; pay in advance)

  • Pick-up: 12:00 PM at NAU; Visit: 1:30–4:00 PM; Return: Around 5:30 PM

  • Includes: Transportation, entrance fees, tax, and unlimited bottled water

  • Operator Website: https://detoursamericanwest.com/ 

The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, stretches 277 miles in length and averages 10 miles in width. Its exposed rock layers provide a visible record of nearly two billion years of Earth’s geological history. The South Rim, closest to Flagstaff, offers expansive viewpoints where visitors can see striking contrasts of red, orange, and ochre rock. Indigenous peoples, including the Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Hualapai, Paiute, and Zuni, have deep cultural and spiritual ties to the canyon, which remains central to their traditions. The Grand Canyon is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

• Sedona Tour: Sunday afternoon, September 28

  • Price: $130 per person (minimum of 13 participants required; pay in advance)

  • Pick-up: 12:00 PM at NAU; Visit: 1:00–5:00 PM exploring scenic Sedona

  • Includes: Transportation, entrance fees, tax, and unlimited bottled water

  • Operator Website: https://detoursamericanwest.com/ 

Sedona is renowned for its dramatic red sandstone formations, shaped by erosion over millions of years. The area has long been inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Sinagua, who left behind cliff dwellings and petroglyphs. Today, Sedona is known both for its natural beauty - landmarks such as Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are among the most photographed in the American Southwest - and for its cultural identity as a hub for art, spirituality, and wellness. The striking red color of the rocks comes from iron oxide (hematite) staining the sandstone. Sedona sits at the transition between desert and high-altitude forest, giving it a unique ecological character.

• Lowell Observatory Tour: Saturday night, September 27 

  • Price: $32.50 per person (pay at door; cash, Venmo, or Zelle accepted)

  • Tour: 3-hour private, guided program, all day access to the new Astronomy Discovery Center

  • Location: Lowell Observatory (1.1 miles from North Campus)

  • Includes: Admission and guided programming (transportation not included)

Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory is one of the oldest observatories in the United States. It is most famous as the site where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. The observatory has also contributed to mapping the expansion of the universe and studying Martian canals in the early 20th century. Flagstaff, where Lowell is located, became the world’s first International Dark Sky City in 2001, thanks to strict outdoor lighting ordinances designed to reduce light pollution. This commitment allows for exceptional night-sky visibility, making Flagstaff a global model for preserving dark skies. The observatory continues to play a leading role in astronomical research and public science education.