Local Nature Study Ideas

All of Arizona ::

• Arizona State Parks and Trails

• National Parks in Arizona (free annual pass to all National Parks when you have a 4th grader)

• AllTrails website/app (helpful for researching trail ideas for families)

• Pick Your Own (list of u-pick farms in Arizona)

• Central Arizona Butterfly Association (they lead butterfly and dragonfly hikes around the state)

• Great Backyard Bird Count

• Educating Children Outdoors (local nature study classes)

Camp Verde ::

• Out of Africa (free admission during your birth month)

Cave Creek ::

• Cave Creek Regional Park and Nature Center

• Jewel of the Creek Preserve (very family-friendly place for exploring; can you find the cave?)

• Spur Cross Conservation Area

Chandler ::

• Nature Center at Veteran's Park (great programs, bird list)

Gilbert ::

• Riparian Institute (also has a unique playground and dino dig)

Goodyear ::

• Estrella Mountain Park (free homeschool classes twice a month)

Litchfield Park ::

• Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

Mesa ::

• Rose Garden at Mesa Community College

• Usery Mountain Regional Park (check out their homeschool classes)

Peoria ::

• Lake Pleasant

Phoenix ::

• Arizona Falls

• Desert Botanical Garden (free on second Tuesdays)

• Japanese Friendship Garden (free on First Friday evenings)

• Liberty Wildlife (great spot to visit when you are studying birds!)

• Papago Park (Ramada #10 is great for moms sitting down while kids explore water, also has a stage for a little performance or recitation, would be a great spot for a book club mtg plus nature time)

• Phoenix Bat Cave

• Phoenix Zoo

• Piestewa Peak (check out the Nature Trail and the Dreamy Draw Trails)

• Rio Salado Audubon Center (click here for plant guide - we enjoy exploring the woods, beaver pond, and butterfly garden on the NE corner of 7th Avenue and the Rio Salado)

• Rose Garden near Encanto Park

• South Mountain Environmental Education Center (check out their extensive programs)

• Tres Rios Wetlands

Queen Creek ::

• San Tan Mountain Regional Park (excellent homeschool classes)

Scottsdale ::

• Butterfly Wonderland

• McDowell Mountain Regional Park

• OdySea Aquarium

• Phoenix Herpetological Society

• Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

Superior ::

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum (check out their homeschool classes and themed guided walks)

Tonopah ::

• Mesquite Wildlife Oasis

Tucson ::

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

• Tohono Chul Botanical Garden

Waddell ::

• White Tanks Nature Center

Wickenburg ::

• Hassayampa River Preserve