Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Plant Propagation at Borderlands Restoration Network
2026-08-27 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-20 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-18 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-13 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Borderlands Nursery & Seed, 42 San Antonio Road, Patagonia, 85624, United States
Spend your morning at Borderlands Nursery & Seed with a great group of plant lovers propagating native plants that will restore the landscapes of the borderlands. Bring water and be prepared for outdoor work.

National Park Week
2026-08-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-26 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-25 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-24 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-23 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-22 08:00 - 17:00 | Saguaro National Park West-West at the Red Hills Visitor Center, 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, 85743, United States
Join in celebrating America’s stories during National Park Week August 22-30, 2026!
Love national parks? There’s a holiday for that! Join the weeklong celebration of all things “national parks” happening August 22 to 30, 2026. Wrap up summer by coming out to explore nature and history, join ranger programs, earn your Junior Ranger badge, and more. Entrance fees are waived for US citizens and residents on August 25, 2026, for our 110th birthday.
Celebrate America’s Story
This year’s National Park Week theme is “Celebrate America’s Story” in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Come visit where many of America’s important stories are shared—in our national parks. Make your own stories exploring stunning natural landscapes, reflecting on our nation’s inspiring history and rich culture, and enjoying the great outdoors.
Share your national park stories on social media using #NationalParkWeek, #NationalJuniorRangerDay, and #NPSBirthday.
National Park Week Theme Days

Satuday, August 22: Kickoff Saturday and America 250 Grand Pix
Sunday, August 23: Safety Sunday
Monday, August 24: America in Motion Monday
Tuesday, August 25: National Park Service 110th Birthday & Fee-Free Day
Wedneday, August 26: Watch Wildlife Wednesday
Thursday, August 27: Thankful Thursday
Friday, August 28: Freedom Friday
Saturday, August 29: Staff Saturday
Sunday, August 30: Junior Ranger Day

ASARCO Discovery Center & Mine Tours
2026-08-26 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-22 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-21 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-20 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-19 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-15 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-14 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-08-13 09:30 - 10:30 | ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center, 1421 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, 85629, United States
The ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours’ vision has been to educate communities on the vital importance of the copper mining industry to civilization, to educate students and teachers in earth sciences, and to preserve Arizona’s mining history.’
Join the mine tour for a firsthand look at the copper transformation process. Ticketed mine tours are approximately 65 minutes long.
Tours at 9:30 am, 11:15 am
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MINE TOUR

Closed-toed shoes are required to take the tour. No Crocs, sandals, or flip-flops will be allowed.
We suggest bringing a water bottle (filtered water station is available in the Center).
Please dress comfortably.

Paton Center Habitat Ambassadors
2026-08-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Paton Center for Hummingbirds, 477 Pennsylvania Ave, Patagonia, 85624, United States
Join Tucson Bird Alliance’s restoration team in enhancing and maintaining habitat around the Paton Center grounds.

Position Description:

TBA’s restoration department has been hard at work acquiring new grounds and developing valuable native habitat types at the Paton Center over the past few years and we need your help to continue this work. Events will focus largely on invasive species removal and weeding but could include any of the following activities:

Weeding and planting the Paton meadow to support pollinators
Trail maintenance and building for improved visitor experience
Invasive grass and vine pulling and management
Brush clearing and hauling
Irrigation system maintenance to support native plants
Paton Center yard and grounds maintenance
Native seed collection

We welcome you to register for these events if you are interested in any of these tasks and a TBA staff member will reach out in advance of each event to provide a more detailed plan for the day.

Requirements:

Please come prepared to work in direct sun and in hot temperatures during warm months. We recommend wearing long sleeves, long pants, and a hat as well as sturdy close toed shoes. Please also bring a refillable water bottle.

Date:

October-May: 10-12 pm
June-September: 9-11 am

Number of Openings:

We are looking for 10-15 volunteers for each date. Registration required. Please click HERE link to sign up for the date(s) you would like to volunteer.

National Park Service Birthday
2026-08-25 | Saguaro National Park West-West at the Red Hills Visitor Center, 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, 85743, United States
Come join the National Park Service birthday celebration on August 25! The National Park Service was created on August 25, 1916, to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” Over the hundred plus years, they have grown into more than 400 national parks and many programs that reach communities around the country—and even the world!
Their birthday is part of National Park Week this year so come celebrate all week! Join the birthday fun on social media using #NPSBirthday, #NPS110, and #NationalParkWeek.

Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
2026-08-23 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-08-22 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-08-16 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-08-15 09:00 - 12:30 | Patagonia Lake, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Patagonia,, AZ, 85624, United States
Every Saturday and Sunday, $7 per adult, $5 per child (13 years and under)

9 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
10:15 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
11:30 a.m. Lake Discovery Tour
Twilight Tour on Saturdays only. Time varies.

Please call the park to make your reservation: 520-287-2791.
Boat rentals are available at the Patagonia Lake Marina.

Docent Led Tour
2026-08-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Empire Ranch, 16655 E. Empire Ranch Rd, Sonoita, 85637, United States
Docent Led Tour of the Empire Ranch House. 11 am to noon. Reservations are required by 5 pm the day before the tour. Click here to make a reservation. Free. Meet at the Visitor Contact Station.

Historic Empire Ranch 150th Anniversary Celebration
2026-08-22 09:00 - 13:00 | Empire Ranch, 16655 E. Empire Ranch Rd, Sonoita, 85637, United States
Celebrating Our History While Preserving Our Future
The Empire Ranch was established 150 years ago on August 22, 1876. Join us for a special celebration of the history, significance, and endurance of the Empire Ranch plus plans for its continued preservation.

Saturday, August 22, 2026
9 am to 1 pm
Schedule of Events

9 am—Opening Presentation: Danger Road – The Perils of Travel Through the Sonoita Valley by Rick Collins–Adobe Haybarn
10 am—Ranch History Presentations (ERF docents will provide repeating 10-minute presentations on aspects of Empire Ranch history at 10:00, 10:20, 10:40, 11:00, 11:20)

Early history–Room 1, Commissary
Cowboy/Ranch life–Rooms 3/6, Cowboy Quarters
Families–Room 22, Master Bedroom
Movies Filmed in Empire Ranch territory–Room 8, Foreman’s Quarters
Preservation–Room 20, Living Room

10:30 to 11:30 am–Walter Vail: Arizona and California Rancher, book signing by Alison Bunting– Front Porch, Victorian Addition
12 pm—Closing Remarks and Refreshments, Adobe Haybarn
Learn about the Empire Ranch Foundation’s plans for the future and enjoy a piece of birthday cake and iced tea.

All Day Activities

Strolling musical entertainment by Ken Brown and John Anderson
Visit the ERF Gift Shop which is stocked with many 150th anniversary items.

Archaeology Day
2026-08-22 08:00 - 11:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At our monthly (fourth Saturday) Archaeology Day, representatives of Tucson’s archaeology community come to Mission Garden to teach practical hands-on skills. Archaeology Southwest will be doing their Hands-on Archaeology program. It allows kids of all ages to try out fascinating ancient technologies. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center is represented at these events, also presenting interactive programs about things like pinch pots, pendants, and cordage. John Palacio speaks about and demonstrates making replicas of petroglyphs. Come join in any time between 8am and 11am.

Celebration of All Things S-cuk Ṣon / Tucson 251+
2026-08-20 18:30 - 22:00 | Presidio San Augstin del Tucson, 196 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85701
POP-UP EXHIBIT COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT
FREE to Tucsonans who enjoy a summer evening.
While the Tucson basin has been inhabited for thousands of years, the formal inception date of the City of Tucson is August 20th, 1775. Today, we use this date to celebrate our rich TucSonorense culture and its many inhabitants. Did you know the name Tucson originates from the native O’odham word “s -cuk ṣon” which means “at the base of the black hill”
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If you are interested in volunteering at this event with the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, please email: outreach@santacruzheritage.org or sign up here

Birds of Mission Garden
2026-08-13 08:00 - 09:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At Mission Garden, meet at the front gate

Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden’s expert birders. We’ll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with the roadrunners. We always check the hummingbird feeder! Take the opportunity to learn about the history of Tucson’s agriculture and some of the crops that have been important here.
