Jack Talk: The Desert in Springtime
2026-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Tubac Presidio State Historic Park & Museum, 1 Burruel St, #1296, Tubac, A, 85646, United States
Jack’s back! Join us as we welcome Jack Lasseter, well known local orator and historian, as he highlights what to look for as the desert emerges from its winter sleep.

The Sonoran Desert, here in southern Arizona, is a special place, unique in the world, but in the Spring when it comes alive with new growth, flowers, fruit, and that brilliant display of colors, it is even more magical and unforgettable. It is truly a time to be out in the desert. You will hear about flowers, fruit, cactus, local birds and other desert animals; and most importantly you will develop a new appreciation for the desert and the natural world surrounding it.

Your ticket includes admission to the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum, light refreshments and lecture. Although, this isn’t your typical “lecture”- free from Powerpoint, sit back relax and enjoy a story about the special place we call home.

Living Lab & Learning Center Tour
2026-03-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Watershed Management Group, 1137 N Dodge Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85716
Our guided Living Lab Tours happen every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. You’ll be led through our demonstration site by one of our Docents to learn about our many water harvesting systems firsthand.

Tubac HawkWatch Festival
2026-03-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Ron Morriss Park, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ, 85746
It’s peak week at the Tubac HawkWatch! Join HWI, the Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance for a week celebrating spring migration. This is a family-friendly event with free activities in the park to coincide with the peak flight of the Common Black Hawk migration. You can expect to hawkwatch alongside experts daily, enjoy birding walks and lectures, shop birdy merch and optics, and meet live Raptor Ambassadors.
On Optics Days, you can shop and try out the latest binoculars with the best optics dealers. Don’t forget to stop at HawkWatch International, Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance for some bird merch!
Bring a chair, hat, sunscreen, water, and binoculars.

We will be there on 3/13 and 3/14. If you are interested in volunteering (tabling with us) please reach out to zabrina@santacruzheritage.org

Tucson Festival of Books
2026-03-15 09:00 - 17:00 | University of Arizona
Join us inside the National Park Service tent at one of the 9 best literary festivals in the world by Condé Nast Traveler! Save up your energy for non-stop excitement at this all-day event on the University of Arizona Mall. This free festival exists to improve literacy rates among children and adults. All proceeds following the festival are donated to local non-profit organizations that support improved literacy in southern Arizona. Sign up for time slots here.

Guided Birding Walks at Patagonia Lake State Park
2026-03-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Patagonia Lake, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Patagonia,, AZ, 85624, United States
Guided bird walks are back!​ Join park rangers at the Birding Trail kiosk (next to campsite #12) for a ranger-led hike to learn about the diverse avian wildlife at Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek.
The event repeats each Friday and Monday at 9:00 a.m.​ For more information, These walks are limited to 15 people. Sign up in advance at the Visitor Center or by calling (520) 287-2791 or please visit https://azstateparks.com/patagonia-lake/events/bird-walk-patagonia​

Caring for Iris and Other Bulbs
2026-03-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W Naranja Dr, Oro Valley, AZ, 85737, United States
Yes! You can grow Iris flowers in our climate! Oracle resident Catesby Suter, UA Cooperative Extension Master Gardener with a Master of Science Degree in Botany will touch briefly on the history of Iris cultivation, planting techniques, preparing and feeding the soil, tips on dividing bulbs, and examples of flowering bulbs that will grow in our region. Come hear Catesby share with you how you can beautify your own garden!

ASARCO Self Guided Center Tours
2026-03-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-19 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-20 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-21 09:00 - 17:00 | ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center, 1421 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, 85629, United States
Since we opened our doors in 1997, the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours’ vision has been to educate communities on the vital importance of the copper mining industry to our civilization, to educate students and teachers in earth sciences, and to preserve Arizona’s mining history.
We invite you to take our free self-guided tour of the center’s indoor and outdoor exhibits, which walks through the copper transformation process. Afterward, peruse the Company Store for unique and educational gifts.

ASARCO
2026-03-17 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-18 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-19 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-20 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-21 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, 1:15 pm, & 3:00 pm
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.

Santa Cruz River Restoration
2026-03-18 09:00 - 11:00 | Ron Morriss Park, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ, 85746
Join Tucson Bird Alliance habitat restoration professionals for a Santa Cruz River Community Stewardship Event! We will be working to restore habitat along the Santa Cruz River in Tubac, starting with invasive plant removal. Monthly community restoration volunteer events will be held every third Wednesday from 9-11am, through May 2026. This project is a joint effort between the Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance.

Tour of Historic Canoa Ranch
2026-03-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley, AZ, 85614
Join a walking tour of the Canoa Ranch headquarters. Visit the historic buildings and corrals and enjoy the special exhibits of the people of Canoa. DIRECTIONS: Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S. I-19 Frontage Rd., Green Valley 85622 From Tucson – Take 1-19 south to exit 56 – Canoa Road. Go around the traffic circle until you are heading east. Turn left (north) on the east side frontage road for about ½ mile and turn at the Hacienda de la Canoa sign on your right. Please carry water and wear sturdy walking shoes.

Erosion Control in the Catalinas
2026-03-20 14:45 - 2026-03-22 18:00 | Whitetail Campground, 11200 Whitetail Road, Mt Lemmon, 85619, United States
Overview

Join us for a weekend of restoring nature’s balance after the Bighorn Fire — let’s get our hands dirty for a good cause!

The Work
We will be creating loose rock structures to halt erosion, increase water absorption, and support plant growth in drainages around Summerhaven in the Santa Catalina Mountains. These low-tech structures can make huge differences and are a great tool for transforming landscapes. We’ll be getting dirty, bending, lifting, and digging with tools provided by SIA.
What to Expect/Bring
Folks staying through the weekend should bring their own camping gear (or contact us if you need to borrow some) and meals for the weekend — a minimum of two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners, with snacks.

SIA will provide potable water, and folks are welcome to bring their own as well. There is water at the campsite to refill from, but none at the worksite.
Be prepared to unplug — there is limited or no cellphone or internet service where we’ll be camping and working.
Bring camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc. We have extra camping gear available to borrow. Please contact our staff listed below if you would like to use some of our equipment.
Bring work clothes, work gloves, and appropriate close-toed boots/shoes that you are happy to hike in and don’t mind getting dirty or damaged.
Bring sun protection: sunscreen, long-sleeves, hat, etc.
Bring a refillable water bottle and a daypack for snacks and gear.

We will be building rock structures, which will entail carrying, moving, and placing rocks of various sizes. Some heavy lifting will be required, though no one will be asked to lift more than they feel capable of, and folks can work in teams to move larger rocks using cargo nets. Be prepared for getting dirty as we will also be digging as part of the building process. We will also be hiking to our worksites, which may be up to two miles by trail from a trailhead (though likely closer), while carrying tools such as picks, rockbars, and/or shovels. Worksites may be steeply sloped and uneven, with the potential for loose footing. Also, in our search for building materials, we will be traipsing around off trail in rocky drainages and across slopes.

Performing Arts: Mariachi Pueblo Viejo
2026-03-20 19:00 - 22:00 | Tubac Center of The Arts, 9 Plaza Road, Tubac, AZ, 85646, United States
Tubac, Arizona
at 7:00 p.m.
Founded in May 2021 by Director Manuel Ponce, Mariachi Pueblo Viejo was created to showcase the authentic spirit of Jalisco’s mariachi tradition. Now celebrating 5 years, the group has quickly earned recognition for its musical excellence and passion for preserving Mexico’s cultural heritage.

Members: $35.00
Non-Members: $40.00

For more information, please visit this link.

Guided Birding Walks at Patagonia Sonoita Creek
2026-03-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Visitor Center, 150 Blue Haven Road, Patagonia, Arizona, 85624, United States
Join us for guided birding walks at Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve in Southern Arizona on Saturday mornings, starting November 1st, 2025!
Learn about the resident and migrating birds, ranging from gray hawks to vermilion flycatchers to thick-billed kingbirds. Tours will also touch on the environmental history of the region surrounding the preserve. Birders of all levels are welcome.
The start time of the walks will vary depending on the point in the season, so be sure to check the sign-up form to see when they will begin each week. The fee is $8 per person, or $5 for Santa Cruz/Cochise County residents and TNC members. Free to Patagonia/Sonoita/Elgin residents and children under 17. Registration is required.
Please bring comfortable clothes and footwear to walk 1-2 miles, a water bottle, sun protection and snacks. We suggest bringing your own binoculars, but the preserve has a limited number available for checkout. Read more about preserve regulations here.
For more information, contact Preserve Manager Aaron at aaron.mrotek@tnc.org.

World Water Day Celebration
2026-03-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Verdugo Park, 902 S Verdugo Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85745
Join community members, local organizations, land management agencies for a day of fun and stewardship!
Days of Connection celebrating World Water Day is taking place at Verdugo Park right-off of the Santa Cruz River. Join Favor Celestial, Barrio Kroeger Lane, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Pima County, Sonoran Institute, Tucson Water, Ironwood Tree Experience, United Way and other partners as we come together to celebrate the World Water Day through a day of fun, stewardship and connecting with nature and community!
World Water Day of Connection is happening on Saturday, March 21st between 9AM-12PM at Verdugo Park located at 902 S Verdugo Ave, Tucson, AZ 85745.
These experiences bring together local groups and individual passionate about the natural world and environmental stewardship. At this Day of Connection you can expect to;

Enjoy music, snacks and beautiful green space with a broad community of stewardship and nature lovers.
Create seed bombs with Pima County Department of Environmental Quality and Ironwood Tree Experience
Steward the Santa Cruz by picking up trash with TCB and Sonoran Institute or learn to identify and remove invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) with specialists from Tucson Bird Alliance.
Experience the on-going neighborhood conservation and restoration efforts in the area being lead by Friends of Favor Celestial and Watershed Management group.
Connect with Educators with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources and Regional Flood Control District to learn more about what our county is doing to conserve and celebrate our public lands

America Semiquincentennial and Arizona Statehood
2026-03-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 North Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 85737, United States
Last chance to visit the Pusch House Museum to celebrate the founding of our country and why it took 137 years for Arizona to become a state!

Backyard Techniques to Harvest The Rain
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Tubac Presidio State Historic Park & Museum, 1 Burruel St, #1296, Tubac, A, 85646, United States
Join ecologist Caleb Weaver of Ecotone Biodiversity LLC for an engaging presentation overviewing rainwater harvesting in Southern Arizona. Attendees will learn methods to collect, convey, and store this free resource to grow food for wildlife and people alike, protecting critical groundwater and natural water reserves to stay in the ground. We’ll then tour the rain garden that Ecotone Biodiversity designed and installed on the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park grounds so attendees can see multiple examples of rainwater being harvested.

Santa Cruz River History Tour
2026-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
This two-mile walking tour is led by Mauro Trejo and focuses on our relationship with the Santa Cruz River, how it supported Tucson’s early residents, and the factors in the 19th and 20th century that affected its demise.
The tour begins at Tucson’s Mission Gardens and includes the sites of the former Spanish mission and the O’odham village that was the origin of our modern city. Attendees also visit Tucson’s tallest tree and the Garden of Gethsemane, a holy site of statues made by WWI veteran and artist Felix Lucero in the 1940s.
