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Adult Classes and Trips
Natural History of the Sonoran Desert
October 26 and 27, 2024  | Would you like to be more knowledgeable about the animals, plants and landscape of our desert? This two-day survey course covers desert ecology, desert adaptations, climate, mammals, birds, reptiles, venomous animals, botany, geology and ethnobotany. We also touch on current threats to our desert such as invasive species, water and climate change issues, endangered species and recovery programs. With a variety of instructors and a Sunday morning botany hike we will pack a lot into one weekend! |
New Mexico: Pueblo Feasts, Heritage Farming and the Atomic Bomb November 6 – 13, 2024  | For over four centuries, the Old-World charm of Santa Fe has captivated travelers with its Spanish and Pueblo heritage. In ancient times, Native Americans hunted and fished in the luxuriant valley at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, growing crops in the fertile plain of the river below. Later, Santa Fe was established as a Spanish provincial capital. On this week-long tour, ethnologist Jesús Garcia connects the social, cultural, historical, and indigenous aspects of New Mexico. Highlights include Los Alamos, the epicenter of the top-secret Manhattan Project; the bountiful feast celebration day at Jemez Pueblo; the sacred village of Chimayó; and the picturesque Los Luceros Ranch, specializing in traditional crops. Visits to iconic galleries will be extra special with guest lectures by renowned indigenous historians. If this wasn’t enough, we explore the rich history of conversos and Crypto Jews – Spain’s Jewish citizens who were forced to leave their country for not converting to Christianity. Itinerary and Trip Details |
Rainwater Harvesting
November 16, 2024 | 
| In the Australian Outback everyone does it. In the Sonoran Desert the rain in vain falls mainly down the drain. Did you realize that by harvesting water in a well-mulched basin, you can keep moisture in the soil for up to two months? That moisture can produce lush bird and lizard habitat, and keep your home cooler, reducing utility bills. On this tour you will learn how to redirect rainwater from problem areas and how to calculate the amount of water can be collected off of your roof. We will also cover greywater, storage, related ordinances and incentives, shading, windows, slopes and diversion pipes. Participants will see many strategies that can be applied to their own home and neighborhood. |
Rancho de la Osa
December 6 - 8, 2024 | | It rests in the desert grasslands along Arizona’s southern border with the dramatic backdrop of Baboquivari Peak always in view. On this tour, we visit the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, which has breeding programs for the endangered pronghorn and Masked Bobwhite Quail and offers birding for many species including Herons, Gray Hawks, Vermillion Fly Catchers, Loggerhead Shrikes and Golden Eagles. We will take in a lot of local history, learning about the Spanish Barb horses that descend from Fr. Kino’s herd, about the Mexican Revolution as it was played out here, and about old ghost towns and mining camps. We take a side trip to see the border town of Sasabe, sprinkle geology lessons in, have a morning free for optional activities such as riding e-bikes or horses, and enjoy fabulous meals. Come nighttime, we are treated to cowboy poetry and a star-studded winter sky. |
Black Lava White Sand
December 15 – 18, 2024  | Explore El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with cultural conservationist Jesús García and geomorphologist/anthropologist Fred Nials. The volcanic landscape of the Pinacates includes huge maar craters, two varieties of lava flows, cinder cones, and majestic shifting dunes hosting their own specialized ecosystems. This young volcanic field is adjacent to the Sea of Cortez, which because of extreme low tides allows viewing of its marvelous intertidal marine life at the Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Uniting the desert and beach is one of the most important natural salt reserves in Mexico, Campo La Salina. Located in Gulfo de Santa Clara where natural freshwater springs and saltwater meet, this layer of salt is sacred to the Tohono O’odham. For a special cultural experience, we’ll visit the O'odham community of Quitovac, an important oasis along the ancient salt pilgrimage trail to the sea. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details |
Land of the Seri
February 19 – 23, 2025  | Travel with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum this February to explore the world of the Seri people. Our guide, cultural conservationist Jesús García, enthusiastically shares with us the culture of this desert people as well as the natural and geological history of the Central Gulf Coast subdivision of the Sonoran Desert. Our voyage of discovery includes the Seri Museum in Nuevo Bahía Kino, a visit to the Prescott College Research Station, a panga ride to the mangroves of Isla Tiburón, birding in the estuary of Laguna de la Cruz, a walk in a cardón forest, and of course, meetings with the Seri people themselves. Our adventure also includes time on the beach of Kino Bay with its intensely blue water, as well as daily helpings of fresh seafood and opportunities to support the Seri with purchases of their handcrafts. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details |
Baja California
March 28 – April 10, 2025  | Ecology, Geology, Birding, Whale Watching, Cowboys and Ethnobotany!
Led by the incomparable Jesús García and geologist/raconteur, Fred Nials, we travel by motorcoach down the entire length of the Peninsula, traversing desert chaparral, a fertile valley of grape and olive orchards to the captivating Cataviña desert with its forests of boojum, elephant trees and cardón. At Laguna San Ignacío rare up-close whale watching and off-the-grid “glamping” opportunites await. Surrounded by a lush date palm oasis, our stay in San Ignacío includes a day trip to see pictographs of remote Baja. Our time in Loreto Bay includes snorkeling with tropical marine life at Isla Coronado. Experience the charming mining communities and the artists’ haven of Todos Santos as we travel to San José del Cabo, and the famous Los Arcos rock formation at the southern tip of Baja. Our return is by air. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details |
Botanical Gardens and Art Museums of Southern California
May 11 - 18, 2025  | Botanical art, Classical art and Gardens galore
Balboa Park, The Getty, need we say more…
This extraordinary 8-day tour takes us to San Diego and Los Angeles where we visit iconic botanical gardens and world-renown museums. Highlights in San Diego include Balboa Park, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and a memorable sunset dinner cruise on San Diego Bay. A stop at Oceanside allows a visit to Mission San Luis Rey, the “King of the Missions”. Led by museum expert guides, we have dedicated a full day to in-depth tours of The Huntington, and a half day to the LA County Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. The Norton Simon houses an astonishing collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century as well as Southeast Asian art spanning 2000 years. Marvel at masterpieces by Cézanne, Monet and Van Gogh at The Getty. For an architectural gander, we visit the Gamble House, recognized as a masterpiece of the American Arts and Crafts movement. Accommodations in San Diego are at the Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island and in Pasadena at the well-appointed Le Méridien. Exceptional dining experiences throughout, this tour is sure to captivate the senses! Tour leader is ASDM cultural conservationist Jesús García. Itinerary and Trip Details Price and Registration Details | |
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