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Adult Classes and Trips
Venomous Creatures of the Sonoran Desert | | The Sonoran Desert is home to a wide variety of venomous reptiles and arthropods and myths about them abound, yet only a handful are capable of producing medically significant injuries in people. Spend the afternoon learning which creatures are truly dangerous, how to identify them, avoid their bites and stings, and provide appropriate first aid. The class will discuss common myths and answer your questions about these interesting animals while providing the opportunity to view some of them up close. Learn about the few Sonoran Desert creatures that are venomous enough to be truly dangerous to people. Bust some common myths while learning how to identify medically significant species, avoid their bites and stings, and provide appropriate first aid. Price and Registration Details |
Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon
Ancestral Pueblo Cliff Dwellings and Monumental Great Houses
April 27 – May 4, 2026 | | Explore the most significant archaeological geography in the United States. Our tour focuses on Puebloan archeological sites of southwest Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Ancestral Puebloans blended work and worship; they were master artisans, farmers, astronomers, traders, and skilled engineers, creating an extensive trade network throughout the San Juan Basin and beyond. Highlights include two days at UNESCO World Heritage sites, Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon National Parks, as well as Monument Valley, Aztec Ruins, and the seldom-visited sites of Hovenweep and Lowry House ruins. The tour culminates with two nights at the former Harvey House, La Posada in Winslow, followed by a day exploring Hopi Second Mesa. Our personal guides are naturalist Jesús García and geologist/geomorphologist Fred Nials, highly educated in Native American history and in the fields of archaeology and anthropology. This exceptional tour offers a unique opportunity to visit a vibrant archeological region with expert interpretation. |
Birding the Chiricahuas
May 1 -3, 2026  | Southeastern Arizona is a paradise for birders. Join us for three full days exploring different elevation habitats as we search for great birds! Among our targets will be the Mexican Chickadee, Elegant Trogon, Montezuma Quail, Painted Redstart and Red-faced Warbler. We will also do some owling at night and set up a blacklight to see what insects we can attract. Our leader is Jeff Babson, owner of Sky Island Tours, who is an expert birder, plus has a keen eye for butterflies and dragonflies. The price of this tour is all-inclusive covering three meals a day, lodging and transportation from Tucson. We will stay at the Southwest Research Station nestled in the oak-pine woodland of Cave Creek Canyon. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details - Dorm Rooms Prices and Registration Details - Rooms with Private Bath |
Saguaro Fruit HarvestJune 20, 2026 | | High summer is the beginning of the O’odham calendar, as this is the time to harvest saguaro fruit. Spend the morning gathering fruit in the O’odham manner, using a harvesting pole made from the ribs of the giant cactus. The class begins with a blessing and song by our O’odham friends who share their family stories about the importance of the saguaro. We learn about different ways that the fruit is prepared and preserved, and about the animals that use the saguaro for food and shelter. This class will take place entirely outdoors at a site a few miles from the Museum. Price and Registration Details |
Northern Spain via the Slow Train September 10 – 24, 2026
.jpg) | Cider, Bronze-Age Castros and Mining, Paleolithic Caves, Sea Cliffs, el Camino de Santiago, the Guggenheim, Iberian Geology, Fishing Villages, Local Wines, Asturian and Basque Gastronomy The rain in Spain falls mainly north of the plain. And that is why the land is emerald green. This is the land that the Celts originated from, and that the Basques continue to inhabit. On this tour we learn about Bronze Age castros, Roman gold and iron mining, and Asturian and Cantabrian traditional lifeways. As a counterpoint to the old, we visit Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum of modern art, and learn about and taste Basque culture. We explore the hinterlands of farms, forests and hamlets, criss-crossing the Camino de Santiago. Our coastal route follows the narrow-gauge local train, the FEVE, from which we hop on and off for stays at seaside towns, where we drink apple cider and enjoy regional seafood and Asturian fabada. Then there is the fairytale scenery: the northern edge of the peninsula falls dramatically into the Cantabrian Sea in steeply tilted rock walls. To complement the landscape, we share lessons on the geology of the Iberian Peninsula. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details |
Spain: Moors and Christians, Olives and Wine Tracing the Cultural and Agricultural Roots of the Southwest
September 26 – October 7, 2026  | In the Southwest we use the adjective "Spanish" frequently and loosely. Indeed, many elements of our culture originate in Spain. But, the 16th - 18th century Christian Spain that colonized the Americas was the sum total of its previous occupants - Arabs, Jews, Visigoths and Romans. Join us in an exploration of the cathedrals, synagogues, markets, farm towns, ancient castles and sunny beaches with an eye for the influencing factors of these peoples. Tour a late 19th Century rice processing plant, bird the estuary and rice fields of La Albufera, follow the evolution of Iberian Copper Age pottery through its refinement into Baroque ceramic art, and see the masterpieces of El Prado. During the fall grape harvest you will tour a rural winery, walk fields and orchards, make paella, even see the Holy Grail... Destinations include Barcelona, Valencia, Toledo and Madrid. This trip is very personalized with a maximum group size of 16. Itinerary and Trip Details Prices and Registration Details | |
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