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Homeschool Day: What’s For Dinner?

Join us for Homeschool Day at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and dive into the science of food chains and food webs by finding out what different animals ate for dinner! Through hands on activities, guided walks, and interactive lessons, learners will discover how energy flows through ecosystems. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to dissect a real owl pellet! This engaging program aligns with Arizona Science Standards for 3rd-6th grade and encourages scientific thinking. Connect with other families, share experiences, and enjoy a day of high-quality outdoor learning within the natural beauty of the Arboretum. Bring your curiosity, a packed lunch, and be ready for a day of discovery! Preregistration is required; walk-ins will not be accepted.
Content Notice: This program includes mention and images of owls, and the cycle of life and death.
Trail conditions: Trails are mostly flat, hard-packed dirt with small portions of sand and cobblestone. Trails are not leveled and contain uneven terrain, humps, and dips. Trail width is at minimum 2 ft across.
Accommodation requests: Please let us know if there is any way we can make this event more accessible to you and your family. Reasonable requests might include closed captioning on screens (when available), voice amplification devices, or enlarged print materials. Requests can be made to [email protected] or by calling (520)689-4700.
Register Here: 7830.blackbaudhosting.com/7830/Homeschool-Day-Whats-For-Dinner
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The littoral zone is the region where land and water meet! At our manmade reservoir, the littoral zone is made up of cattails, which provide habitat to birds, insects, and amphibians.
Next time you visit us, stop by Ayer Lake to see if you can spot any life among the cattails!
#aznature #naturelovers #natureeducation #littoralzone #cattails
If you hear a "tap, tap, tap" above your head while you`re hiking, it might be a Gila Woodpecker! These clever birds search for insects by pecking on tree trunks, shrubs, and even cacti.
The holes they excavate in cacti sometimes become homes for smaller birds later on, making their simple foraging behaviors greatly beneficial to our ecosystem.
#gilawoodpecker #BirdingCommunity #birding #southwestbirding #azbirding #birdinghotspot
This summer, 41 teachers from across Arizona participated in a specialized professional development program designed in partnership with @azgfd to bring hands-on science education into their classrooms.
Made possible through support from @resolutioncopper, the program equipped educators with classroom-ready lessons that connected desert ecology, STEM learning, and Arizona State Science Standards. Teachers left with:
🌱 Lesson plans
🌱 Presentations
🌱 Hands-on activities
🌱 Educational supplies including a classroom set of plants
🌱 Professional development experience they can immediately apply in their classrooms.
The impact extends far beyond a single workshop. Every teacher who participates has the potential to reach hundreds of students, creating a ripple effect that strengthens science education, environmental literacy, and stewardship in the Copper Corridor and across Arizona.
Have you ever seen a chrysalis on a cactus before? Imagine the bravery of this cloudless sulphur caterpillar, navigating spiky traps just to find a safe spot to pupate. The resilience of desert critters is nothing short of breathtaking.
#cloudlesssulphur #butterflychrysalis #aznature #butterflylovers #insectlovers #desertinsects
Does adventuring through the Arboretum at dusk in search of little critters sound exciting to you? Then what are you waiting for? Register for one of our Critter Crawls today. We only have three tours left!
📆Friday, July 24
📆Friday, August 7
📆Friday, August 21
Join us and learn what it means to "sniff spiders" 🕷️👃
#spidersniffing #herpingarizona #arizonabats #crittercrawl #nighttour #NocturnalWildlife
It`s a pear-fect time to visit the Arboretum!
The prickly pear cacti are fruiting all across the garden. This vibrant fruit ripens when the weather is at its hottest and driest, making it a vital food source for all kinds of desert wildlife.
Have you tried prickly pear fruit before? Let us know in the comments what you thought of it! 👇
#pricklypear #pricklypearfruit #plantlovers #naturelovers #aznature