Saguaro National Park offers a variety of opportunities for students to experience an educational program in an outdoor setting. Field trips are offered for grades K-12 and are organized by grade bands.
Teachers and students can get in touch with their desert home by exploring the plants, animals and cultures that thrive here! A ranger-guided field trip to Saguaro National Park can add a new dimension to your classroom curriculum by offering your students an opportunity to learn outside in a hands-on and inquiry-based setting. All programs align with Arizona state education standards.
All of our field trips are free of charge and reimbursements for transportation are available thanks to the Friends of Saguaro National Park (subject to availability and some restrictions apply).
Pollinators and You
Grade K-2
AZ Standards: K.L1U1.6, K.L1U1.7, 1.L1U1.6, 1.L2U1.8, 2.E1U3.7, 2.L2U1.9
Explore the world of pollinators and how their work keeps plants and people happy. Students will rotate through stations that include a hike, an agriculture activity, close-up examination and the art of flower anatomy, and games to bring the super-senses of pollinators to life.
Available on a limited schedule October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum
Where is the Water
Grade 2-3
AZ Standards: 2.E1U1.5, 2.E1U3.7, 2.L2U1.9, 3.L1U1.5
Deserts are defined as places with sparse precipitation. So how does our Sonoran Desert support such miraculous biodiversity including aquatic environments with organisms like frogs and fish? And how have human beings thrived here since time immemorial? Bring your students on water’s journey through the sky, the ground, and living creatures.
Available October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum
Experimental Archeology
Grade 3-5
AZ Standards: 3.SP3.3, 3.SP3.4, 3.G2.1, 3.G4.1, 4.SP1.3, 4.SP3.2, 4.G2.1, 5.SP3.2, 5.SP4.2, 5.G2.1
Archeologists study people of the past using the tools of science like observation and inference. But what about everyone’s favorite scientific tool — experimentation? If you want to know how people grew crops in the Sonoran Desert landscape, try doing it yourself! If you wonder how far a projectile can be thrown during pre-historic hunting, grab hold of an atlatl and a measuring tape!
During this program, students move through 4, 30-minute stations with discussion and hands-on activities exploring art, agriculture, shelter, and hunting.
Available on a limited schedule October through March
Group Size: 30 students maximum
Geology Mystery
Grade 4-5
Location: Javelina Picnic Area
AZ Standards: 4th grade: 4.E1U1.6, 4.E1U1.7
Uncover the geologic mystery within the Rincon and Tucson Mountains and the powerful forces that made it happen.
Available October through March
Group Size: 30 students maximum
Saguaro-ology
Grade K-8
AZ Standards
- Career Awareness (K-5): 2.0, 4.1, 5.0
- eCTE Career Exploration (6-8) 1.2, 3.3, 6.1
The more we learn, the more questions we have. The Sonoran Desert landscape offers park scientists many avenues of study but the common themes in all of them is curiosity, observation, and experimentation. Students will have an opportunity to dabble in the four primary fields of science (and one surprise fifth science!).
This program is highly adaptable to various curriculum needs with diverse audiences, including both mainstream and exceptional education, life skills, or transition classes. Tell us about your audience so that we can custom build this to suit your students.
Available October through April
Group Size: 30 students maximum
These programs take place at the Desert Research Learning Center, located at the end of Broadway Blvd, which is a scientific facility shared by parks across southern Arizona. Classes are encouraged to have lunch at shaded picnic tables after the program.
Learn more about each of these field trips by visiting the green resource button!
- For questions regarding this resource, please contact Saguaro National Park.
- Contact Name: Melanie Rawlins
- Phone No: 520-400-5168
- Email Address: sagu_education@nps.gov