Tohono Chul Park is also pleased to be able to bring a part of the Park to the classroom. School Outreach presentations may be scheduled for up to two different classes per visit, with presentations held back-to-back in the same classroom.

Bats Flying Aces / 1st-8th grade
Much maligned, these flying mammals pollinate crops, disperse seeds, and help control insect pests around the world. Discover the secret lifestyles and learn the benefits of these creatures of the night.

For the Birds / 1st-8th grade
From feathers and wings to beaks and feet, take a look at birds. Students learn to recognize some of the most common birds around Tucson and develop field identification skills.

Ethnobotany: Harvesting the Desert / 3rd-8th grade
An exploration of the relationship between the peoples of the desert and the wild and domesticated plants of this region that have provided food, shelter, medicine, and materials necessary for daily life.

Endangered Species: Saving the Ark / 4th-8th grade
Once the targets of deliberate destruction, today many species are threatened by habitat loss and pollution. Learn how we are working to preserve these endangered populations and maintain the balance of biodiversity.

• Number of students per class – 35 maximum
• Length of presentation – one hour
• Pre-visit materials (link here)
• Arizona State Standards (link here)
• Cost – $20 booking fee

We request a minimum of two weeks advance notice when scheduling an outreach presentation. Remember, the sooner you call, the more likely you will be to get your first choice of dates. When calling, please have the following information ready – number of students in your class, name of contact person and their address, telephone and email address (if applicable).

We strongly recommend that teachers make use of available pre-visit materials. These materials introduce new vocabulary words, discuss ecology concepts presented, and allow teachers to integrate activities into daily lesson plans.

To schedule, contact Min Johnson at 742-6455 ext. 235 or minjohnson@tohonochulpark.org

Speakers Bureau
Tohono Chul Park also offers outreach programs for adult civic, fraternal or social groups. Our Speakers Bureau Docents can bring a 45-minute A/V presentation to your meeting or special event that introduces the world of the Sonoran Desert to lifelong learners. Topics include:

• An Armchair Tour of Tohono Chul Park
• Birds of the Southwest
• Desert Wildflowers
• Ethnobotany: Harvesting the Desert
• The Great Xeriscape

Number in audience – 15 minimum / no maximum
Length of program – 45 minutes
Cost – $20 booking fee

We request a minimum of two weeks advance notice when scheduling a Speakers Bureau presentation. When calling, please have the following information ready: anticipated audience number, name of contact person with their address, telephone and email address (if applicable), location of the event and whether or not you will be able to provide a screen, podium and/or microphone if needed.

To schedule, contact Min Johnson at 742-6455 ext. 235 or minjohnson@tohonochulpark.org

A Taste of the Desert
The interconnectedness of plants and the people who use them has helped to shape the way we live and the way we garden. Ethnobotany studies the relationships between cultures and their plants, providing us with a window to the everyday lives of other peoples and their connections to the natural world. Plants utilized by the Tohono O’odham, and the Hohokam before them, as food, medicine and materials grow all around us in the Sonoran Desert.

You may be familiar with the sweet, red fruits of the saguaro or prickly pear, but have you tasted the carob-like flavor of a ripe mesquite pod, put a zing in your mouth by biting into the “mother of chiles” (chiltepin), or held the “drugstore of the desert” (creosote) in your hands and inhaled its distinctive aroma? Bring your group and join us at Tohono Chul Park to experience a taste of the desert!

Our “edible desert” program can be enjoyed in three different formats depending on the interests of your group. Each includes a guided tour of our 49-acre desert preserve focusing on examples of wild and cultivated plants, with a stop at the Park’s Ethnobotanical Garden. To conclude your visit, we’ll serve you some of our local foods — don’t worry, the ingredients may be traditional, but the presentation will definitely border on nouvelle. Be sure to bring your appetite for culinary adventure!

SAMPLE MENU
Starters: Tepary Bean Brushetta / Nopalito Salad
Breads: Pumpkin Corn Bread / Cumin Bread
Entreés: Buffalo Chili / Tepary Bean Posole / Turkey with Prickly Pear Chiptole Onion Jam
Desserts: Mesquite Baklava / Cacao/Dulce de leche Mesquite Brownies
Cookies: Blue Corn Orange Bizcochitos / Oatmeal Mesquite Craisin / Chile Chocolate Chip

• Luncheon or Dinner
includes A/V presentation on the plants used today and in the past by the peoples of the Southwest and a three-course meal (with vegetarian options)
3 hours / $35 per person / 10-30 people

• Menu Sampler
selection of appetizers featuring desert ingredients served with coffee, tea and prickly pear lemonade
2 hours / $15 per person / 10-60 people

• Cookie Sampler
selection of desert cookies served with coffee, tea and prickly pear lemonade
90 minutes / $10 per person / 10-60 people

We request a minimum of three weeks advance notice to schedule a private “Taste of the Desert” program. To schedule, contact Jo Falls at 742-6455 ext. 228 or jofalls@tohonochulpark.org