Get Outdoors!

Join us for another Wilderness adventure! Sky Island Alliance will be hosting several hikes and weekend camping trips into the wild - with guest speakers and fun learning activities for the whole family!

For more information about our Wilderness hikes or to volunteer to lead a workshop, contact Jessica at jessica@skyislandalliance.org or (520) 624-7080 ext. 21.

View details about the next upcoming hike.

Saturday June 6th, 2009
Birds and Reptiles of Sycamore Canyon - Come join us on a leisurely hike in Sycamore Canyon! This beautiful and mild hike along a shady perennial stream showcases deep pools and boulders that are home to several species of threatened and endangered fish, amphibians and reptiles. Sycamore, oak, manzanita and pinyon pine host birds such as the elegant trogon and five-striped sparrow, making this hike a famous birding destination in the southwest.

Saturday July 18th, 2009
Wilderness Photography - Whether you are a beginner seeking to explore or a professional photographer looking for adventure, join Sky Island Alliance for a fun filled day taking photos of our favorite place - the Tumacacori Highlands! This event is meant to help us create a series of stock of photos for outreach for the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness campaign - photos participants contribute will be credited. A selection of the results will be presented in Sky Island Alliance's next Restoring Connections newsletter, and may be published in the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness brochure and website.  Experiment with different techniques and see examples by photographers Bob Van Deven and Jack Dykingka. Small prizes will be given for the most creative photos. 
An optional photography workshop session will be held in Tucson on July 10^th.

Want to contribute, but don't have time to join the trip?
Send us your best Tumacacori Highlands photography by July 31st! Send digital or print photography to:
Sky Island Alliance, c/o Jessica Lamberton, P.O. Box 41165, Tucson, AZ 85717; jessica@skyislandalliance.org

Please include your full name, contact information, and description of your subject.  *By submitting photography you agree to allow Sky Island Alliance and the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness campaign to use your credited work for outreach and publication purposes. You may be required to sign a release form. *

Saturday August 15th, 2009
Art in Wilderness - Do you love to watercolor, sketch and be creative? Join us on a trip to the wilderness to expand your artistic creativity in a variety of mediums. Materials are provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own supplies. Participants will receive the Art in Wilderness exhibition book with two CDs of music and poetry. A selection of artwork and poetry will be featured in Sky Island Alliance's next Restoring Connections newsletter.
*A workshop fee of $40 is required. Kids participate free!*

Labor Day Weekend September 5-7th, 2009
Esculdilla Wilderness in the White Mountains - Sky Island Alliance's Annual Labor Day camping trip celebrates Wilderness and wild activists. This year it will be held in the Esculdilla Mountains to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Esculdilla Wilderness, the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act and the 100th Anniversary of Aldo Leopold's arrival in the Southwest. Esculdilla is where Aldo Leopold saw the "green fire" dying the wolf’s eyes and first learned to "think like a mountain" (read about it in Leopold's Sand County Almanac). Talks, Hiking, Wildlife Tracking, Fishing and Camping! Fun for the whole family!

Carpooling and Directions

Further details will be sent out prior to each trip. Carpooling may be available in the Tucson area at the Sky Island Alliance office (located in the Historic Y building) on 5th Avenue and University Blvd. A rendezvous point in the Tumacacori Highlands will usually be at the Pena Blanca Lake Campground, located on Ruby Road. Take Exit 12 west from I-19.

Unless otherwise specified, dogs are not encouraged on these trips.

RSVP Here

To RSVP or for more information, contact:

Jessica Lamberton
Sky Island Alliance
Wilderness Outreach Associate
520-624-7080 ext. 21 (office)
jessica@skyislandalliance.org
Office hours: MWF