Experience South Mountain in a whole new way, every time you visit! Our programs span all ages and so many interests, you’re sure to gain enjoyment and new insights on this special mountain in a special desert.

Program Types

Adults and Older Youth – In addition to visiting our exhibit space and Dottie Gilbert Reading Room, there are great opportunities for learning through our programs, activities and classes, such as Explore the Night Sky, Field Sketching, Birding, SM 101, and our Learning Lecture series.

Kids and Family – These programs offer fun and learning for all ages through a wide range of experiences, including stories, games, classes, adventure packs, and nighttime adventures!

Schools and Groups –Your school or group from small to large can come to South Mountain for special learning enrichment! Schedule time with our education staff for a field trip or our learning ‘nuggets’ programs, or grab an adventure pack for self-guided observations, investigations and fun!

See the great programs available through ACNC at the Phoenix Zoo

City of Phoenix Programming

In addition to classes and activities offered through Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, South Mountain Environmental Education Center proudly hosts programs offered through the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. Check out their site for times and descriptions.

View Programs & Activities Through City of Phoenix

• Categories
  Adult

  Kid & Family

2017 Oct November 2018 Nov 2019

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1	2	3 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 3 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks 10:00 am ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks Nov 3 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Tickets Every Saturday | 10 a.m. – Noon, offered every half-hour Winter Break | 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 These brief walks for…
4 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 4 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst…	5	6	7 Fireside Chats 6:30 pm Fireside Chats Nov 7 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Tickets Join our Park Rangers for fun and learning about South Mountain around the campfire. Our beautiful landscape and desert sunsets are…	8	9	10 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 10 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… Make & Take Fair 9:00 am Make & Take Fair Nov 10 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Tickets Drop into South Mountain Environmental Education Center for a few fun, nature-based “make & take” activities and crafts. No registration… Storytime at South Mountain 9:30 am Storytime at South Mountain Nov 10 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am Tickets 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturdays: 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/29 Sundays: 11/11, 11/25, 12/9, 12/30 Winter Break: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 Join… ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks 10:00 am ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks Nov 10 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Tickets Every Saturday | 10 a.m. – Noon, offered every half-hour Winter Break | 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 These brief walks for… Nature at Night Walks 6:45 pm Nature at Night Walks Nov 10 @ 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm Tickets Experience and explore the desert at night, guided by your senses and a Park Ranger! Track down scorpions and lichen…
11 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 11 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… Make & Take Fair 9:00 am Make & Take Fair Nov 11 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Tickets Drop into South Mountain Environmental Education Center for a few fun, nature-based “make & take” activities and crafts. No registration… Storytime at South Mountain 9:30 am Storytime at South Mountain Nov 11 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am Tickets 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturdays: 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/29 Sundays: 11/11, 11/25, 12/9, 12/30 Winter Break: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 Join…	12	13	14	15 South Mountain Petroglyphs: Art of Observation 6:30 pm South Mountain Petroglyphs: Art of Observation Nov 15 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Tickets Join Peter Krocek, co-author of the definitive guide to petrogylphs at South Mountain, for an interactive lecture and photographs from…	16	17 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 17 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks 10:00 am ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks Nov 17 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Tickets Every Saturday | 10 a.m. – Noon, offered every half-hour Winter Break | 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 These brief walks for…
18 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 18 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst…	19	20	21	22	23 #OptOutside Day 10:00 am #OptOutside Day Nov 23 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Tickets Friday, 11/23 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | South Mountain Science! Join herpetologist Bryan Hughes to learn about the misunderstood… Moonlight Walks 6:45 pm Moonlight Walks Nov 23 @ 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm Tickets Enjoy a family-friendly stroll along our half-mile Judith Tunell Trail by the light of the full moon, featuring our South…	24 Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 24 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… Make & Take Fair 9:00 am Make & Take Fair Nov 24 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Tickets Drop into South Mountain Environmental Education Center for a few fun, nature-based “make & take” activities and crafts. No registration… Storytime at South Mountain 9:30 am Storytime at South Mountain Nov 24 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am Tickets 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturdays: 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/29 Sundays: 11/11, 11/25, 12/9, 12/30 Winter Break: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 Join… ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks 10:00 am ‘Welcome to the Desert’ Walks Nov 24 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Tickets Every Saturday | 10 a.m. – Noon, offered every half-hour Winter Break | 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 These brief walks for… Star Party 6:00 pm Star Party Nov 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tickets Celebrate the stars with night sky telescope viewings and multimedia presentations about astronomy. Learn more about the sky and wonder…
25 Silent Sunday 5:00 am Silent Sunday Nov 25 @ 5:00 am – 7:00 pm Tickets Cyclists, skate boarders, wheelchair users and stroller-riding tots can now call the roads of South Mountain Park their own one… Desert Play Space 9:00 am Desert Play Space Nov 25 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Tickets Release your imagination in our Nature Play Space. Items designed to stimulate movement, creativity and self-directed learning are available amidst… Make & Take Fair 9:00 am Make & Take Fair Nov 25 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Tickets Drop into South Mountain Environmental Education Center for a few fun, nature-based “make & take” activities and crafts. No registration… Storytime at South Mountain 9:30 am Storytime at South Mountain Nov 25 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am Tickets 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturdays: 11/10, 11/24, 12/8, 12/29 Sundays: 11/11, 11/25, 12/9, 12/30 Winter Break: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 Join…	26	27	28 Fireside Chats 6:30 pm Fireside Chats Nov 28 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Tickets Join our Park Rangers for fun and learning about South Mountain around the campfire. Our beautiful landscape and desert sunsets are…	29 Explore the Night Sky 6:30 pm Explore the Night Sky Nov 29 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Tickets Learn about the universe through an interactive educational session, focusing each month on new astronomical topics while younger learners are…	30

2017 Oct November 2018 Nov 2019