Annual Arizona Master Naturalist Conference

Come join us at the Arizona Master Naturalist Conference to learn, connect, and celebrate all things nature in our beautiful state!

Welcome to the Arizona Master Naturalist Conference – Connecting to the Sonoran Desert and its People!

Date: February 20th through February 22nd

Location: ENR2 (Environment and Natural Resources) Building, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. This building is notable for its slot-canyon design and its effective rainwater capture.

Join us for a multi-day event on the beautiful University of Arizona campus, featuring exciting social Get-togethers, breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and field trips, with a focus on the Sonoran Desert's amazing community and diversity.

Look forward to connecting with Master Naturalists from around the state, nature art created by fellow naturalists, and exciting speakers who will inspire and enrich your understanding of this region, including a focus on wildlife corridors, bat tracking, and the latest on jaguars.

Here is the link to the draft schedule!  Please note, change is inevitable 😊

Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or just starting your journey, we would love for you to join us to connect not just with nature but with one another. Hope to see you there!

More Details:

University of Arizona Campus Map: https://map.arizona.edu/

Link to the ENR2 Building on the UArizona Campus

Parking: Both free and paid parking. All within 1 block. We recommend the unpaid parking right across the street from the conference. The closest parking garage to the ENR2 Building is the Sixth Street Garage. Located at 1201 E 6th Street, Tucson, 85711

The Conference will focus on Sonoran Desert flora and fauna, including jaguars, fireflies, and native plants; key indicators of desert ecosystems; Sonoran indigenous peoples and farming systems; and the creation of desert habitats for Sonoran species.

Breakout sessions will include training in arachnology, jaguar data analysis, nature journaling, and desert food gathering.

Field trip options include bird watching, track identification, geology, petroglyph siting, and nature journaling.

Here is a link to the Field Trip and Breakout Session Descriptions.

Art Show: Arizona Master Naturalists include many talented artists, including photographers, nature journalists, potters, and painters. We are hosting an art show at the Conference this year, for display only, to showcase their work and help express our passion for nature. If you are interested in submitting a piece of art (journal page, photo, painting, drawing, etc.), check the box on your registration form and complete this form. If you have questions, contact Sue Robertson at suedrobertson2@gmail.com or Rose Adair at roseadair24@gmail.com for details.

Please bring your art pieces to Registration and we will have display them during the conference.

Conference Meals: Tucson has been designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. All meals included in your registration come from many of the restaurants and Sonoran foods that helped make Tucson a unique place to eat. Those restaurants include Tumerico, Tania’s 33, and La Estrella Bakery, to name a few (though you will have to find the Sonoran hot dog on your own).

Hotels: Prices range from spendy to economical. They tend to fill up quickly in February, so don’t delay.

• Graduate by Hilton Tucson-$299/night, .44 miles from ENR2 Building
• Aloft Tucson University-$279/night, .42 miles from ENR2 Building
• DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Convention Center-$274/night, 1.77 miles from ENR2 Building
• Doubletree by Hilton at Reid Park-$179/night, 2.79 miles from ENR2 Building
• Spark by Hilton-$160/night, 2.51 miles from ENR2 Building
• University Inn-$131/night, 1.25 miles from ENR2 Building
• Royal Sun Hotel & Suites-$90/night, 1.27 miles from ENR2 Building
• Motel 6-$66/night, 2.51 miles from ENR2 Building

Friday Social: On Friday, join us from 2-6 p.m. at the Las Milipitas Community Farm (2405 S Cottonwood Ln, Tucson, AZ 85713) to socialize and participate in advanced training activities. If you'd like to participate, please purchase a separate ticket when you register for the event. Bring warm clothing as this is an outdoor facility.