• Groups whose size exceeds the maximum (listed above) are requested to divide visits across separate dates. Groups smaller than the minimum numbers (listed above) will have to pay a minimum fee. 
• Payment in full is required to secure your field trip date.
• Fee applies to all participating youth, including siblings. Teachers and chaperones attend at no fee.
• Groups are invited to stay beyond the program times to enjoy the picnic and play areas near the front of the Preserve, however you must reserve a space with the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Office.

Discovering Nature

This adventure begins with story time; Riparian staff will read a book to the group related to nature and the current season. Participants will then make their own “binoculars” before heading out on short walk through the park seeking to learn more about nature.

Discovering Dinosaurs

This adventure begins with story time; Riparian staff will read a book to the group related to dinosaurs and fossils. Participants will then make their own dinosaur mask before digging into our on-site dinosaur dig site to find fossils.

Riparian Habitats: Life along Rivers

Learn about the importance of riparian habitat to wildlife as you walk through the cottonwood and mesquite forests of the Preserve, while observing water birds, songbirds, dragonflies, and turtles. This class focuses on riparian ecosystems, the relationships between plants and animals, and conservation of precious riparian habitats.

*Life on the Desert

The Sonoran Desert is a region of surprising biological diversity where unique species of plants and animals manage to thrive in a land of little water. Learn about the interdependence of plants and animals by observing Saguaro, Palo Verde, birds, and other wildlife in the desert habitats of the Riparian Preserve.

*Groundwater: An Important Arizona Resource

Much of the water we use comes from supplies far below our feet. The Riparian Preserve serves as a reservoir for returning water to the ground as a way of conserving this precious resource. Observe how differences in soil influence the movement of water through the ground, and how groundwater fits into the earth’s overall water cycle.

*Beautiful Birds: Diversity and Ecology

Take a glimpse into the fascinating lives of birds.  The Riparian Preserve provides a sanctuary for many bird species and reveals special opportunities to appreciate the life cycles of hummingbirds, songbirds, ducks, and shorebirds.  Visit desert and aquatic habitats in the Preserve to learn about how the physical adaptations and behaviors of different birds allow each species to fill a unique niche in the ecosystem Learn about species that nest in the Preserve and others that journey here during their annual migration in search of food. 

*Respect the Insect

Insects and other invertebrates account for most species of animal life on the planet, and they perform vital ecological services on which other species, including our own, depend. Beautiful displays of preserved insects allow students to closely examine these amazing animals, while learning about insect life cycles, adaptations, and the need for habitat conservation.

*Pollination

Most plants on earth depend on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to transfer pollen from flower to flower, a process necessary for the production of fruit and seeds. A tour of the Riparian Preserve’s pollinator gardens showcases the special relationships between a variety of Sonoran Desert plants and their pollinators.  Close examination of floral structures and spontaneous visits by wild hummingbirds highlight the class.

Ethnobotany of the Sonoran Desert

People have depended on plants in the Sonoran Desert for thousands of years. Learn about the cultural uses of Sonoran Desert plants, including saguaro, mesquite, and others through the exploration of the Riparian Preserve’s ethnobotanical garden.

*Fossils: Clues to the Past

Discover how ancient animals lived by examining our collection of fossil replicas. Students get to see and touch fossil replicas from Tyrannosaurus, and Stegosaurus, as well as dinosaur footprints, teeth, claws, and eggs.    

Paleontology: Simulated Dinosaur Dig Experience

Uncover fossil replicas of ancient reptiles in our simulated dinosaur dig site! Students use tools to examine features of fossils and gather clues to understand the lives of dinosaurs.

The Sun: Solar Viewing at the Observatory

Look through the telescope with special filters to view our closest star. East Valley Astronomy Club volunteers teach students about the sun, its characteristics, and why the sun is important to life on planet Earth.

*Photosynthesis and Solar Energy

Students use simple tools such as spectrophotometers and radiometers to learn about solar energy and participate in guided activities to understand the relationships between light, heat, and energy. Learn how plants use solar energy to manufacture the sugars and Oxygen we all depend on.