Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

SONORAN DESERT EDUCATION THROUGH ZOOLOGICAL, BOTANICAL, GEOLOGICAL, ART, AND CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS.

THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM IS A WORLD-RENOWNED BIOPARK COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING REGIONAL ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDEN, AQUARIUM, RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, ART INSTITUTE, AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM SITS ON 98 ACRES OF LEASED PROPERTY, 21 OF WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, WITH 2 MILES OF WALKING PATHS WHERE GUESTS VIEW EXHIBITS THAT REALISTICALLY RE-CREATE THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE VIBRANT SONORAN DESERT REGION. VISITORS MAY ENCOUNTER MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED ANIMAL SPECIES, CURATED GARDENS WITH OVER ONE THOUSAND VARIETIES OF PLANTS, TWO ART GALLERIES, AND A SIMULATED CAVE WITH A MINERAL GALLERY. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC VISITATION EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1952, OVER 24 MILLION PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE VISITED THE MUSEUM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, ATTENDANCE AT THE MUSEUM WAS 332,500 VISITORS AND THERE WERE OVER 16,000 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS.EXHIBITS AND GARDENS: THE MUSEUM HOSTED 332,500 VISITORS IN FY 2023.THE MUSEUM'S LARGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL PROGRAM IS ITS EXHIBITS AND GARDENS. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINS 21 INTERPRETED ACRES WITH TWO MILES OF WALKING PATHS THROUGH VARIOUS DESERT HABITATS, OVER TWO HUNDRED ANIMAL SPECIES, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PLANT SPECIMENS FROM MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND TAXA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL MINERAL COLLECTIONS, AND TWO ART GALLERIES. EXIT SURVEYS REVEAL THE IMPACT OF A DESERT MUSEUM VISIT: VISITORS TELL US THAT THEY LEARN ABOUT NEW SUBJECTS AND ISSUES, THEY FEEL CLOSER TO NATURE, AND THEY HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE SONORAN DESERT AFTER THEIR VISIT.

CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAMSSINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1952, THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM HAS PUT CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND SCIENCE AT THE CORE OF ITS MISSION. FROM HELPING TO ESTABLISH PROTECTED ISLANDS AND COASTAL WETLANDS IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, TO BREEDING AND REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF, THICK-BILLED PARROT, AND NUMEROUS FISH, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES, TO DOCUMENTING THE BIODIVERSITY THAT HELPED ESTABLISH THE IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT, THE MUSEUM'S CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR MANY DECADES. OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE ARE THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH TOUCH NEARLY A HALF MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THESE PROGRAMS HELP TO FOSTER LOVE, APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DESERT HOME. CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAMSSAVING AQUATIC SPECIES:SPRINGS, STREAMS, AND RIVERS IN THE SONORAN DESERT HAVE ALL BEEN DECLINING IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO A DECADE-LONG DROUGHT AND DIVERSION OF WATER FOR HUMAN NEEDS. MANY SPECIES THAT LIVE IN OR AROUND THIS WATER ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGERED DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT. THE MUSEUM WORKS WITH ITS PARTNERS, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, TO HOLD, BREED AND SUPPLEMENT THE POPULATIONS OF THESE SPECIES IN THE WILD. IN 2021, ASDM CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSERVATION OF RANID FROGS, THE MEXICAN GARTER SNAKE, THE SONOYTA MUD TURTLE, AND SEVERAL REGIONAL NATIVE FISH SPECIES. PROMOTING POLLINATORS: BEES ARE AMONG THE MOST ABUNDANT AND DIVERSE ANIMAL GROUPS IN THE SONORAN DESERT. AS PRIMARY POLLINATORS OF MANY DESERT PLANTS, BEES ARE ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THESE HABITATS. ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TO DOCUMENT, DESCRIBE AND UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF BEE DIVERSITY IN OUR REGION AND HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AND HABITAT DISTURBANCE MAY ALTER THIS DISTRIBUTION IN THE FUTURE. THE MUSEUM CO-LEADS THE TUCSON BEE COLLABORATIVE (TUCSONBEECOLLABORATIVE.COM) WHICH WORKS WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO STUDY NATIVE BEES AND PROMOTE THEIR CONSERVATION. TO DATE, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED 520 SPECIES AND COLLECTED 2 YEARS OF BI-WEEKLY MONITORING DATA.FOODS FROM THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE:ASDM HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT THE "SONORAN SUPERMARKET" - THE BOUNTY OF THE DESERT THAT HAS SUSTAINED PEOPLE IN THIS REGION FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. CURRENT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE SAGUARO, PRICKLY PEAR, CHOLLA, MESQUITE AND AGAVE. ASDM IS A MAJOR PARTNER IN TUCSON'S MISSION GARDENS AND AGAVE HERITAGE FESTIVAL. CURRENT RESEARCH FOCUSES ON CONSERVING THE WILD RELATIVES OF IMPORTANT CROPS AND THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE ROLE OF DESERT-ADAPTED FOODS IN REGIONAL DIETS AS A PATH TOWARD FOOD SECURITY IN A HOTTER, DRIER CLIMATE.SAVING OUR SAGUAROS:TODAY, THE SURVIVAL OF THE SAGUARO, THE ICON OF THE SONORAN DESERT, IS THREATENED BY THE INVASIVE BUFFELGRASS. THE DESERT MUSEUM COORDINATES THE EFFORTS OF MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT THIS THREAT. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF BUFFELGRASS FIRES ON SAGUAROS, RESEARCHING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TREATMENT METHODS, LEADING CITIZEN CONSERVATION GROUPS IN BUFFELGRASS PULLS, AND PROVIDING EXTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.YOUTH AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS: YOUTH FIELD TRIPS:TEACHERS AND YOUTH GROUP LEADERS CAN STRUCTURE THEIR FIELD TRIPS USING A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE. IN ADDITION, SUGGESTED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES TO BE USED PRE- AND POST-TRIP CAN BE DOWNLOADED. THESE HELP TO EXTEND AND DEEPEN THE LEARNING FROM A DESERT MUSEUM VISIT AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. VISITING GROUPS CAN ALSO CHOOSE FROM TWO ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS OFFERED IN MUSEUM CLASSROOMS AND ANIMAL EXHIBITS. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 20,497.DESERT ARK:THE DESERT ARK IS THE MUSEUM'S OUTREACH PROGRAM. IT BRINGS TOGETHER THE RESOURCES OF THE MUSEUM, INCLUDING EXPERT EDUCATORS AND LIVE ANIMALS, TO ALL PARTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA, FROM SCHOOLS TO SENIOR CENTERS, AND FROM AJO TO SAFFORD. THE MUSEUM OFFERS 13 DIFFERENT DESERT ARK PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO CUSTOM PROGRAMS AVAILABLE BY REQUEST. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 5,222.SUMMER AND SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS:THE DESERT MUSEUM RUNS A "HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES 1-6. DESERT MUSEUM CAMPERS OBSERVE LIVE ANIMALS, CONDUCT SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, CREATE COOL CRAFTS, SKETCH IN DESERT JOURNALS, HARVEST AND PREPARE DESERT FOODS, CAMP IN THE DESERT, AND EXPLORE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE DESERT MUSEUM. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 146.JUNIOR DOCENT PROGRAM:THE DESERT MUSEUM JUNIOR DOCENT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR TUCSON-AREA BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 13 TO 18. JUNIOR DOCENTS RECEIVE TRAINING ON THE PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND GEOLOGY OF THE SONORAN DESERT REGION AND HOW TO INTERPRET (TEACH) IT TO OTHERS. DESERT MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP, SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND RECOGNITION, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH MUSEUM EVENTS ARE JUST SOME OF THE BENEFITS JUNIOR DOCENTS RECEIVE IN ADDITION TO BEING PART OF A WORLD-FAMOUS MUSEUM! DURING THEIR TWO-YEAR TERMS AS A JUNIOR DOCENTS, TEENS TYPICALLY DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE, PUBLIC SPEAKING ABILITIES, AND A GREAT DEPTH OF NATURAL HISTORY KNOWLEDGE. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 12.COATI KIDS CLUB:THIS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR KIDS OFFERS YEAR-ROUND FREE ADMISSION, 8 SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CLUB MEMBERS, A STAINLESS-STEEL REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE, AND A GUIDEBOOK FOR FAMILIES TO LEARN HOW TO EXPLORE THE DESERT.NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 36.VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES:THE MUSEUM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF LIFE SCIENCE PROGRAMMING THROUGH LIVE-ANIMAL DEMONSTRATIONS, ARTS AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, AND STORY AND MOVEMENT-BASED CLASSES. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 3,992.ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMSPUBLIC CLASSES, TRIPS AND TOURS:THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR SONORAN DESERT AND TO TEACH TECHNIQUES AND TIPS FOR DESERT LIVING. CLASSES AND TRIPS ARE OFFERED ON TOPICS SUCH AS NATURAL HISTORY, GARDENING, WATER HARVESTING, AND COOKING WITH NATIVE FOODS. NUMBER SERVED IN 2023: 371.DOCENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: DOCENTS INTERPRET THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SONORAN DESERT REGION TO MUSEUM VISITORS AND TO GROUPS WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. IN DOING SO, THEY HELP THE MUSEUM FULFILL ITS CONSERVATION EDUCATION MISSION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 169 DOCENTS VOLUNTEERING ONE DAY PER WEEK OR MORE. SUCH INTERPRETATION CONSISTS OF CONDUCTING TOURS FOR GENERAL VISITORS AND DEMONSTRATING LIVE ANIMALS AND EDUCATIONAL KITS.DOCENT HOURS CONTRIBUTED IN 2023: 25,357

ART INSTITUTETHE MISSION OF THE ASDM ART INSTITUTE IS "CONSERVATION THROUGH ART EDUCATION." WE SEEK TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN NATURE-FOCUSED ART CLASSES AND INSPIRE NEW CONSERVATION ADVOCATES. TO THIS END, WE OFFER ART CLASSES, ART EXHIBITS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE MUSEUM'S ART COLLECTION. ART CLASSES: ART PROFESSIONALS TEACH ALL ART CLASSES, AND CLASS CONTENT EMPHASIZES OUR LIVING COLLECTIONS AND SONORAN DESERT SETTING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE ART INSTITUTE SERVED 1,281 STUDENTS ON-SITE. 24 INSTRUCTORS TAUGHT 188 DIFFERENT ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES. FOUR STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE NATURE ART CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND 96 BRAND NEW STUDENTS ENTERED THE PROGRAM. ON OUR WEBSITE, WE OFFER 10 FREE VIDEOS, VIEWED BY OVER 1,000 PEOPLE. WE ALSO ADDED A VIDEO CLASS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 160 SUBSCRIBERS AND 230 VIDEOS.TOTAL AUDIENCE SERVED IN 2023: 2,449PERMANENT COLLECTION:VANISHING CIRCLES IS A PERMANENT COLLECTION OF 92 ORIGINAL PAINTINGS DEPICTING DISAPPEARING WILDLIFE, PLANTS, AND HABITATS OF THE SONORAN DESERT. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM HAS A SMALL PERMANENT COLLECTION OF 47 ART PIECES THAT COMPRISE THE SONORAN COLLECTION. WE ALSO HAVE A COLLECTION OF 73 WORKS BY SHERIDAN OMAN, 108 BY MANABU SAITO, AND 68 BY RHONDA SPENCER. IN 2020, WE ACQUIRED A COLLECTION OF 23 ORIGINAL SCRATCHBOARD PIECES BY PRISCILLA BALDWIN DEPICTING ANIMALS FROM THE MUSEUM. THIS COLLECTION IS NOW ON PERMANENT DISPLAY IN THE BALDWIN BUILDING. IN 2021, WE ACQUIRED 17 NEW WORKS BY PHOTOGRAPHER CARLOS NAVARRO, WHOSE PIECES WERE ON EXHIBIT IN THE BALDWIN GALLERY. WHEN NAVARRO'S SHOW CLOSED, HE DONATED HIS WORK TO THE ART INSTITUTE. WE ALSO ACCEPTED A DONATION OF 8 WORKS BY MARI LYONS, WHICH WE WILL KEEP IN OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION.TOTAL COLLECTION PIECES IN 2023: 430GALLERY EXHIBITS:WE HOST 8 TO 12 UNIQUE ART EXHIBITS ANNUALLY IN THE IRONWOOD GALLERY AND BALDWIN EDUCATION GALLERY. THESE ART EXHIBITS SERVE THE MISSION OF THE DESERT MUSEUM BY MANIFESTING THE BEAUTY OF THE SONORAN HABITAT AND WILDLIFE TO OUR VISITORS THROUGH VISUAL ARTS. IN 2023, WE HAD 42,108 VISITORS IN OUR IRONWOOD GALLERIES AND 4,500 IN OUR BALDWIN GALLERIES. IN TOTAL, WE PRODUCED AND OPENED TEN UNIQUE ART EXHIBITS. INDUCED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE NOW OFFER VIRTUAL GALLERY SHOWS ON OUR WEBSITE, ACCESSIBLE TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE.OUR GALLERIES ARE SUPPORTED BY 34 VOLUNTEERS WHO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN GUESTS AND EXHIBITS. VOLUNTEERS HELP GUESTS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ART, NATURE, AND CONSERVATION.IN 2023, WE HOSTED A GLASS AND STEEL SCULPTURE EXHIBITION THAT WAS INSTALLED THROUGHOUT MUSEUM GROUNDS. THIS EXHIBIT WONDROUSLY EMBODIED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ART AND SCIENCE. THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE SCULPTURES WERE VISIBLE IN EVERY AREA OF MUSEUM GROUNDS, CREATING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL VISITORS.GALLERY ACTIVITY IN 2023: 10 EXHIBITS, 46,608 VISITORS