Desert Botanical Garden

THE GARDEN'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS TO ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, EXHIBITION AND CONSERVATION OF DESERT PLANTS OF THE WORLD WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SONORAN DESERT. WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE GARDEN IS ALWAYS A COMPELLING ATTRACTION THAT BRINGS TO LIFE THE MANY WONDERS OF THE DESERT.

HORTICULTURE - PROPAGATING & MAINTAINING A LIVING PLANT COLLECTION OF OVER 50,000 DESERT PLANTS WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THOSE INHABITING THE SONORAN DESERT, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO WORKS TO PRESERVE DESERT PLANT LIFE OUTSIDE OF ITS COLLECTION BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE BEAUTY, VARIETY AND FRAGILITY OF DESERT PLANT LIFE BY DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING ITS COLLECTION FOR THE PUBLIC AT ITS GARDEN IN PHOENIX, AZ WHICH IN THE CURRENT YEAR ATTRACTED APPROXIMATELY 495,000 VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. EDUCATION - PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND EDUCATORS THAT PROMOTE GREATER ENJOYMENT, UNDERSTANDING AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE SONORAN DESERT. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING AT THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN PROMOTES A SCIENTIFICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE COMMUNITY THROUGH HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED LEARNING, AND GARDEN STAFF AND RESOURCES. THESE PLACE-BASED EXPERIENCES INSPIRE A CONNECTION TO THE UNIQUE WONDERS OF THE SONORAN DESERT, ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD, AND IGNITE A LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. INFORMAL PROGRAMS SPAN THE AGES OF INFANTS TO TEENAGERS ALONGSIDE THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED INVESTIGATIONS THAT INCORPORATE ART, SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND MUCH MORE. IN FY 2022, CACTUS CLUBHOUSE OPENED IN THE FALL FOR WEEKEND PROGRAMMING (FRI-SUN, 9:00AM-4:00PM). OVER THE WINTER HOLIDAYS, AND THEN STARTING FULLY IN SPRING 2022 (FEBRUARY-MAY), THE CLUBHOUSE OPENED 7 DAYS A WEEK. THE CACTUS CLUBHOUSE WELCOMED 19,436 VISITORS, INCLUDING OVER 8,100 CHILDREN. CACTUS CLUBHOUSE ADMISSION WAS INCLUDED WITH GARDEN ADMISSION AND MEMBERHSIP. SCHOOL PROGRAMS, TEENS IN THE GARDEN & GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMS PAUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC. REINTRODUCING THESE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN A PROGRESSIVE EFFORT. FIELD TRIPS REMAINED CANCELLED THROUGH FY22; OUTREACH PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN REINTRODUCED, WITH SEVERAL THEMATIC UNITS BEING TAKEN OUT TO SCHOOLS. THERE WERE 13 OFF-SITE VISITS TO SCHOOS, PROVIDING SCIENCE-BASED UNITS HIGHILGHTING THE BIOLOGY OF THE SONORAN DESERT. ELEVEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE TEENS IN THE GARDEN PROGRAM AS IT WAS REINTRODUCED POST-PANDEMIC. EACH MONTH, STUDENTS ENGAGED IN VARIOUS VOLUNTEER, RESEARCH, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH GARDEN STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.