by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
It is time to toss Marcopa County Parks and Recreation seed pellets! Join them!
They will fling native seed pellets created early this year into the desert of Maricopa County’s regional parks. The initiative to spread native seeds is a proactive step towards ecological restoration. These native seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the local environment.
To learn more about the Desert Defender Program, visit https://cazca.org/project/desert-defenders/.
Please bring work gloves, water, and a snack. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes. This activity requires hiking along nature trails.
Family participation is encouraged; however, parents must be present for minors, and it is recommended that participants be at least five years of age.
DATE:
Nov 7, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
It is time to toss Marcopa County Parks and Recreation seed pellets! Join them!
They will fling native seed pellets created early this year into the desert of Maricopa County’s regional parks. The initiative to spread native seeds is a proactive step towards ecological restoration. These native seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the local environment.
To learn more about the Desert Defender Program, visit https://cazca.org/project/desert-defenders/.
Please bring work gloves, water, and a snack. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes. This activity requires hiking along nature trails.
Family participation is encouraged; however, parents must be present for minors, and it is recommended that participants be at least five years of age.
DATE:
Nov 5, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
It is time to toss Marcopa County Parks and Recreation seed pellets! Join them!
They will fling native seed pellets created early this year into the desert of Maricopa County’s regional parks. The initiative to spread native seeds is a proactive step towards ecological restoration. These native seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the local environment.
To learn more about the Desert Defender Program, visit https://cazca.org/project/desert-defenders/.
Please bring work gloves, water, and a snack. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes. This activity requires hiking along nature trails.
Family participation is encouraged; however, parents must be present for minors, and it is recommended that participants be at least five years of age.
DATE:
Nov 6, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
It is time to toss Marcopa County Parks and Recreation seed pellets! Join them!
They will fling native seed pellets created early this year into the desert of Maricopa County’s regional parks. The initiative to spread native seeds is a proactive step towards ecological restoration. These native seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the local environment.
To learn more about the Desert Defender Program, visit https://cazca.org/project/desert-defenders/.
Please bring work gloves, water, and a snack. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes. This activity requires hiking along nature trails.
Family participation is encouraged; however, parents must be present for minors, and it is recommended that participants be at least five years of age.
DATE:
Oct 31, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
It is time to toss Marcopa County Parks and Recreation seed pellets! Join them!
They will fling native seed pellets created early this year into the desert of Maricopa County’s regional parks. The initiative to spread native seeds is a proactive step towards ecological restoration. These native seeds are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in the local environment.
To learn more about the Desert Defender Program, visit https://cazca.org/project/desert-defenders/.
Please bring work gloves, water, and a snack. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toed shoes. This activity requires hiking along nature trails.
Family participation is encouraged; however, parents must be present for minors, and it is recommended that participants be at least five years of age.
DATE:
October 30, 2026
Time:
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by General Author | Aug 25, 2026
Event Description
Join Maricopa County Parks and Recreation this year for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz! Learn more about butterflies at a Maricopa County Parks and Recreation workshop on September 16th (5:30PM-7PM), then put your skills to the test at upcoming butterfly monitoring events on Spetember 19th (8:30AM-12PM).
- Participate in a national pollinator BioBlitz!
- Learn to identify and monitor native butterflies.
- Help track butterfly populations and diversity.
- And much more!
To register for the virtual workshop visit this page:
https://signup.com/g o/VgpAnsU
The BioBlitz will take place at the following parks:
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park Nature Center
- Hassayampa River Preserve Nature Center
- Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Dragonfly Parking Lot
- White Tank Mountain Regional Park Parking Area 4
- Usery Mountain Regional Park Nature Center
Please register using the links above.
Learn more about The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation butterfly program: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/butterfly-monitoring/.
DATE:
Sept 16, 2026
Time:
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location:
DATE:
Sept 19, 2026
Time:
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register using the links in the description above.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by Challie Facemire | Aug 20, 2026
Event Description
Summary
Rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency of extreme heat and drought events, often producing widespread and abrupt leaf discoloration in forests. Such discoloration is commonly interpreted as premature or stress-induced senescence, yet during hot droughts it may instead reflect leaf scorching. Although visually similar, senescence and scorching arise from fundamentally different physiological processes, with contrasting implications for nutrient resorption, carbon cycling, and ecosystem functioning. By exposing two species with distinct response to extreme heat (> 50°C), we aim to uncover the key physiological processes leading to premature leaf senescence and leaf scorching under extreme thermal stress, shedding light to the thermal and hydraulic thresholds of the aforementioned processes.
About the Speaker
Maxwell Bergström is visiting from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is collaborating with research staff and students in the DBG Dryland Plant Ecophysiology Lab, studying the effects of heat and drought on Fremont cottonwood and Gooding’s willow from a plant hydraulics and thermal limits perspective.
Modality
This presentation will be in person at Desert Botanical Garden’s Dorrance Hall or via Zoom
DATE:
Aug 27, 2026
Time:
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location:
Location:
Registration
Registration is not necessary, but if you are attending in person please visit the Desert Botanical Garden site to purchase an admission ticket.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by Mary Chisholm | Aug 12, 2026
Event Description
The Urban Nature Tree Worker Apprentice program teaches tree work to safety and arboricultural standards (ANSI z133 & a300, respectively). Learn a valuable trade, enact stewardship values, and build a career! The curriculum includes knots, biology, climbing, chainsaws, pruning, etc so graduates can enter the workforce prepared for higher skilled tasks and higher pay. $20/hour. No experience necessary. Starts August 24th & continues 10 consecutive weeks.
DATE:
Aug 24th-Oct 31st, 2026
Time:
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
by Mary Chisholm | Aug 12, 2026
Event Description
Become a Community Tree Steward! Join this free, hands-on urban forestry training in Mesa to learn practical tree care skills, improve the local tree canopy, and make a lasting impact. You do not need to live in the City of Mesa to participate. Participants receive a certificate of completion, hands-on field experience, and trees to help expand the canopy in prioritized Mesa neighborhoods.
DATE:
Oct 3rd & 17th, 2026
Location:
Do I need to Register?
Yes, please register for the event using our partner’s registration page.
Event Partners
CAZCA functions through extensive partnerships to stand together and further our conservation efforts.
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