Voluntourism
Photos by AZT volunteers
Tucson & Southern Arizona Volunteer Opportunities for Visitors Would you like to give something back to Tucson or Southern Arizona during your next trip? Many visitors are discovering the sense of satisfaction and pride that volunteering to maintain or sustain the natural wonder of the Sonoran Desert can bring. This new phenomena has been coined "Voluntourism." We invite you to investigate how you can help keep Southern Arizona beautiful, accessible and safe for all to enjoy for this and future generations.
Also visit the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona website for more opportunities. Or, search for additional volunteer opportunities (by interest) in Tucson on the REI website. When you get home, write about your experience and tell fellow travelers about the kind of impact voluntourism can have and what you learned along the way.
Native Seeds/SEARCH
www.nativeseeds.org Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona. NS/S works to conserve, distribute and document the adapted and diverse varieties of agricultural seed, their wild relatives and the role these seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest and northwest Mexico. Their mission began in 1983, springing from the nexus of cultural longing and impending loss of genetic diversity. Today they safeguard 2000 varieties of arid-land adapted agricultural crops. Some, like watermelons, were adapted from seeds brought by early Europeans. Most of the collection consists of varieties of indigenous crops developed over centuries or millennia to suit the needs of their human partners. NS/S promotes the use of these ancient crops and their wild relatives by distributing seeds to traditional communities and to gardeners world wide. Currently the organization offers 350 varieties from their collection, grown out at the Conservation Farm in Patagonia, Arizona. The group also works to preserve knowledge about the traditional uses of the crop they steward. Through research, seed distribution and community outreach NS/S seeks to protect biodiversity and to celebrate cultural diversity. Both are essential in connecting the past to the future. Contact Diana Peel, Volunteer Coordinator at dpeel@nativeseeds.org or call (520) 622-5561 for more information. Sign up online as a volunteer at www.nativeseeds.org. Federal Land Management of Southern Arizona
www.volunteer.gov/gov/resultsZ.cfm?states=AZ Join the Friends of the San Pedro River, a volunteer non-profit corporation that provides support to the (Bureau of Land Management) BLM in its stewardship of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and other federally managed areas. Projects vary project to project and include, but are not limited to, landscaping, surveying, trail maintenance and preservation of historic monuments. The Arizona Trail
http://aztrail-build.org/index.html The Arizona Trail, the dream of Flagstaff teacher and hiking enthusiast Dale Shewalter, is a nearly 800 mile non-motorized trail that traverses the State from Mexico to Utah. The Arizona Trail is intended to be a primitive, long distance trail that highlights the state's topographic, biologic, historic and cultural diversity. Jody Sixkiller captured the Trail's beauty and wonder in her song ... The Arizona Trail.
The trail's primary users are hikers, equestrians and mountain bicyclists (outside of wilderness or other specially managed areas). Opportunities will also exist for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, joggers and pack stock users. Government agencies, businesses and volunteers are working together to make the Arizona Trail a reality. As of late 2005 more than 720 miles has been signed and is open to the public. More than 600 miles of the Arizona Trail have been "officially" designated and signed. The Trail is made up of 43 Passages ranging from 11 to 35 miles in length. In most cases, the Arizona Trail utilizes existing trails that are also known by their original name and number. In a few areas primitive roads are temporarily being used in areas where linkages are needed. However, new trail construction will eventually be done in these areas, especially to maintain the vision of a non-motorized trail. When completed, the Arizona Trail will become one of the premier long-distance trails in the country. There is still a lot of work to do to finish the trail and there are many ways you can help. Check out the work projects and events calendar to see if there is upcoming activity that interests you. Contact one of the trail stewards to learn about a specific trail segment and what needs to be done.
Info Line: (520) 299-9151
markflint@earthlink.net Tucson Botanical Gardens
www.tucsonbotanical.org
Some opportunities available include general grounds care including sweeping, raking, parking lot beautification, grounds clean up, and sign cleaning. Also,volunteer in the areas of preventive and on-going maintenance on projects that are designed to improve the condition of Garden facilities. Or if you do have a green thumb, consider assisting the horticulturists and help maintain living plant collections - planting, watering, weeding, etc.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, designated as America's Best Secret Garden by Reader's Digest and an Arizona Treasure by Governor Napolitano, is an urban oasis in the heart of Tucson. Featuring a 5 ½ acre collection of 16 specialty gardens, the grounds represent a variety of gardening traditions and botanical themes. The Gardens also offers a seasonal indoor, tropical butterfly exhibit Butterfly Magic. This beautiful oasis was originally the home and nursery of Bernice and Rutger Porter. Dating to the 1920s, the earliest buildings on the property were constructed of adobe bricks made right on site. The Gardens has identified five core collections, which translates into over 5,000 individual plants: the cacti collection, the tree collection, the Tucson Basin Natives Collection, Low-water-use ornamentals and the Historical Garden surrounding the original Porter home. It promotes responsible and appropriate use of plants and water in a desert environment through education and demonstration and provides a place of beauty and tranquility for Tucson residents and visitors. Located at 2150 North Alvernon Way, the Gardens is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. For more information about how you can help, call 520.326.9686 ext. 39 or email volunteer@tucsonbotanical.org. No green thumb required! |
