OUTDOORS FAMILY ADVENTURES. The UA Extended University offers two family weekends this spring, for parents and children ages 5 years and up to explore the ecology and environment of our region. Tide Pools Family Institute takes families to Puerto Peñasco, on the Sea of Cortez, where they'll stay at the Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. The program teaches about the ecosystems of the intertidal habitats and estuaries of Peñasco. Dates include February 2 through 4, and February 16 through 18. Riparian Ecology meets March 22 through 24. Families sleep in a bunkhouse or camp at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge south of Tucson, near Arivaca, where they'll explore three riparian habitats: cottonwood, sycamore and cienega. Included are hikes, field experiences, and information programs about the refuge's birds, animals, insects and plants. Call the UA Extended University at 621-UofA for registration and information. HISTORIC WALKS. Walking tours of El Presidio Historic District are offered every Saturday at 10 a.m. beginning at the Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House Museum, 151 S. Granada Ave. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Cost is $4. Call 622-0956 for registration and information. ARCHAEOLOGY TOURS. The Center for Desert Archaeology offers tours of both downtown Tucson and remote desert sites, providing new visions of Tucson's fascinating past. See the hidden 3,000 year-old village downtown, prehistoric rock art petroglyphs or half-day tours to Signal Hill, Picture Rocks and King's Canyon. Contact Connie Allen-Bacon at 881-2244 for more information on tours. Individual, group and corporate rates are available. TOHONO CHUL PARK. 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. 742-6455. Tohono Chul Park grounds are open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Exhibit hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2. The park presents "Walk in the Park Tours" at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. "Birds of Tohono Chul Tours" depart at 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tours last about one hour. "Art in the Park Tours," a docent-guided look at the gallery exhibits, happen at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 2 p.m. Sunday. A Xeriscape Landscape tour is held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 20. Call 742-6455 for reservations and information. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. 2021 N. Kinney Road. 883-2702. The museum is part botanical garden, part geology museum and part zoological park. Naturalistic settings house 1,386 plant species and 317 animal species. Interpretive tours, live animal visits, and botanical and raptor interpretations are given daily. During the month of January early morning birdwalks begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Guided tours are held daily at 10, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Live animal interpretations are held daily at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Museum hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Admission is $8.95 ages 13 and over, and $1.75 ages 6 through 12. Discount group rates are available. HIKING. Southern Arizona Hiking Club meets several days during the week. There are at least two different hikes on each of these days. All hikes are rated for difficulty. Call 751-4513 for more information. Sierra Club. The Sierra Club offers many outdoor activities including bike trips, campouts, picnics, singles events and various hikes for all levels. Call the Sierra Club at 620-6401 for information.

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth