Tucson Weekly: Listings: Outdoors (May 29

OUTDOORS
BIODIVERSITY WALKS. The Southwest Center for Biological Diversity offers "biodiversity walks" at 9 a.m. every first and third Sunday of the month. Join Center staff and expert guests for a walk along Cienega Creek. Learn about the importance of riparian habitats for wildlife and water quality, and the implications of grazing management. Expect a two-mile walk lasting two to three hours. Don't forget your hat and water. Call David Hogan at 733-1391 for reservations and directions.
CATALINA CLIMB. The Forest Service Volunteers offer free guided hikes in the Santa Catalina Mountains Fridays at 9:30 a.m. through August. On June 6, meet at the Palisade roadside restroom lot for a hike to the Peck Basin Overlook. Wear hiking boots or comfortable footwear, bring 1 to 2 quarts of water, a snack or bag lunch, and sunscreen. Don't forget, temperatures are usually 20 degrees cooler than Tucson, so be sure to dress appropriately. Hikers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call 881-1309 for information.
Listings DESERT ARCHAEOLOGY TOURS. The Center for Desert Archaeology offers whole- and half-day tours of local archaeological treasures, including: the Romero Ruin Tour, a look at the remnants of the four great cultures that once inhabited the Catalina State Park area; the Rock Art Tour, an in-depth look offering hikers a chance to visit petroglyph sites near Tucson; and the Downtown Tucson Tour, featuring more than 30 centuries of history. Half-day tours are $40, full-day treks are $70, with group rates available for groups of three to 45 people. Wear long-sleeved clothing and a hat, and make sure you've got sturdy shoes with ankle support and good traction. Water is provided. Call 885-6283 for information.
DIG IT. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, a nonprofit corporation, offers public archaeological field school sessions at the Sabino Canyon Ruin, home of Hohokam Indians 650 to 1,000 years ago. The field school features instruction in archaeological excavation techniques, artifact recovery and care, interpretation of ancient cultures, and archaeological ethics. Lunch is provided. Cost is $69 per eight-hour day, with reduced rates for groups and multiple day sign-ups. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Archaeologist guided tours of the ruin are also available. Call 798-1201 for reservations and information.
PROYECTO TORTUGA. The Coastal Conservation Foundation of Tucson offers a field study program in sea turtle restoration, beginning in July and continuing through September. The program, Proyecto Tortuga, is located in Nayarit, Mexico. Participants will patrol beaches nightly to aid in the protection of the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, and have the opportunity to help with local environmental education classes and biodiversity studies. Contact the CCF at P.O. Box 2083, Tucson, AZ 85702, for information.
NATURE CONSERVANCY. Get out of the bustle of town and take a trip to the Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Visitor Center. There you can get back to nature and enjoy bird watching, guided tours and hikes. Regular preserve hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Take Highway 82 to Patagonia, head west on Fourth Avenue, and south on Pennsylvania. Call 1-520-394-2400 for information.
ORIENT YOURSELF. Join the Tucson Orienteering Club for a day in the cool breezes of the Santa Catalina Mountains at Bear Wallow on Sunday, June 15. Orienteering is a skill using map and compass to find specific locations. A beginners' clinic on the basics starts at 9 a.m., with registration from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Courses of different levels from novice to advanced can be walked or run; courses close at 2 p.m. Cost is $5 individual, or $7 per team. All participants must have a safety whistle, available on site for $1. Compasses may also be rented for $1. Call 628-8985 for information.
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. Walk in the Park tours are offered at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Art in the Park tours, docent-guided looks at gallery exhibits, are at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. Sunday. The park offers additional guided tours for your enjoyment. Call the info line at 575-8468 for daily updates on the Night-blooming Cereus. Call 742-6455 for park information and daily events schedule.

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