Flashlight Tours: Camp, Creatures, and Starry Skies at the Desert Botanical Garden

At the Desert Botanical Garden, a blaze of campfires and colors light up the Sonoran sky and laughter can be heard behind every mesquite and agave plant. The annual flashlight tours continue and include a variety of creative and interactive elements for visitors,combining native creature stations with crafts and fireside treats.Whether you are searching for a Saturday night family adventure or a special date night outing, the garden provides 140 acres of hands-on activity.

Test your DIY nature skills at Sunset Plaza where you can experience the exhibit, CAMP, which is complete with makeshift tent supplies and high-tech telescopes to enjoy an evening under the stars.

Grab the whole family and relax beside bonfires while toasting marshmallows and personalizing your own gooey summer treat!

Stroll over to the CREATE exhibit at Stardust Foundation Plaza and unleash your imagination with pitch paint activities and a new feature that allows visitors to paint with lights.

From shadow puppets to mud pies, the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science is the perfect spot to experience the next exhibit, COOL, where you can design castles and collaborate on imaginative projects with family and friends.

Looking to escape the Arizona heat? Inside, guests can paint with watercolors and enjoy refreshing popsicles while learning about the different ways that native plants and animals adapt to the dry desert climate that we call home.

Speaking of animals, you may notice a few creatures on display at the Webster Auditorium Creature Feature where the Herpetological Association brings along a few special reptile guests from snakes to Gila monsters. For those of you who are on the hunt for scorpions and other night critters, you can bring your own black light or flashlight or purchase one at the gift store.

The Desert Botanical Garden’s mission is to instill a spirit of conservation among future generations. This is made possible with the support and assistance of passionate and dedicated volunteers throughout the year. If you wish to become a volunteer at the Garden and help out with special events, flashlight tours, and other educational programs, contact Kristen Countryman at kcountryman@dbg.org.

For teens seeking a program that specializes in environmental work, the Garden features an annual Teens in the Garden (TIG) program that offer opportunities for students to speak with researchers and engage with other like-minded teens on projects that focus on phenology and environmental studies. Members will participate in rewarding hands-on projects throughout the Garden and will be able to explore the community garden and new greenhouse. The online application goes live August 10, with a September 9 deadline for prospective students. If you are a teen who is interested in the Teens in the Garden (TIG) program or would like to know more about volunteer opportunities at the garden contact Countryman.