Thursday, September 12th
⌚ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Doors open at 5:00 pm
📍Wilson Room
🆓 Free and Open to the Public

The deep-time perspective that archaeology, geology, and related disciplines provide about natural hazards, environmental change, and societal development is often ignored when societies today make decisions affecting social sustainability and human safety. Studies of ancient peoples and natural events can help modern society deal with problems of environmental and social change, overpopulation, and sustainability.

This free program is made possible by Arizona Humanities.

Friday, September 13th ⌚9:00 am – 12:00 pm
📍Education Center Classroom 1

In our second Day of the Dead Crafts session with Sandy Luna of Luna’s Paper Designs, be prepared to make your own traditional flower bouquet to adorn your home or ofrenda this fall. You will assemble a small bouquet with marigolds, velvet flowers, and baby’s breath using crepe paper, wire, and glue. Additionally, you will learn the history behind this traditional floral decoration used to adorn cemeteries in Mexico. This is a one-day class that will last approximately three hours.

English or Spanish speakers of all levels are welcome to join this bilingual class.

Members | $95
General Public | $115

Monday, September 16th ⌚10:00 am – 4:00 pm
📍Education Center Classroom 1

Join mosaic artist David Jarvinen for a fun and interactive mosaic class inspired by our cactus gardens. Participants will work from the provided images, placing them in 8×12 frames. Then, they will learn how to use wire to define space and movement and fill in with colorful pourable acrylic paint. This brand-new technique requires no grouting. Come learn with us!

Members | $115
General Public | $140

Thursday Mornings
Through November 29
⌚9:00 – 10:00 AM
📍Performance Garden

Enjoy the mornings with certified Yoga Teacher Katie Innes (@catalinariser). Connect mind, body, and breath in an early morning all bodies, all levels Yoga Flow. Release and renew in a practice modifiable for all. Please bring your mat, water, and anything else that makes your practice more comfortable. Afterward, take a stroll through the gardens, explore the Exhibit House Galleries, shop locally at our Museum Shops, or savor a bite at the Garden Bistro.

Members | $10
General Public | $10 + Admission

Please pay CASH directly to the instructor.

Thursday, October 3rd
⌚ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Doors open at 5:00 pm
📍Wilson Room
🆓 Free and Open to the Public

Dia de Los Muertos is a highly celebrated and significant holiday held throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the Southwest. It is a day when homage is paid with prayers, offerings of food, and the building of altars to those who have gone before us. Join Zarco Guerrero and his unique masked characters as they celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with hilarious and moving storytelling, turning stereotypes on their heads. Among the characters making appearances are the poetry-spouting “El Vato Poeta,” the flirtatious “La Comadre,” the wise “El Abuelito,” and other beloved characters that Guerrero, a prolific playwright, has created to express the humor and sadness of our lives. Guerrero’s storytelling puts life into perspective in a delightful and engaging way, helping us accept and even laugh at our most primal fears about death.

This free program is made possible by Arizona Humanities.

Friday, October 11th & 18th
⌚ 9 am – 12 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Day of the Dead is a beautiful celebration in Mexico, and papier-mâché Catrinas are a traditional art form associated with this event. Join Sandy Luna of Luna’s Paper Designs in our final Day of the Day Crafts session of the Fall. In this workshop, you will learn how to make a small Catrina using papier-mâché, wire, and glue. You will also paint it with acrylics and decorate it with ribbons and flowers.

The class spans two days, with each session lasting approximately three hours.

English or Spanish speakers of all levels are welcome to join this bilingual class.

Members | $105
General Public | $130

Friday, October 11th
⌚ 1 – 2 pm
📍 Wilson Room

Are you planning to go to our fall plant sale but do not know how to take care of desert plants? Look no further! Join Tohono Chul Docent, Hank Verbais, dive into the art of Sonoran Desert gardening. Get first-hand knowledge in gardening in this arid region while exploring topics that include understanding our desert’s growing seasons to selecting native plants adapted to endure our climate. This class will provide the foundations to ensuring your garden and new plant additions not only survive but thrive. This lecture will include a 30 minute Q&A with TCP Docents Hank Verbais and Larry Lynam to answer your gardening questions.

Members | $5
General Public | $10

Thursday, October 17th
⌚ 10 – 11 am
📍Wilson Room

Images of horses are among the very earliest artworks. Almost every culture, every art form, and every era contains wonderful portraits of man’s most significant ally – the horse. This talk will be given by TMA Docent, Chuck Tampio.

TMA Members | Free
Tohono Chul Members | $5
General Public | $10

Tuesday, October 22nd
⌚ 10 – 11:30 am
📍 Wilson Room

Did you buy too many new plant varieties at our fall plant sale and need help taking care of them? Look no further! Join Tohono Chul Docent, Hank Verbais, dive into the art of Sonoran Desert gardening. Get first-hand knowledge in gardening in this arid region while exploring topics that include understanding our desert’s growing seasons to selecting native plants adapted to endure our climate. This class will provide the foundations to ensuring your garden and new plant additions not only survive but thrive. This lecture will include a 30 minute Q&A with TCP Docents Hank Verbais and Larry Lynam to answer your gardening questions.

Members | $5
General Public | $10

Monday, October 21st
⌚ 10 am – 3 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Steppingstones make a great addition to the home garden. Using porcelain tiles, Mosaic Artist David Jarvinen, will walk you through the process of using tools and adhesive to design a colorful mosaic steppingstone to adorn your outdoor spaces. Each base is unique with several different shapes to choose from. Learn to manipulate mosaic tile shapes by using a compound tile nipper to crack colorful pieces for your work. After arranging and gluing your design into place, a grout kit will be provided to easily complete your work at home. This is a beginner-level class, anyone who is able to crack a nut or “wack” tiles is encouraged to sign up! This workshop spans 5 hours, please bring food and snacks to fuel your creativity.

Members | $95
General Public | $125

Friday, November 1st
⌚ 2 – 3:30 pm
📍Wilson Room

Discover the world of these nocturnal hunters as they silently stalk the night for rodents and small prey. Join Pinau Merlin in this lecture where she will illuminate how owls hunt, their adaptive strategies, lifespan, nesting habits and much more.

Friday, November 8th & 15th
⌚ 9 am – 12 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Learn how to make a vintage papier-mâché Mexican cherub with Sandy Luna of Luna’s Paper Design. You will use clay techniques and papier-mâché to create your cherub in a the Mexican Folk Art style. You will learn how to recreate a face with a human figure and add wings to complete your piece. Additionally, you will learn about Mexican art, and Spanish and Latin American culture. The class spans two days, with each session lasting approximately three hours. English or Spanish speakers of all levels are welcomed to join this bilingual class.

Members | $120
General Public | $145

Saturday, November 9th
⌚ 9 – 10 am
📍 Performance Garden

Come experience the Art of Healing Frequencies in the gardens this fall! Immerse yourself in Soundscapes of Wellbeing led by TC Chicago. This practice can reduce stress, promote more restful sleep, and lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Come surround yourself with nature as you enjoy this multi-sensory experience!

Members | $5
General Public | $5 + Price of Admission

Thursday, November 14th
⌚ 1 – 2:30 pm
📍 Wilson Room

Have you ever wondered about the animals scurrying around your yard and wished you could document them? In our 3^rd Desert Dialogues lecture, join Tohono Chul Docents Olivia Carrey and Gerri Conn for an enlightening class where you’ll learn how to select, set up, and make the best use of a wildlife camera. We’ll cover everything from choosing a camera, to positioning it for optimal results. Plus, you’ll gain insights into the wildlife camera project at Tohono Chul, where we’re capturing the fascinating creatures that visit our park and sending that data to local conservation groups. Perfect for nature lovers and aspiring citizen scientists alike! This lecture will include a 30 minute Q&A with our docents to answer your wildlife camera questions.

Members | $5
General Public | $10

Monday, November 18th
⌚ 10 am – 3 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Join mosaic artist David Jarvinen in creating a lovely garden scene with porcelain tiles. You will be trained in mastering the tools needed to crack tiles in the shapes and sizes required to create your design. Participants will also learn how to achieve depth to add life and wonder in your scene. All materials will be provided and no grouting is necessary for this project. This workshop spans 5 hours, please bring food and snacks to fuel your creativity.

Members | $95
General Public | $125

Thursday, November 21st
⌚ 10 – 11 am
📍Wilson Room

As we look at the Hopi Kachina through the lens of art, we will delve into the meaning of Kachina in Hopi culture. We will learn about its traditional and ceremonial significance, artistic influence, and explore other art forms inspired by the Kachina. This talk will be given by Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) Docent, Linda Friedman.

Thursday Mornings
Through February 28
⌚9:30 – 10:30 AM
📍Overlook

Enjoy the mornings with certified Yoga Teacher Katie Innes (@catalinariser). Connect mind, body, and breath in an early morning all bodies, all levels Yoga Flow. Release and renew in a practice modifiable for all. Please bring your mat, water, and anything else that makes your practice more comfortable. Afterward, take a stroll through the gardens, explore the Exhibit House Galleries, shop locally at our Museum Shops, or savor a bite at the Garden Bistro.

Follow Katie on Instagram (@catalinariser) for class updates!

Members | $10
General Public | $10 + Admission

Please pay CASH directly to the instructor.

Friday, December 13th
⌚ 9 am – 12 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Join Sandy Luna of Luna Paper designs to create crepe paper Poinsettias, also known as Noche Buenas or Pascuas in Spanish. Native to Mexico and Central America, poinsettias decorate homes, churches, and streets throughout the country during the holiday season. In this class, you will learn how to assemble three beautiful red poinsettias using crepe paper, glue, and wire. Additionally, you will learn about the history behind this traditional decoration. This is a one-day class that will last approximately three hours. English or Spanish speakers of all levels are welcome to join this bilingual class.

Members | $95
General Public | $115

Monday, December 16th
⌚ 10 am – 4 pm
📍Education Center Classroom

Monday, Dec 16^th | 10am – 4pm | Education Center Classroom 1

Make a standing Garden Sculpture with Mosaic Artist David Jarvinen as he walks you through the mosaic process to create an 8 x 24″ art piece to display in your garden or entryway. Participants will learn how to manipulate porcelain 2×2 tiles to create designs and images for their project. The finished piece will sit in a custom stand and a grout kit will be provided to complete your design after the tile adhesive dries (24hrs). A wonderful project to explore mosaics with!

Members | $140
General Public | $170

Friday, January 3rd
⌚ 2 – 3:30 pm
📍Wilson Room

Join as we delve into the fascinating natural history, habits, and behaviors of Sandhill Cranes. We’ll discover where the cranes migrate from, courtship, feeding, calls, and most fun – how to interpret crane language and behavior. Our speaker, Pinau Merlin, will teach us all we need to know about these fascinating birds and their favorite roosting spots in Southern Arizona.

Want to see the cranes in action? Sign up for one of our upcoming field trips on January 4th or January 14th ❤️ to experience the magic and splendor of the Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw!

Thursday, January 16th
⌚ 10 – 11 am
📍Wilson Room

Take a ride on the Tucson streetcar to see the public art created for this major project. This presentation will focus on the historical connection to art and transportation in general: how the project was funded; and the process for selecting works; show-and-tell about each work’s title and artist; and how each work interprets the theme “flow.” This talk will be given by TMA Docent, Alinda Hakanson.

Thursday, February 20th
⌚ 10 – 11 am
📍Wilson Room

Throughout history, people have sought to create a bright, beautiful red to wear on themselves, see on their walls and everything in between. This is the story of how one insect changed the way the entire world was able to produce the most perfect red. This talk will be given by TMA Docent, Diane Foray.