Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Naturalist Certificate Program

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Naturalist Certificate program is designed to help students better understand the ecological connections among the living residents of our region, and between the living and non-living world. The core course, Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, is required as an introduction to further studies. In addition, you must take a minimum of two courses from each of the six elective categories shown below. When an elective course is listed under more than one category, you will have to choose one for which it will be counted. The total number of required credits is 20, and in order to receive credit you must pass the accompanying test for each class.

The dates in parenthesis denote when the classes are scheduled for the 2009-2010 season. Occasionally the dates may change slightly from those shown below and new classes may be added. If you plan to take the course for credit, call Sonya Norman at 883-3030 when you register.

Core Course

• Natural History of the Sonoran Desert (October 17-18, 2009) 2 credits

Electives

BOTANY

• Landscape and Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains (November 1, 2009) 1 credit
• Colonial Alamos (February 21- 27) 3 credits
• Wildflower Walk (March 13 or March 17, 2010) ½ credit
• Trees & Shrubs of the Sonoran Desert (April 4, 2010) ½ credit
• Cholla Bud Harvest (April 10, 2010) 1 credit
• Tree Ring Tales (June 12, 2010) ½ credit
• Saguaro Fruit Harvest (June 27, 2010) 1 credit
• Prickly Pear Harvest (August 14 or 22, 2010) 1 credit

FAUNA

• Sandhill Cranes, Raptors, Waterfowl (January 23 or February 6, 2010) 1 credit
• Colonial Alamos (February 21- 27) 3 credits
• The Best of Baja – Whale Watching (March 1-9, 2010) 3 credits
• Hummingbirds of Southeastern Arizona (April 15 & 17, 2010) 1½ credits
• Kino Springs Birding (May 8, 2010) 1 credit
• Going Bats (July 24, 2010) ½ credit

GEOLOGY

• Landscape and Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains (November 1, 2009) 1 credit
• Tucson Mountain Chaos Geology Hike (November 21, 2009) ½ credit
• Mountains, Mines & Minerals (January 16 or February 13, 2010) 1 credit
• Geology Hike (January 30, 2010) ½ credit
• Colonial Alamos (February 21- 27) 3 credits
• Mineral Treasures (May 15, 2010) ½ credit

WATER

• Rainwater Harvesting Tour (November 7, 2009) 1 credit
• Rainwater Harvesting Workshop (November 8, 2009) ½ credit
• The Best of Baja – Whale Watching (March 1-9, 2010) 3 credits

SUSTAINABILITY

• Rainwater Harvesting Tour (November 7, 2009) 1 credit
• Rainwater Harvesting Workshop (November 8, 2009) ½ credit
• A Taste of Place (September 24, 2009) 1 credit

CULTURE

• Chaco Canyon (October 22-26, 2009) 3 credits
• Weaving Desert Color and Culture (October 24, 2009) 1 credit
• Day of the Dead (November 1 or 2, 2009) 1 credit
• Cholla Bud Harvest (April 10, 2010) 1 credit
• Amerind Foundation ( April 18, 2010) ½ credit
• Mesa Verde Archeology (May 12-18, 2010) credits
• Saguaro Fruit Harvest (June 27, 2010) 1 credit
• Prickly Pear Harvest (August 14 or 22, 2010) 1 credit
• New Mexico's Rio Grande Pueblos & Georgia O'Keefe Country (November 6-13, 2010) 3 credits