Earth Grant Blog

The Cooper Center for Environmental Learning ­– known as Camp Cooper to the Tucson community – will celebrate both its milestone 60th anniversary and the completion of its $2.7 million master plan phase one renovation on Nov. 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a FREE community event open to the public.

Come on out to the Cooper Center this Saturday! Family Nature Day will be taking place from 8:30am-12:00pm at 5403 W Trails End Rd 85745 in Tucson. Admission is free, everyone is welcome, and snacks, water, and sunscreen are highly recommended. You can register ahead of time here. We’ll see you there!

On Friday September 6th, the Earth Grant community came together to participate in an activity that we’ve facilitated at every annual intern-mentor orientation, an activity geared towards supporting impactful and growth-oriented experiences for both our students and our mentors. In order for us all to be able to learn and grow together over this next academic year, we need to first learn more about each other and the values and beliefs that we each carry to establish a mutual understanding of the behaviors and expectations that we will hold both ourselves and each other accountable to throughout our time together.

October may not be full of fall foliage here in the Sonoran Desert, but it is certainly a time of change and movement! With winds flowing and cooler temperatures moving in, community spaces all across Tucson are starting to hold gatherings and events outdoors again, and the Sonoran Institute is moving right along with them!

Meet Maya Tainatongo! A native Tucsonan and passionate community member, Maya shares their past experiences in the Earth Grant program and how it has strengthened her impactful and collaborative work in conservation and community building.

Meet Samantha and Maria Mata! Sisters and Earth Grant alums, these young leaders share their past experiences in the Earth Grant program and how it has strengthened their impactful work in public health, education, and city planning.

Meet Olya Weekley, a Wildcat alumni and new Earth Grant mentor, working as the Applied Conservation Project Manager at Tucson Audubon.

Meet Melissa Cordero, an Earth Grant mentor, as she tells us about her professional journey and current work at the Sonoran Institute, based in Tucson.

The Earth Grant program is welcoming Jessica Estrada as the new Earth Grant Program Coordinator this month! Jessica will continue the coordination and development of the Earth Grant Program as Leona Davis steps into another position in AIR. Jessica will support the Earth Grant students and mentors as the internships continue to develop this school year.

Hi everyone! My name is Gabriella Parra. I am from Tucson, Arizona, and I will be a community outreach intern this summer at Zion National Park! My mom, my step-dad, and I took the eight and a half hour road trip from Tucson to Zion.