Tucson Weekly: Outdoors (June 29

OUTDOORS

ARCHAEOLOGY TOURS. The Center for Desert Archaeology offers group or individual tours of the significant sites in the Tucson Basin. Choose from ancient rock art, Hohokam ballcourt villages and more. Call 885-6283 for information; reservations are requested 24 hours in advance.
HUMMINGBIRD BANDING. See what the buzz is about at the Southern Arizona Bird Observatory. From 4 to 6 p.m. every Saturday through September 30, biologists capture, band, measure and release hummingbirds as part of long-term studies of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. The Observatory also offers opportunities to participate in naturalist-led bird walks beginning an hour after sunrise on Tuesdays through September 19. Bird walks are $12, $8 for SABO members. Hummingbird banding is free at the San Pedro House, Highway 90, seven miles east of Sierra Vista. Call 1-(520) 432-1388 for further information.
OLD PUEBLO ARCHAEOLOGY CENTER. 1000 E. Fort Lowell Road. The Center offers volunteers opportunities to assist at the Fort Huachuca Archaeological Laboratory, and at the Curation Facility. Volunteers can assist, clean, label and catalogue artifacts that have been recovered from sites on Fort Huachuca. Volunteer from 2 to 4 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 29, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 30. Call 798-1201 for reservations and information.
SABINO CANYON VOLUNTEERS. The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists are looking for people who enjoy the outdoors and working with children for their desert ecology program. Training begins in September. Call 760-8807 for information.
SAGUARO HARVEST. Purple Rock Permaculture Site. 8945 N. Scenic Drive. Nature lovers won't want to miss the annual saguaro fruit harvest led by Stella Tucker of the Tohono O'odam Nation, and Barbara Rose from the Permaculture Drylands Institute from 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 1. Traditional techniques are used to collect and prepare the fruit gathered on 20-acres of private land. Admission is $50. To register, leave a message at 624-1673.
SIERRA CLUB HIKES. Explore the beauty of the Sonoran desert with the local chapter of the Sierra Club during free hikes and outings on most weekends. Both beginning and experienced hikers are welcome. Non-members are welcome to participate. For a listing of upcoming events, visit www.sierraclub.org/chapters/az/page4.html.
SONORAN DESERT MOUNTAIN BICYCLISTS. Join intermediate level cyclists for a 12- to 16-mile ride in the Huachuca Mountains. Meet at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, July 2, in the Randolph Golf Course parking lot. Call Jerry Quesnel at 742-7729 for information. Instructional rides offer groups of one to three beginning and aspiring riders the opportunity to learn cycling skills without the pressure of a group ride. Call Chuck Cook at 219-4398 or Mark Flint at 299-9151 for a free appointment. For updated ride information, visit www.sdmb.org.
TOHONO CHUL PARK. 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. 742-6455. Regular Walk in the Park tours, an overview of the park's 48 acres and its flora and fauna, are offered at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and at 1 p.m. Sunday. Art in the Park tours, docent-guided looks at gallery exhibits, are at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The park offers additional guided tours for your enjoyment. Birds of Tohono Chul provides opportunities to observe the many species frequenting the park, and meets at 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 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. Greenhouse hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is $2. Call 742-6455 for a daily events schedule.
WILDERNESS VOLUNTEERS. Experience the beauty of wild lands while reinvesting in them this summer and fall. The Wilderness Volunteers is a non-profit organization that works with public land agencies to organize volunteer services to benefit U.S. wild lands. Trips are one-week long and cost less than $200. For information, call 1-888-737-2888 or visit www.wildernessvolunteers.org.