Tucson Weekly: Outdoors (April 5

OUTDOORS

ARCHAEOLOGY DIG. Join in a public archaeology dig at the Sabino Canyon Ruin April 7 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn to recognize artifacts and use archaeological methods to unearth pottery, stone, bone and seashells, and reveal prehistoric pit houses and more. Cost for the session is $35 per person or $50 for a two-day program. Directions to the ruin are provided upon pre-registration. Call 798-1201 for more information and to register.
EL TOUR DE PHOENIX. A 70-mile and 25-mile bicycle tour of the perimeter of Red Mountain at Fitch Park in Mesa takes place April 7. Call the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America (PBAA) at (520) 745-2033 for more information.
NIGHT WALKS. Saguaro National Park East. 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail. Take a walk on the wild side with a naturalist-guided excursion into the Sonoran Desert twice a month on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. Naturalists discuss and demonstrate nighttime adaptations and scan the skies with an audible bat detector. The free program is open to all, and reservations are required. Call 733-5153 to reserve a space.
SABINO CANYON NATURE WALKS. Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center. Lace up your hiking boots, grab a bottle of water and join in a variety of weekly walks with Sabino Canyon naturalists through May 4. On Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. take a plant and bird walk, or join the 1:45 p.m. nature walk. On Wednesdays there is a nature/bird walk at 9 a.m. and a geology activities session at tram stop 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finally, on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. gear up for a 3-4 mile trail hike. All activities are free. Call 749-8700 for more information.
SABINO STARRY NIGHT. Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center ramada. Hike every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Glide through the night in Sabino Canyon, free from flash and artificial light, while enjoying the friendly company of kindred spirits. Reconnect with nature by disconnecting from any extraneous electronic devices and fomenting moments of silence, to experience genuine light, sound, and the presence of the darkened Catalina Cathedral. It's a 7.5-mile round trip, 600-foot elevation change. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. Free admission. Call Larry at 577-2444 after 1 p.m. for information.
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/chap_outings.asp.
TOHONO CHUL PARK. 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. 742-6455. Walk in the Park tours, overviews of the park's 48 acres and its flora and fauna, are offered at 9 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and at 1 p.m. Sundays. Art in the Park tours, docent-guided looks at gallery exhibits, are at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. 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. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Grounds are open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Exhibit hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Greenhouse hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is $2. Call 742-6455 for a daily event schedule.
TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY. Join experienced birders for several field trips each week visiting areas around Tucson and southeastern Arizona. Admission is free. Call 629-0510 for schedule and information.