Visit and Explore

The Santa Cruz River is a unique resource in our community. Learn how to connect with this riparian habitat.

7:30 – 9:30 a.m., Oct. 6, 2026

Birding at El Rio Preserve (October)

8:30 – 10:30 a.m., Oct. 7, 2026

Smartphone Photography Walk: El Rio Preserve (October)

9 – 10:30 a.m., Oct. 8, 2026

El Rio Preserve Nature Stroll (October)

Group of teachers in the turtle research group of BIORETS

Meet BIORETS

Get to know the people of BIORETS Santa Cruz River.

Dragonfly Bioblitz event photo

Dragonfly BioBlitz

Let's count dragonflies in the Santa Cruz River!

BioBlitz details

Group of teachers researching dragonflies in the Santa Cruz River

Santa Cruz River Dispatches

Connect with river stories from this month.

River Dispatches

Phenology drawing example

Lessons and Activities

Find inspiration from the Santa Cruz River for your classroom.

Lessons and Activities

Two people holding nets walking in the Santa Cruz River in fall

Group of people in Santa Cruz River

3 teachers walking in the Santa Cruz River

People standing in a river looking at rocks

Sonoran mud turtle in the Santa Cruz River

View of people in Santa Cruz River Channel

Researchers gathering plant data in transect square

People looking in container filled with water and aquatic life

Image of 2 Sonoran Desert toads

Santa Cruz River in Marana AZ