Discovering Nature with Camp Cooper’s Engaging Programs
(Inspired by my visit today – June 3, 2025)
During my visit today, I learned so much about how the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning (Camp Cooper) is helping kids and families connect with the natural world. Isaac Silva, one of the amazing educators at Camp Cooper, shared stories about how these programs can open our eyes to the desert’s beauty and complexity. (You can read more about Isaac here: Isaac Silva’s Educator Profile.)
In today’s busy world, it’s more important than ever to take time to slow down and appreciate nature. Camp Cooper has so many fun and educational programs for people of all ages—whether you’re out there with your family, on a field trip with your students, or just curious to explore. From stargazing to “bat walks,” there’s something for everyone!
One of my favorite parts of what I heard today was about the bat walks. As Isaac said,
“We have programs this summer… we can find…over 3,000 calls from bats.”
Using special detectors, you can actually hear bats communicating as they fly around at night! It’s such a cool way to experience the desert after dark—and it also helps with community science projects to protect these amazing animals.
For daytime adventures, there are field trips like “Ecosystem Discovery,” where kids become little scientists. They get to explore the desert, track animals, and even build energy flow charts to understand how everything is connected. Isaac shared,
“We’re piloting the first public nature play parks in the City of Tucson Parks and Rec, Silver Lake Park and Miracle Park.”
These new projects show just how much Camp Cooper cares about making nature fun and accessible for every child in our community. If you want to keep the learning going at home, Camp Cooper also has an online nature series filled with activities and videos. Isaac said,
“There also is a nature online series if that is something that you are interested in.”
Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or just curious about the desert, these online programs are a great way to keep exploring.
🌵 Making Seed Balls – A Fun Activity for Families
This fun, hands-on project was presented by Mabel Rivera – Environmental Education Program Coordinator for Pima County, AZ. She shared how to make seed balls, tiny packets of seeds that you can toss on dirt to help native wildflowers grow and support pollinators. Here’s how to make them:
The ratios:
- 1 scoop of seeds
- 3 scoops of compost
- 5 scoops of clay
Mix them up! The clay helps hold everything together, while the compost acts like fertilizer. Add a bit of water until the mix is sticky but not too wet.
Shape them into little balls, and then let them dry.
When the rains come, these seed balls will help bring more life to the desert.
As Isaac said,
“These seed balls will definitely help promote the native pollinators in the area.”
🌿 Tips for Families and Educators
✅ Take a Nature Walk: Use the scavenger hunt checklist in the downloadable resource below to spot plants and animals.
✅ Keep a Nature Journal: Sketch what you see and hear on your walks.
✅ Try a “bat night” at home: Learn about bats online, then go outside at dusk to see what animals are out!
✅ Connect with your community: Check out Camp Cooper’s field trips and online nature series.
🔗 Helpful Links
- Visit the Cooper Center website: coopercenter.arizona.edu
- Sign up for a virtual field trip: Virtual Field Trips
- Join their newsletter for more activities: Sign up here
