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Adult Education

Natural History Docent Program

FoMC volunteer docent naturalists conduct 4th Grade Nature Walk field trips in Madera Canyon with local school kids, as well as assist with adult walks/activities, and other Friends-sponsored events. Docents are FoMC members recruited from the local community; many have a background in education or science, while others are birders or have other natural history interests. The unifying qualities of the docent corps are a love of Madera Canyon and a desire to share their knowledge about the canyon with others.

Leading 4th Grade Nature Walks

The main activity of docent naturalists is the 4th grade nature walk field trips. Experienced docents lead the student groups. New docents learn by on the trail experience, rotating to a different lead docent for each walk to study different teaching styles/techniques and to assist the group as a “Sweep”. With enough practice and experience, a docent can graduate to a group “Lead” under the supervision of the Director of Education.

Lead Docent Naturalist Training/Education

Experienced “Lead” docents lead student groups on the nature walks. An important
requirement of becoming a lead docent is gaining a broad practical knowledge of
Madera Canyon and the Sky Island region. With the “Docent Manual”,
training/orientation sessions, and other activities docents are encouraged to learn
about canyon natural history subjects, such as ecology, geology, field zoology, field
botany, and archeology. Orientation/training sessions are held in the spring & fall.

Docents are encouraged to continue their on-going education by attending walks,
workshops, and activities sponsored by the FoMC and other organizations, as well
as, to explore/study on their own. Several field guides and books are required study
material; pertinent new material is regularly added to the Docent Manual.

Becoming a Docent

The Education Program is always looking for reliable, friendly, enthusiastic docent volunteers wanting to make a commitment to learn about the canyon and share the information. A docent must be a FoMC member and available Thursday mornings for 6 to 7 weeks in October/November, and 9 to 10 weeks in February/March/April (including mandatory training sessions).

Interested in volunteering? For more info about becoming a docent, please contact Education Director, Doug Moore at: maderaedu2023@gmail.com

Learning Through Nature

Nature walks, workshops, activities, events, and community presentations help
members and volunteers, local residents and area visitors discover the nature of
Madera Canyon and the Sky Islands. The offerings of the Education Program supply
a tangible benefit for membership, as well as fulfilling an organizational mandate,
promoting “conservation through education.”

Originally, our Education Program focused on kids. And, while it still does, requests
by volunteers and the public for the “Madera Canyon: Web of Life Teacher’s Manual”
gave the Board of Directors the idea that adults wanted to learn about Madera
Canyon and the Sky Islands, too! As a result, in 1999, FoMC sponsored the popular
natural history book, “The Nature of Madera Canyon”. In 2005, an Adult Education
Program was “formalized” and now includes a variety of nature education programs
and activities.

Madera Canyon as a Natural Classroom

The majority of FoMC adult activities occur in Madera Canyon. FoMC members can add their email address to the activity alert list and receive email about upcoming activities.

Activities include:

  • General nature, birding, wildflower & plant hikes/walks with varying ability levels                                                                      
  • Monsoon season Bug Nights focus on the canyon’s amazing nocturnal arthropod and bat species

Educational, nonprofit, and community groups and organizations can request Madera Canyon walks and other activities. To request and schedule an activity, please contact Education Director, Doug Moore at: maderaedu2023@gmail.com

Self-guided “in-canyon” natural history information is also available. The Bud Gode Interpretive Nature Trail (BGINT) is a connected series of exhibits in each of the 5 Madera Canyon recreation parking areas/trailheads with interpretive signage and topological canyon trail maps to help visiting adults and families explore the natural history of Madera Canyon.

Community Outreach Programs

Natural History A/V Programs– FoMC Education Director, Doug Moore, has created a series of Madera Canyon and AZ Sky Island PowerPoint A/V presentations featuring high-quality photography. The popular program “The Nature of Madera Canyon” has been shown locally since 1996. Often updated, presentations cover everything from general canyon natural history to highlighting special subjects such as AZ Sky Island nature, wildflowers, butterflies/insects, amphibians/reptiles, birds, mammals and ‘rare & unusual’ plants & animals. To schedule a program, contact Doug Moore at: maderaedu2023@gmail.com

Madera Canyon Video Series– An informative series of Madera Canyon natural history videos is available on-line for presentation to your group or organization. View our video series.

Community Forums– sponsored by FoMC help to alert and educate the community on subjects such as wildfire and environmental concerns that affect Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita Mountains.

Community Activities– FoMC provides environmental education to the local community ranging from informational speakers to information tables at the local Farmers’ Market, White Elephant Country Fair, Sonora Birding Festival, and more.

Is your service organization or club interested in enjoying an information or education presentation on Madera Canyon? Please contact us at: info@friendsofmaderacanyon.org.