Think your home is a good fit for a desert tortoise friend? The Desert Museum's Tortoise Adoption Program (TAP), in partnership with Arizona Game & Fish, helps rehome healthy, unwanted desert tortoises in the Tucson area with qualified custodians—while promoting conservation, proper care, and the protection of wild populations.

August is prickly pear season! Join us to harvest and clean ripe fruit, learn three methods for making juice, and discover how to make jelly. We’ll also explore the edible cactus pads (nopales), including how to select, clean, grill, and pickle them. Along the way, learn about local prickly pear species, spineless varieties cultivated in southern Mexico, and the natural history of this remarkable cactus.

Become a certified Young Naturalist at the Desert Museum! Build confidence, make connections, and explore careers while learning about the Sonoran Desert. Develop skills in identifying plants, animals, and minerals, plus conservation and outdoor safety. Discover ecology through nature journaling and earn your official certificate!