Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Friday 12/11/2026

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Friday 12/11/2026

Cost

$10 for Desert Museum Members 

$32 for Desert Museum Non-members

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum inspires people to live in harmony with nature by promoting love, appreciation and understanding of the Sonoran Desert. Founded in 1952, it is internationally recognized for its innovative exhibits that present native plants and animals together in ecological settings. Spanning 98 acres, the museum combines a zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum and aquarium in one destination. Key features include:

• 21 interpreted acres with two miles of walking paths through diverse desert habitats
• 242 animal species
• More than 56,000 plant specimens representing 1,200 species
• One of the world's most comprehensive regional collections

We’ll meet in the Photography Club at 7:30 AM for departure at 8:00 AM.  Please wear your GVR Photography or Camera Club badge, if you have one. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. A hat, sunscreen and water are also recommended. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate amount to reimburse your driver.

Lunch will be at the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant in the Museum. Check out their menu here.

Following lunch, participants are welcome to check out more of the museum on their own; it's open until 5:00 PM.

THIS TOUR WILL INVOLVE EXTENSIVE WALKING AND STANDING.

Danny Valenzuela will be our trip leader. Contact Danny at 602-568-5759 or email at dvsundevil@gmail.com with any questions. He will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event. Please add your trip leader's email and phone number to your contact list so you don't miss out on any important updates.

GVR requires that every person participating in the club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability.  You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs if you haven't already done so.

The last date to cancel for a refund is December 4, 2026. If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com.  We may have people on the wait list to take your place. 

If you have to cancel on the day of the trip, please call Danny as soon as you know you cannot make the trip. 

NOTICE:

All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.

Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement.  To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.

We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.

In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.