GVR Photography Club upcoming events

Field Trip Committee (09/02/2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The field trip committee meeting is held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is an opportunity for committee members to discuss upcoming field trips.

We will be meeting at the Photography Club in the Small Classroom at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

Please register here.

Bird/Nature Photography: Agua Caliente Park - Thursday 09/10/2026 (09/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:45:00 GMT

Bird/Nature Photography: Agua Caliente Park - Thursday 09/10/2026

Trip Cost: $10

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE HAS CHANGED.

Due to excessive heat warnings, we've rescheduled this trip from August 27 to September 10.

Agua Caliente, literally meaning hot water, is a unique 101-acre park that features a perennial warm spring and pond that is home to an exceptionally rich mix of plants and animals. Agua Caliente Park has a long and interesting history with evidence of human habitation dating back about 5,500 years. In 1873, a ranch and health resort was developed to promote the curative properties of the warm springs. In 1984 local businessman Roy P. Drachman donated over $200,000 toward the purchase of Agua Caliente Ranch and Pima County named the park in honor of this contribution. Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park opened to the public on January 19, 1985. On July 9, 2009, Agua Caliente Ranch Rural Historic Landscape was placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Improvements have added modern conveniences without eliminating the historical aspects of the park. Renovation of the main pond was completed in July 2020. It consisted of grading and deepening the pond and installing a polymer liner to reduce pond seepage to conserve water. A bridge to the island was reconstructed after many years of inaccessibility. The ponds support diverse wildlife habitat and the lush environment that visitors have come to expect when visiting the park.

If you have binoculars, you may want to bring them along. A small notebook and pen or pencil would be useful to record your sightings. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. A hat, sunscreen and water are also recommended.

Following the trip to Agua Caliente Park, you're invited to a no-host lunch at Saguaro Corners located at 3750 South Old Spanish Trail in Tucson.

Meet at the Photography Club at 7:45 AM for carpooling, departure at 8:15. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $10.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver for gas.

Denise LeCount-O'Brien will be our trip leader. Contact Denise at 309-830-0177 or email her at rurt2dede@gmail.com with any questions. She 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 September 3, 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 Denise 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.

Sunset with the Bats - Campbell Ave Bridge - Thursday 09/10/2026 (09/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Sunset with the Bats - Campbell Ave Bridge - Thursday 09/10/2026

Trip Cost: $10

Join us at sunset as we watch thousands of bats come out of their man-made roosts below the Campbell Avenue Bridge in Tucson to feed!

Compared to other places, we have many bat species living in and around Tucson. The most common are the Mexican free-tailed bats. Those roost in the thousands, and 99.9% of the time, if you guessed you saw a Mexican free-tailed bat fly out from beneath a bridge, you’d be correct.

The large roosts we see under the bridges are maternity roosts. The females arrive here in April already pregnant. Over the summer, the females give birth to their young – one pup per female in June or July. In the fall, usually around September, they fly back to Mexico with their offspring. In the meantime, the females and their pups come out around dusk to eat. With the sunset as a natural backdrop, it’s an amazing sight to see. And the Campbell Avenue Bridge is one of the region's most popular viewing spots.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 3:30 PM for carpooling, departing at 3:45 PM. Comfortable shoes, water, a tripod and a folding chair are suggested. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

We’ll stop first at Villa Peru, 1745 East River Road, Suite #165 in Tucson for an optional no-host dinner. Check out their dinner menu here.

We’ll depart Villa Peru by 5:30 PM for the short drive to the Campbell Avenue Bridge. Upon arrival, you’ll have time to set up and get ready for nature’s amazing show. We never know precisely when the bats will start heading out, so we’ll be sure to get there in ample time. The “show” should end shortly after dusk, at which time we’ll head back to Green Valley.

Darrell Rude will be our trip leader. Contact Darrell at 907-227-4244 or email at akphoto@ak.net 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.

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

NOTICE:

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

Skydive Arizona: Women's Upright World Record Training Camp - Saturday 09/19/2026 (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Skydive Arizona: Women's Upright World Record Training Camp - Saturday 09/19/2026

Trip Cost: $10

The Women’s Upright (head-up or stand) freefall skydiving world record is a 96-way formation. Set in 2024 over the skies in Eloy, Arizona, this achievement required 96 female skydivers to link up in a head-up orientation and maintain the formation in mid-air. Event organizers are again hosting this year's event at Skydive Arizona™ to train large-formation upright flying skills and to select team members for the Women's Upright World Record attempt.

Founded in 1986, Skydive Arizona™ has become the world’s largest skydiving center. Spread across nearly 90 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert midway between Phoenix & Tucson, Skydive Arizona’s fleet can put up to 240 skydivers in the air at one time!

Skydivers all over the world have recognized that Skydive Arizona™ is different from any other drop zone. Although close to major highways, there is vast, open desert all around, providing for ample landing zones. There are three well-maintained grass landing areas to make life easier on skydivers and their gear. Skydive Arizona™ has invested heavily in the sport of competitive skydiving and are proud to sponsor Arizona Airspeed — the winningest skydiving team in history. They've hosted every major world skydiving competition, and multiple world records have been set here.

There's a set of bleachers where you can photograph parachutists coming into the main landing area which can be pretty exciting. There are also picnic tables and benches dispersed throughout the complex. If you want a guaranteed seat, you can bring a camping chair from home. Just be mindful that operations are geared toward jump operations and that some of the facilities may be off limits to spectators.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 7:30 AM for carpooling, departing at 8:00 AM. Comfortable shoes, water, headgear, and sunscreen are suggested. Be sure to bring your telephoto lens and binoculars so you can observe people in free-fall. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $15.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

The Bent Prop Saloon and Cookery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located close to the landing zone. Check out their menu here. You can chow down whenever the urge strikes.

Tom Parker will be our trip leader. Contact Tom at 618-304-1456 or email at tparker324@aol.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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is September 12, 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 Tom as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum - Tuesday 09/22/2026 (09/22/2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum - Tuesday 09/22/2026

Trip Cost: $14.00

The University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum is a non-profit organization through the University of Arizona Foundation dedicated to providing public education and the preservation of its extensive natural history collection.

The museum moved in 2022 and now occupies one wing of the Historic Pima County Courthouse in downtown Tucson. The museum has 12,000 square feet of exhibit space with three major galleries: Mineral Evolution, Arizona Gallery, and the Gem Gallery. The museum features interactive, touchable, and digital content (video, photos, audio, and visuals). The collection is worldwide in scope while emphasizing minerals from Arizona and Mexico.

Find out more about the museum here.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:30 AM for departure at 9:00 AM. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or GVR Camera Club nametag if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

We’ll convoy to the El Presidio Parking Garage, 165 West Alameda Street, which is an easy walk to the museum. Be sure to bring your parking ticket with you – the museum has arranged with the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center for our parking to be validated (more on that later). Please note the El Presidio Parking Garage has a low 6’ 2” overhead clearance. We’ll gather at the January 8, 2011 Memorial on the west side of the courthouse before heading to the museum.

At the museum, we'll be provided a gallery overview after which we'll be allowed to disperse to take photos. Museum staff and docents will be available to answer questions and explain the displays. There are no restrictions on photography equipment or what can be photographed. For flash photography, the museum just asks us to be mindful of other guests as the flash tends to travel around the gallery bouncing off the reflection from the display cases.

We’ll go to the Perche' No Italian Bistro at 12:30 PM for an optional and leisurely no-host lunch. The trip will resume at 1:45 PM.

Following lunch, we’ll return to the Historic Pima County Courthouse and visit the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center. Be sure to stop by the front desk to have your parking validated (otherwise, parking will be about $7.00). While there, you’re welcome to check out their exhibits, learn about area attractions, and browse their gift shop. While at the courthouse, be sure to check out the Dillinger Courtroom and the January 8th Memorial. You can also return to the Gem & Mineral Museum – it’s open until 4:00 PM.

Darrell Rude will be our trip leader. Contact Darrell at 907-227-4244 or email at akazphoto@icloud.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 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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is September 15, 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 Darrell as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Rolling Thru Time Auto Museum - Friday 09/25/2026 (09/25/2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:45:00 GMT

Rolling Thru Time Auto Museum^TM - Friday 09/25/2026

Trip Cost $15.00

Rolling Thru Time Auto Museum is a relatively new 77,000-square-foot automotive museum in Tucson. The mission is clear -- to educate visitors about the history of automobiles and their significance in American life while providing a platform for local clubs and historians to share their stories. The museum features vehicles from every decade. There are galleries featuring tractors and farm equipment, and a fire station complete with all manner of fire-fighting vehicles and equipment. As noted on their website, behind every classic vehicle lies a story of innovation and passion that has shaped the road we travel today. As it moves forward, the museum remains committed to ensuring that the legacy of the automobile continues to roll through time for years to come. Additionally, their gift shop offers a fabulous selection of automotive-themed gifts, collectibles, and memorabilia that delight all ages.

Additional information about the Rolling Thru Time Museum is available here.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:45 AM for carpooling, departure at 9:15 AM. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

Upon arrival, we will be met by Joseph Findysz, the museum’s owner, who will provide a one-hour guided tour of the museum and its five unique galleries. Afterwards, you’re welcome to explore and photograph the museum’s many exhibits. Use of tripods and flash equipment is permitted. The tour should end around noon.

Following the tour, participants are invited to a no-host lunch at Barrio Brewing Company, 800 East 16^th Street in Tucson, where the trip will end about 1:30 PM. Find more information about Barrio Brewing here. We should be back in Green Valley around 3:00 PM.

The tour involves extensive walking and standing. Club members with mobility issues may find this tour challenging, although there are places throughout the museum to sit.

Danny Valenzuela will be our trip leader. Contact Danny at 602-568-5759 or 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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is September 18, 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:

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.

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

Odaiko Sonora Taiko Drums Behind-the-Scenes - Saturday 09/26/2026 (09/26/2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Odaiko Sonora Taiko Drums Behind-the-Scenes - Saturday 09/26/2026

Trip Cost: $15

Please Note: Do not wear perfumes, scented lotions or glitter since the studio is a glitter- and scent-free space.

Odaiko Sonora is Tucson's taiko, or Japanese ensemble drumming group. Serving southern AZ since May 2002, Odaiko Sonora is dedicated to increasing familiarity with and understanding of taiko in our community. They do this each year through classes and master workshops, performances, school residencies, team building workshops and by producing concerts that include internationally acclaimed taiko artists. Learn more about Odaiko Sonora here.

Taiko is most beautiful when players are performing in unison, with musicality and proper technique, striving for accuracy and focus. With over 60 appearances — for over 150,000 people each year — these players are committed to taiko as a performing art form. Performances vary from outdoor festivals to private parties to staged theatrical productions. Dedication, rigorous training, creative contribution, flexibility and a great attitude define these players. As with most things, practice makes perfect!

We’ll have a rare opportunity to observe, photograph and video one of Odaiko Sonora’s Community Group practice sessions. Their Community Group is for players who wish to work together as a group to increase skill levels, expand their repertoire, and work towards community performances 3–5 times a year. Check out this YouTube video to get an idea of the treat that’s in store for you.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 7:00 AM for carpooling, departure at 7:30 AM. Please do not wear perfumes, scented lotions or glitter since the studio is a glitter- and scent-free space. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

We’ll drive to the RiP Factory located at 1013 South Tyndall Avenue in Tucson for the 8:30 AM practice session. To avoid distracting the performers, flash photography is not allowed. Tripods are fine provided they can be moved to ensure performers can access personal items/water bottles during breaks. The session should end at 10:30 AM, followed by a short Q&A session where you’re invited to ask about the instruments and the taiko art form.

Following the practice session, participants are invited to an optional no-host lunch – a teppanyaki (hibachi) dining experience involving a different kind of performance -- at Hana Tokyo, 5435 South Calle Santa Cruz, Suite #185 in Tucson (in the Tucson Spectrum Shopping Mall next to Harkins Theatres). Find more information about Hana Tokyo here.

Monica Parker will be the trip leader. For questions call Monica at 618 304-1164 or email at mparker582@aol.com. She 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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is September 19, 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 Monica as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Field Trip Committee (10/07/2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The field trip committee meeting is held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is an opportunity for committee members to discuss upcoming field trips.

We will be meeting at the Photography Club in the Small Classroom at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

Please register here.

Bird/Nature Photography: The Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Thursday 10/15/2026 (10/15/2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Bird/Nature Photography: The Paton Center for Hummingbirds - Thursday 10/15/2026

Trip Cost: $10

NOTE: This trip is designed especially for those members who have mobility issues. There is a covered sitting area which is easily accessed through a beautiful butterfly garden. You can simply sit and enjoy/photograph the birds.

Located on the edge of Patagonia, the Tucson Bird Alliance's Paton Center for Hummingbirds is a place to explore and experience the special birds of southeast Arizona. It is dedicated to the celebration and conservation of hummingbirds—and all of southeast Arizona’s astounding biodiversity—through recreation, education, and sustainable living. 213 bird species have been reported for this cozy home lot on the outskirts of Patagonia, including Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, Gray Hawks, Varied Buntings, Thick-billed Kingbirds, and many more local specialties.

Following our visit to the Paton Center, you're invited to a no-host lunch in Patagonia (details to follow as we get closer to the event).

Meet at the Photography Club at 7:30 AM for carpooling, departure at 8:00 AM. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $15.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver for gas.

Darrell Rude will be our trip leader. Contact Darrell at 907-227-4244 or email him at rurt2dede@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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is October 8, 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 Darrell as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Bird/Nature Photography: Peña Blanca Lake - Monday 10/19/2026 (10/19/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:45:00 GMT

Bird/Nature Photography: Peña Blanca Lake - Monday 10/19/2026

Trip Cost: $10

Designated as an Arizona Important Bird Areas Program site, Peña Blanca Lake is an artificial 49-acre waterbody nestled in the rocky outcrops of the Coronado National Forest. The lake is one of many exceptional birding opportunities in the area that comprise the Atascosa Highlands Important Bird Area. Waders and waterfowl abound here, including black-necked stilts and American avocets, pied-billed grebes and several species of duck. Try the West Shore Trail to an old dam and keep your eyes out for gray hawk, northern beardless-tyrannulet, and the secretive Montezuma’s quail that can be found in the hillsides surrounding the lake.

Following the trip to Peña Blanca Lake, you're invited to a no-host lunch at La Bocanita Seafood Restaurant located at 1185 Circulo Mercado in in Rio Rico.

The last date to cancel for a refund is October 12, 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 Denise as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Skydive Arizona: World Skydiving Championships - Tuesday 10/20/2026 (10/20/2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Skydive Arizona: World Skydiving Championships - Tuesday 10/20/2026

Trip Cost: $10

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Skydiving Championships 2026 will be held from October 17–24, 2026 at Skydive Arizona, bringing together the world’s top skydiving athletes to compete across Formation Skydiving, Artistic Events, Speed Skydiving, and Canopy Piloting disciplines.

The Bent Prop Saloon and Cookery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located close to the landing zone. Check out their menu here. You can chow down whenever the urge strikes.

The last date to cancel for a refund is October 13, 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 Tom as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Saturday 10/24/2026 (10/24/2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Saturday 10/24/2026

Trip Cost: Free (But be sure to register!)

Come Celebrate the Heritage and Culture of Ireland, Scotland and Wales just as it’s been done for centuries… with lots of great music, dancing, athletics and way too much fun, good food, & great friends. Enjoy the opening ceremony, parade of the bands and clans, musical performances throughout the day featuring a showcase of local Celtic bands, massed bagpipe bands, unique Celtic merchants and eateries, Scottish clans, heritage and cultural booths, Irish and Scottish dance and traditional Scottish highland games.

This is an outdoor event. Please dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes. Bring your lunch or purchase food at the festival. Additional information can be found here.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:30 AM for carpooling, departing at 9:00 AM. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

We'll drive to Rillito Raceway Park, 4502 North First Avenue in Tucson, where parking is free. There, you will pay your own entrance fee at the event, which for seniors 65 and over is $27.49 at the gate (or $24.34 if you purchase online)

Patty Ferguson and Monica Parker will be the trip leaders. For questions call Patty at 520-647-1264 or email at piferguson13@gmail.com. She 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.

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 Patty as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Bird/Nature Photography: Rancho Santa Cruz/Santa Gertrudis Lane - Tuesday 11/03/2026 (11/03/2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Bird/Nature Photography: Rancho Santa Cruz/Santa Gertrudis Lane - Tuesday 11/03/2026

Trip Cost: $10

Rancho Santa Cruz and Santa Gertrudis Lane are excellent spots to see berry-eating birds as well as view birds bathing in the Santa Cruz River. There are many excellent birding and nature photo opportunities nearby. Located in a fertile green valley fed by the Santa Cruz River under a canopy of large Cottonwood trees, Rancho Santa Cruz sits at almost 4,000 feet elevation, and its climate is substantially cooler and wetter than Tucson or Phoenix. The National Audubon Society recognizes Rancho Santa Cruz as part of an Important Bird Area called the Upper Santa Cruz River. Best birding is from the parking area and walking the trails to the river. Some birds observed include the Cassin Kingbird, Ladder-Backed and Gila Woodpeckers, Vermillion Flycatcher, White Breasted Nuthatch, Raven, Turkey Vulture, Gray Hawk and Abert's Towhee.

Santa Gertrudis Lane, once a major crossing of the Santa Cruz River, was closed to public traffic when Burlington Northern Railroad deemed the rail crossing on the east side of the river to be unsafe. The closing was a hardship for folks living in the hills above the river, but the lack of traffic created a peaceful sanctuary for birds and wildlife residing and migrating along the river. Santa Gertrudis Lane intersects with the Anza Trail at the Santa Cruz River. We’ll walk in the shaded riparian forest along the Santa Cruz River which is a fantastic location for three types of kingbirds (Cassin’s, Tropical, and noisy Thick-billed) along with a wide variety of other desert riparian species like Inca Dove, Gray Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell’s Vireo, and Blue Grosbeak.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Participants need to be comfortable walking on trails of mostly flat, uneven terrain. A hat and water are suggested. If you have binoculars, you may want to bring them along. A small notebook and pen or pencil would be useful to record your sightings if you wish to do so.

We'll meet at the Photography Club at 8:30 AM for carpooling. Due to limited parking at both sites, carpooling is encouraged. If you are going to carpool with someone, the minimum donation for gas should be $5.00. We will leave promptly at 8:45 for Rancho Santa Cruz/Santa Gertrudis Lane.

Lunch details will be provided via email when we get closer to the event.

Denise LeCount-O'Brien will be our trip leader. Contact Denise at 309-830-0177 or email rurt2dede@gmail.com with any questions. She 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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is October 27, 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 Denise as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Field Trip Committee (11/04/2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The field trip committee meeting is held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is an opportunity for committee members to discuss upcoming field trips.

We will be meeting at the Photography Club in the Small Classroom at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

Please register here.

Native American Arts Fair @ San Agustin Mission Garden - Saturday 11/07/2025 (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Native American Arts Fair @ San Agustin Mission Garden - Saturday 11/07/2026

Trip Cost $12.00

Mark your calendars! Mission Garden is holding their Native American Arts Fair on Saturday, November 7, 2026. This annual event is a celebration of cultural sharing, traditional arts, and community gathering.

The fair will feature talented Indigenous artists from across the region showcasing jewelry, pottery, weaving, and other traditional arts. Visitors can also enjoy delicious offerings from local food vendors, highlighting flavors rooted in local foodways. Learn more about the Native American Arts Fair here.

San Agustin Mission Garden's mission is to preserve, honor, restore, recreate and promote the cultural heritage and historic landscapes of Tucson's birthplace at the foot of Sentinel Peak. Mission Gardens has 11 different gardens representing native plants, early agriculture, Hohokan and O'odham agriculture, a Spanish Colonial Orchard, Mexican, Chinese, African American, Anglo and Yaqui gardens.

We'll meet at the Photography Club at 8:00 AM for carpooling, departure at 8:15. Please be sure to wear flat shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather. Please wear your GVR Photography Club badge, if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver for gas and parking.

Patty Ferguson will be our trip leader. Contact Patty at 520-647-1264 or email at piferguson13@gmail.com with any questions. She 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.

The last date to cancel for a refund is October 31, 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 Patty as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

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

Cowboy Festival at Historic Empire Ranch - Saturday 11/07/2026 (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Cowboy Festival at Historic Empire Ranch - Saturday 11/07/2026

Trip Cost: $10

The Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival is the Foundation’s annual public event celebrating Arizona’s Western history and culture. Previously called the Roundup & Open House (2000-2017), the Festival also showcases Bureau of Land Management and Empire Ranch Foundation’s efforts to preserve the Empire Ranch for future generations. Enjoy Western heritage demonstrations including wild horse and burro training, cowboy mounted shooting, silversmithing, telegraphy, falconry; arena and livestock exhibits; cowboy cooking and Western entertainment. This event features many opportunities to capture live action shots and videos. You can even register directly with Empire Ranch for a 45-minute trail ride ($50 per rider).

Find more information about the Cowboy Festival here.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:30 AM for carpooling, departing at 9:00 AM. In previous festivals, hay bales were often used for seating during some of the events so please dress accordingly. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes (not sandals). A hat, sunscreen and water are also recommended. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $15.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

Most of the rooms of the Empire Ranch House are wheelchair accessible through the breezeway (zaguán) entrance, as are most of the other buildings/structures. The public restrooms, located north of the Ranch House, are wheelchair accessible. The grounds at Empire Ranch consist of rough grassy fields, bare ground, uneven gravel surfaces and mostly flat but uneven terrain that can be challenging.

Denise LeCount O'Brien and Sarah Sheehan will be the trip leaders. Please contact Denise at 309-830-0177 or email at rurt2dede@gmail.com if you have any questions. She 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.

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

NOTICE:

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

Field Trip Committee (12/02/2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The field trip committee meeting is held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is an opportunity for committee members to discuss upcoming field trips.

We will be meeting at the Photography Club in the Small Classroom at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

Please register here.