Hiking Clubs

Program Details

About the Hiking Clubs

The Hiking Clubs of Saguaro National Park are a park-sponsored, Friends of Saguaro National Park-funded, educator-led enrichment activity meant to foster healthy outdoor recreation, spark curiosity for learning, and build stewards of public lands. Our goal is to give Tucson youth a free, fun, and engaging outdoor experience that establishes a life-long relationship between themselves and the park.

The Team

Each club is led by two school/organization staff who recruit the participants in their group, organize activities, and lead hikes throughout the season. The leaders form the backbone of the program, building meaningful connections with the students themselves. Saguaro National Park education staff provide interpretive support. Leader stipends, transportation reimbursement, and student gear are all funded through our generous partner, the Friends of Saguaro National Park (FOSNP).

Activities

Hiking club participants may expect:

• Orientation “Meet and Greet” at the school/organization

• Learning sessions exploring topics like Leave No Trace, nutrition, Sonoran Desert ecology, etc.

• Hikes on different trails around Tucson

• A visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

• Hiking Club Family Open House at Saguaro West

Safety

Hiking clubs will receive a health and safety kit and a set of participant gear to include wide-brimmed hats and water bottles. Hiking club leaders have access to safety training like CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and operating oversized vehicles and vans. Safe hiking and group management is part of the training curricula for all hiking club leaders.

 

Nash Elementary Saguaro pose!

School/Organization Benefits

Members of your staff and community will gain access to a rich tapestry of outdoor recreational opportunities. A hiking club becomes a partner with Saguaro National Park and the Friends of Saguaro National Park, creating more opportunities for collaborative programs.

Hiking Club Leader Benefits

Hiking Club Leaders with signed FOSNP contracts will receive an $800 stipend for each season (fall and spring) while their club is active. The stipend compensates them for their time (approximately 30-40 hours) in meetings, trainings, planning, and conducting activities and hikes. The stipend also covers hiking club expenses such as snacks, entrance fees, or other project materials (e.g. photo books) the leader may wish to include. Leaders will also have access to training material and in-person sessions with Saguaro National Park education staff.

Participant Benefits

Students gain confidence in and familiarity with the desert landscape that surrounds the city of Tucson, Arizona. They acquire skills, establish friendships, and introduce their families to an activity that can be shared. In addition to the physical health benefits of outdoor recreation, studies show significant improvements in mental and emotional health for young people who play and hike outside. Hiking club leaders in the past have noted that participants “come out of their shell” over the course of the season. Hiking clubs become spaces for young people to re-engage with their peers and safe adults.

 

Banks Elementary hits the trail at sunrise or sunset to avoid the heat!

Program Requirements

• Must be a Title 1 school, 501(c)(3) nonprofit or community organization, or local government agency serving youth
• Must have TWO leaders named in the application with signed contracts with Friends of Saguaro National Park
• Reimbursements for transportation may not exceed $250 per trip per club and must be submitted within 90 days of the trip’s completion
• Must complete at least 3 hikes within each season (fall and spring)
• Must complete mid-season and final reporting

Timeline

• July: Applications available
• August: Applications due
• August: Fee waivers, stipends, and student gear issued
• September – December: Hiking club activities (at least 3 hikes)
• December: Hiking Club Family Open House (option A) at the Red Hills Visitor Center
• December: Final reports and returning club spring extensions due
• January – April: Hiking club activities (at least 3 hikes)
• April: Hiking Club Family Open House (option B) at the Red Hills Visitor Center (evening)
• May: Final reports due

Start Your Hiking Club

The roster of hiking clubs for the 2023-2024 school year is currently full. Applications for next year will open in July 2024. Check back here then!