Tucson Audubon's Mason Center is a place where youth, families, educators and others can appreciate the beauty of our native desert and participate in a great variety of natural history learning experiences. Owned and managed by the Tucson Audubon Society, it is located on 20 acres of mostly undisturbed saguaro-ironwood desert donated by its former owner, Mrs. Orpha Mason, in an area of Tucson’s northwest side that is rapidly growing and in great need of outdoor education opportunities. As a protected area adjacent to additional natural desert in Arthur Pack Park, it provides habitat for the preservation and study of many desert plants and animals.
DIRECTIONS
Tucson Audubon's Mason Center is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Thornydale Road and W Hardy Road. Entry is the first driveway on the south side of Hardy Road. Look for a gray driveway and a chain that crosses driveway when we are not present. Additional parking is available along Hardy Rd. Please see map.
News and Upcoming Events
November 9, 2013
Harvest Festival and Mesquite Milling
Early summer is the time to harvest your dry mesquite pods and store them until the event!
To dry your mesquite pods faster, toast them in the over for a while. You can also store them in a freezer until autumn. For more harvesting and preparation info, visit the Desert Harvesters website: http://www.desertharvesters.org/mesquite-in-the-kitchen/harvesting-processing/
The Harvest Festival and Mesquite Milling celebrates the diversity of Sonoran Desert foods—both wild foods and heritage crops. And in a larger sense it celebrates the diverse Sonoran Desert landscape that gave birth to this abundance! It is also a practical opportunity to mill your mesquite pods into flour. (Our shop, which will be present onsite, sells a book of recipes using mesquite flour.)
Bring the family or just come alone and wander around the vendors, exhibits, lectures and workshops!
Activities
- Lectures
- Vendors
- Composting demonstration
- Kid activities
- Guided walks
The Mission of Tucson Audubon's Mason Center
- Safeguard saguaro-ironwood habitat
- Foster awareness, understanding and stewardship of our desert environment
- Provide educational programs and research opportunities at the Center and throughout the community
- Honor Mrs. Orpha Mason by protecting this land for future generations
Mason Center Support Fund
Tucson Audubon seeks to turn our Mason Center into a state of the art, demonstration retrofit net-zero-carbon/energy building. We are seeking funds that are separate and above those funds that members give for our program work. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone on 520 209 1801 to discuss how you can help. Thank you.
Mason Center Field Trips
Educational and environmental groups may schedule a visit to this 22-acre, ironwood-saguaro habitat site for a fee of $50/hour with a minimum of 2 hours. Groups are scheduled on Fridays on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be accompanied by MasonCenter staff or naturalists for the duration of the program. To learn more about the site and its resources, see contact information below. Limit of 30 students per visit.
Physical Address:
Tucson Audubon's Mason Center
3835 W. Hardy
Tucson, AZ 85742 (See map)
DIRECTIONS
Tucson Audubon's Mason Center is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Thornydale Road and W Hardy Road. Entry is the first driveway on the south side of Hardy Road. Look for a gray driveway and a chain that crosses driveway when we are not present. Additional parking is available along Hardy Rd. Please see map.
SEND ALL MAIL TO:
Attn: Mason Center
300 E. University Blvd, Ste 120
Tucson, AZ 85705
Phone: (520) 629-0510 x7002
Fax: (520) 623-3476
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Links
Updated Permaculture Concept Design - 2.5 MB (April 2011)
Mason Center on KUAT’s Arizona Illustrated
