Boomer Bear takes a look at how cactus and critters share their Sonoran Desert home.

Iyou re drawing a icture o our desert, chances are you re going to include at least a ew ric ly lants, since cacti es ecially saguaros are such an ICONIC art o our eauti ul desert

Lucky to Live in a Lush Landscape

Arizona actually has part of all four major deserts of North America. But our Sonoran Desert is one of the most beautiful in the world! When people think of deserts, they usually think of an unbearably hot, dry and barren place. Although times of drought do hit here, two rainy seasons can bring a foot or more of rain during a good year!

“We have two rainy seasons, one in winter and one in summer. We get a little over half of our rainfall in summer and a little less in winter,” points out Robin Kropp, education specialist for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. “It is quite lush here compared to many deserts. Some scientists think that the Sonoran esert landscape around (here) shouldn’t even be CLASSIFIED as a desert because it is so rich in plant life.” In winter and

What Is a Cactus?

early spring, other deserts have colder temperatures than here.

But our native plants, including cactus, need to be tough enough to survive long periods of drought and occasional freezing temperatures. “One of the things that makes a desert a desert is that rainfall patterns can be extreme. Sometimes we get very little throughout the year (drought). Sometimes we get a big downpour in one storm, and that ends up being a big portion of the year’s rain! Kropp explains.

“Cacti are special because they are adapted to survive long periods without rain by storing water inside like a built-in water bottle. They can live off this stored water until it rains again,” she says.

Origins of Cacti

Surprisingly, scientists found that the first cacti didn’t grow in desert areas! nd, they haven’t been around as long as more primitive plants like ferns and cycads, which first sprouted some 300 million years ago.

The first flowering plant bloomed more than 174 million years ago. But cacti are sort of the new kid on the block, according to botanists who study them. “Cacti appear about 35 million years ago. They are definitely newer, very recent arrivals,” explains Raul Puente, curator of collections for the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. “The center of origin is considered to be the Andes region of South America—right in the corner between northern Argentina, northern Chile and Bolivia.”

Cacti come in all different shapes and sizes from towering tall ones to ones that barely poke up from the ground. They are special succulents of the family Cactaceae. Like other succulents, cacti have soft tissue that can store lots of water, which the plant uses during dry conditions.

“Cactus plants have these main features that distinguish them: thick, waxy skin that holds the stored water inside; water-storing tissues; and flowers with many petals, pollen-bearing parts, and lobed female parts,” Kropp explains. Instead of having leaves, “many cacti are covered with spines as well. You probably know that they keep many animals away from the cactus’ body. They help protect their stored water from thirsty animals. But another important reason that they have spines is protection from the sun—spines make little bits of shade all over the plant, kind of like the cactus’ sunscreen.

From there, these spiny plants spread in all directions. The ones that headed northwest went well beyond what is now Mexico and Arizona. Cactus seem to adapt well to everything but extreme cold. “You can find them in the tropics, even in rainforests,” Puente notes, “all the way up to the lower third of Canada. So they have been extremely successful, able to colonize a key portion of the continent. They thrive not only in the desert that’s the last area that they occupied!

Lots of Desert Critters Depend on Cacti

No, you don’t want to hug a cactus, but several desert dwellers RELY on them.

“Some birds, like Gila woodpeckers and some other species of woodpeckers like flickers, carve their nests into the stems of saguaros and other species of columnar cactus. And then the same cavities later on can be occupied by other animals like elf owls around here,” Puente says.

Larger raptors (hunting birds) like hawks, caracaras and even bald eagles will make big nests in the arms of a saguaro!

A variety of critters feed on cacti. “Birds that eat fruit, a lot of rodents, too. ou’ll see rodents survive by eating the fruit or feeding on other parts like cactus stems, flowers or roots,” Puente explains.

“Then you have bigger animals like javelina or coyotes—many species eat the fruits of prickly pear and barrel cactus or even cholla.”

Saguaros Are Incredible

Growing up to 75 feet, saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) are the tallest native plant in the Sonoran Desert. And for many folks, the saguaro is the symbol of our desert and the West! They are a columnar cactus, meaning they have vertical ribs, which function like an accordion, expanding when the plants take in water and folding as that water is used. And after our recent rains, there are plenty of chubby saguaros out there, weighing up to 4,800 pounds! This wet winter weather will make for spectacular white blooms on these saguaros. These large flowers attract bees, other insects and at night, bats! In fact, saguaros and other cacti have adapted to being active in the desert night, when temperatures are cooler and when they won’t lose as much water as when it’s hot and sunny.

The bulk of the flowers are open at night. Then at night they are pollinated by bats! Some species go after the nectar, which is the reward for the pollinators, including the bees. Once pollinated, each flower turns into a delicious, juicy red fruit filled with 400–800 seeds. Birds and other desert critters ingest those seeds and carry them off, eventually pooping them out. If the bird is perched on a shrub or tree branch, a fortunate saguaro seedling will start its early years growing under the protection of a nurse plant, which can provide shade and moisture. Saguaros, which can live 175 years or more, are just some of the protected plants here in Arizona. And all plants in a National Park are protected and cannot be removed.

If you want to see and learn about cactus and other desert plants, plan a family or class outing to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (visit dbg.org for details) or the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson (desertmuseum.org).

The onoran esert is ho e to the illustrious saguaro, and the views at aguaro ational ar are incredi le

Bear’s Summer Camp Guide 2023

It’s that time of year when kids are counting down the days until school is out for the summer. hile the children are excited about the school year coming to an end, it can often be a stressful time for parents. orking parents are often faced with finding a sitter during the summer. Many times the solution is summer camp.

Summer camps give children the chance to try new things, explore, learn, make new friends and collect memories that will last a lifetime. There are camps that offer swimming, dance, theater, sports, ST M, ST M, art, animal care and so much more! Choosing a summer camp is often decided by factors like is it a day camp or overnight camp How close is it to home How much does it cost and are scholarships available oes the camp require special clothing, shoes and equipment hat is the ratio of campers to camp staff

Day Camp or Residence Camp? If your child has attended summer day camps in the past, attended sleepovers with friends or even stayed with grand parents for a weekend, they might be ready for a residence (overnight) camp. esidence camps can be as short as a weekend or some might run one to two weeks long. ith a residence camp the children will learn independence being away from parents and siblings. If a child is too young for a residence camp, day camp is probably the best. They will spend all day with other campers and be home in time for dinner.

Cost and Location: nother factor in choosing a summer camp is the cost and closeness to home. ou can find many day camps just miles from your home and many camps offer scholarships, early registration and other discounts. ou can look at the website of a camp to find out if discounts are available.

Types of camps: hat does your child like to do or what would they like to learn to do Several camps teach children ST M in creative and fun ways. Mu sical and theater classes often have a performance at the end of the camp to present to parents. Most camps offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Those camps that are mostly outdoors are usually located in a higher elevated area when the temperatures are cooler.

Do not be afraid to ask! hen selecting a camp do not be afraid to ask questions. hat is the ratio of campers to camp staff Is the staff well trained, experienced and background checked How will you be notified in case of emergency oes the camp accommodate children with food allergies or disabilities

Ready, Aim, Summer Camps! nce you have decided if your child wants to go to a day or residence camp, it’s time to sit down with them and go over all the many camps available in your area. To make it easier, and to see the variety of choices, check out oomer’s Summer Camp uide .

BEN’S BELLS

40 W. Broadway

520-622-1379

Grades: K–8

June 2023 info@bensbells.org www.bensbells.org/camp

Camp Kind is a week-long experience for kids who want to learn more about intentional kindness and practice it as a skill. Activities include creative crafts, memorable music, engaging stories and the chance to work on ceramics.

Bookmans Entertainment Exchange

Bookmans.com

East • 520-748-9555 • North • 520-579-0303 Midtown • 325-5767

Check out Bookmans.com for weekly family friendly events and activities. Click on the Join tab to sign up for the Kids Club or 1317 to get discounts.

Catalina Council

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

2250 E. Broadway Blvd. 520-750-0385

June–July • Grades: 1–5 jnherriman@gmail.com www.catalinacouncil.org/outdoors/ summer-programs/

A fun filled weekend adventure camping on Mount Lemmon. Each day is filled with activities including leatherwork, handicrafts, BB guns, archery, outdoor skills, sports, hiking and more. Each day ends with a fun filled campfire. Tents, all meals and snacks are provided.

CHILD & FAMILY RESOURCES GO GRRRLS FREE WORKSHOP

2800 E. Broadway Blvd. 520-308-8776

July 17–21 • Grades: 6–8 jcox@cfraz.org bit.ly/GoGrrrlsInterestCard

Go Grrrls is designed to give girl-identified youth in grades 6–8 the skills and knowledge they need to plan for a future of success. Youth who participate in the Go Grrrls program will learn how to set and enforce boundaries in situations. Learn to make healthy choices, set goals while playing games and earning prizes. Pre-registration is required.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

TUCSON

200 S. 6th Ave. • 520-792-9985 Option 5 education@childrensmuseumtucson.org www.childrensmuseumtucson.org/camps/ CMT Summer Camps offer fun-filled learning! Campers will enjoy hands-on art projects, experiments, demonstrations and time in the Museum. A variety of science, technology, engineering and art with Museum staff. Half-day camps, mornings only. Cost $155 per weekly camp, member discount provided. Ages: 4-10

CONGREGATION ANSHEI

ISRAEL ESTHER B. FELDMAN PRESCHOOL

5550 E. 5th St. 520-745-5550

June 5–July 21

ECDirector@caiaz.org www.caiaz.org

Come join the fun at CAI Preschool summer camp. Children will enjoy water play days, amazing crafts, music, science, hands-on activities and more. Our fun, loving staff and beautiful park-like shaded playground make our summer camp the perfect place to be.

COY’S CAMPS AND CLASSES

4500 N. Oracle Rd. #260 520-762-6062 molly@coyscampsandclasses.com www.coyscampsandclasses.com

Chess Camp: Grades K–8. Dates: May 29–June 2, June 5–9, July 10–14, July 17–21. Coding Robotics Camp: Grades 2–5. Dates: June 2-–23, July 24–27.

Summer Chess and Coding Robotics camps in our convenient location at the Tucson Mall. Also check out our weekly chess lessons for all ages.

David Rubio Youth Academy

2100 W. Curtis Road 520-818-8668 (call or text)

Contact: Amanda Rubio Ages: 6–18 davidrubiovolleyballcamp@gmail.com www.davidrubiovolleyballcamp.com

Camps take place at Sporting Chance Center from March to June. Sign up for individual sessions or all sessions. Skills training in Progressive Playing, Setters Clinic, Serving and Passing Clinic and Little Kids Camp.

Drama Kids

INTERNATIONAL

520-304-2876

May–July Ages: 4–18 dramakidsaz1@cox.net www.dramakids.com

Drama Kids camps are perfect for new actors wanting to discover their dramatic side, as well as for those actors wishing to continue to develop their theater, public speaking and musical theater skills while building character. Themed Theatre Camps, Musical Theatre Camps, Teen Improv Camp.

Desert Christian Schools

June–July Grades: K–12 www.desertchristian.org/summerofferings

Desert Christian Schools offers a variety of summer camps. Campers can enjoy baseball, softball, basketball, dance, theater, cooking, robotics, STEM and more. Registration opening soon visit website for more details.

Girl Scouts Of Southern Arizona

4300 E. Broadway Blvd. 520-327-2288

May 30–July 16 • Ages: 5–17 customercare@girlscoutssoaz.org www.girlscoutssoaz.org/en/camp/allabout-camp.html

It’s in our nature to camp! Camp experiences and friendships are made to last a lifetime. Between the nature walks, archery, tie-dye, songs, and sisterhood, campers are sure to develop new skills and come home with confidence and wonderful stories. Camp helps our kids build resilience, confidence and learn how to build community. Our trained and caring staff supports Girl Scouts ages 5-17 in discovering who they are and what they can become.

GOLF N’ STUFF

6503 E. Tanque Verde 520-296-2366 X13 • Taylor Nelson gnssales@gmail.com continued from page 17 www.golfnstuff.com ll ark ass: . per person. Includes one round of golf, four attractions and 12 arcade tokens. eekend Special: per person. hours unlimited golf, Bumper Boats, Go-Karts and 12 arcade tokens. roup and irthday arty rates available.

Come and enjoy your summer at olf N’ Stuff! Mini ark ass: . per person. Includes one round of golf, one attraction and 12 arcade tokens.

Humane Society Of Southern Arizona

Humane Amigos Summer Camp

635 W. Roger Road

520-321-3704 X 125 • Monica Kothe Summer Camps in June and July Ages: 6–12 mkothe@hssaz.org www.hssaz.org/kids

Turn your compassion into action at the Human Society of Southern ri ona! HSS Campers will get hands on experience caring for and socializing with our Education Ambassador Animals, such as guinea pigs, rats, ball pythons, and more! Campers will learn about their animal companions and gain skills to foster a greater human-animal bond. With interactive activities, crafts and games, who could turn down this opportunity to spend their school break at HSSA?

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR PEACE

4625 E. River Rd. (River/Swan) 520-299-8908

Weekly Camps from June 4–July 21 Ages: 2–6 Cathy@internationalschoolforpeace.com www.internationalschoolforpeace.com

Tucson’s FI ST Spanish Immersion Preschool invites you to immerse your child in language learning & multi-cultural experiences all summer long. Full and Partial Spanish enrichment available.

Weekly themes and water play, small class sizes and flexible hours, peaceful conflict resolution. Before and after care options available. 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Summer care starting at $185/week.

La Paloma Academy

Central: 2050 N. Wilmot

Lakeside: 8140 E. Golf Links Rd. South: 5660 S. 12th Ave. Ages: 3–12

Central: www.lpatucson.org/

Get ready for a summer of fun! At La aloma South’s summer camp, kids, age 3-12, can keep busy, Monday-Friday, from June 1-July 14, 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Fully supervised activities like arts and crafts, sports, swimming, academic enrichment, and more. The weekly rate of $150 includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and all activities. a aloma’s summer camp is S eligible. nrollment deadline is May . Call 520-721-4205 for more information.

Lakeside:

Get ready for a summer of fun! At La aloma South’s summer camp, kids, age 3-12, can keep busy, Monday-Friday, from

June 1-July 14, 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Fully supervised activities like arts and crafts, sports, swimming, academic enrichment, and more. The weekly rate of $150 includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and all activities. a aloma’s summer camp is S eligible. nrollment deadline is May . Call 520-733-7373 for more information.

South: Get ready for a summer of fun! At La aloma South’s summer camp, kids, age 4-12, can keep busy, Monday-Friday, from June 1-July 14, 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Fully supervised activities like arts and crafts, sports, swimming, academic enrichment, and more. The weekly rate of $170 includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and all activities. a aloma’s summer camp is S eligible. nrollment deadline is May . Call 520-807-9668 for more information.

Live Theatre Workshop

3322 E. Fort Lowell Rd. 520-327-4242

June–July Grades: 1–12 amanda.g@livetheatreworkshop.org www.livetheatreworkshop.org/education/index.html ive Theatre orkshop’s camps are amazing and intense weeks of producing, acting, dancing, playing improvisation games, and exploring the technical side of the theatre arts. Camps are arranged by age and grade level and all skill levels are welcome! T ’s goal is to focus on the process of putting on a production at the end of each camp while building a diverse community of young artists. Whether your student is wanting to try theatre for the first time or they are ready to take on a full production, we have a camp for them.

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