May at the National Parks Store
May 1 - May 17
Saturday, May 3, 12:00 PM
Kathleen and Darryl Toupkin are Arizona residents who recently completed their quest to visit all 432 National Park Service units in the United States. Their journey took them to every state and inhabited US territory. These explorers will discuss their travels, talk about the National Park System, highlight some of their favorite destinations, and introduce you to some of Western National Parks Association’s partner parks. Bring your questions so they can help you with your national park adventures! Pre-registration required. Space is limited. RSVP FOR 12 PM PRESENTATION
Wednesday, May 7, 12:00 PM
Back by popular demand! Stretching over eight hundred miles from the Mexican to the Utah borders, the Arizona National Scenic Trail showcases the state’s diverse landscapes, histories, communities, and people. Join Wendy Lotze for a photographic tour of the trail and learn more about the opportunities for outdoor recreation along it. A fourth-generation native of Arizona, avid hiker, and backpacker, Lotze is currently a lecturer at the University of Arizona. Previously, she served as the ATA Director of Volunteer Programs. Pre-registration required. Space is limited. RSVP FOR 12 PM PRESENTATION
Saturday, May 10, 10:00 AM
Join us for the first installment of our family event series. From 10:00 to 10:45 AM, plant a bee garden to take home. At 11:00 AM, enjoy free popcorn and a screening of The Last Bumblebee (2023), a heart-warming, family-friendly documentary about the engaging story of scientists and environmentalists working together to save an endangered bumblebee. Learn about bees’ importance as pollinators and the various threats they face. Rated G. Runtime: 88 minutes. Suitable for all ages. View the film trailer here. Pre-registration required. Space is limited. RSVP FOR 10 AM EVENT AND MOVIE
Wednesday, May 14, 11:00 AM
Join Dr. Benjamin Wilder, Director and Co-founder of Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers (N-Gen), to learn about the expansion of the grass-fire cycle in North American deserts. This change is driving ecosystems to change from patchy desert scrub to grasslands made up of invasive plants. This lecture will explore the history and trends of fire in the Sonoran Desert, how land management in this area is changing, and possible future conservation strategies. N-Gen is part of a renewed effort to create a multinational interdisciplinary investigator community aimed at collective work and strategy implementation. Pre-registration required. Space is limited. RSVP FOR 11 AM PRESENTATION
Saturday, May 17, 11:00 AM
Author Jerry Mitchell introduces his new book, Migrations of Butterflies and Lies, a mystery novel that follows Ranger Jack Chastain as he searches for an archaeologist who’s gone missing in a national park in New Mexico. Mitchell will discuss how his many years working as a National Park Service Ranger inspires his writing. Mitchell worked in Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Parks, and as the Chief of the bureau’s Biological Resource Management Division in Fort Collins, Colorado. Books available for purchase and signing following the talk. Pre-registration required. Space is limited. RSVP FOR 11 AM PRESENTATION