Founded in 1939, the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden continues its legacy of showcasing and preserving Arizona's desert landscape.
In 2022, the garden welcomed more than 870,000 visitors from around the world to connect with nature and learn how to protect it. In addition to trails filled with desert wildlife, the park offers activities, exhibits, festivals, and classes, among other activities.
With the help of nearly 600 volunteers, the garden works every year to make the wonders of the desert accessible to the entire public. The Garden is also a leader in the conservation of the Sonoran Desert and is committed to promoting education and research in the region.
To participate in the campaign, the Desert Botanical Garden received $7,500 from the 2022-2023 season. It was one of more than 150 Arizona nonprofits to receive $1.6 million from Arizona Republic readers.
The Desert Botanical Garden's responses to The Republic's inquiry have been edited for length and clarity.
How did you spend your Season of Sharing grant?
A Season of Sharing grant supported the Desert Botanical Garden's Cactus Clubhouse, an outdoor playground for children ages 12 and up and their families. This outdoor nature class offers unstructured, child-led activities so they can experience the fun of nature. In addition, clubhouse staff host structured weekly programs such as story times and engaging hands-on activities to teach children about the unique flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. Cactus Club provides opportunities for children to encourage independent play while promoting physical, cognitive and behavioral development.
How do you measure your success?
For Cactus Clubhouse and other youth education programs, we track the number of people using these facilities, including children and their guardians. In addition, participants in our youth education programs are surveyed to regularly measure the success of interactive experiences and identify opportunities for improvement. Employees regularly read customer reviews provided through social media and review sites to gain additional feedback. This feedback is reviewed throughout the year and program adjustments are made to meet community needs.
What would you like people to know about your organization?
In addition to being a cultural institution and beloved urban minister, the Desert Botanic Garden has an exceptional team of researchers and curators addressing the most important issues affecting the health and sustainability of the desert. The Desert Botanic Garden team brings decades of experience and passion to a fundamental vision of protecting the world's deserts through science, conservation and education. The work leads to the discovery of new plant species, conservation of endangered and threatened species, and understanding of how emerging threats such as climate change and invasive species are affecting the world's desert habitats.
What inspires your organization's work?
The Desert Botanical Garden will celebrate its 85th anniversary in 2024. Since its founding in 1939, the garden has been a sanctuary for desert plants and an important place to study and love them. Conservation and sustainability are the beating heart of the garden and the driving force behind everything we do. The Sonoran Desert is a delicate and beautiful ecosystem where rare native plants and animals thrive in a hostile environment characterized by little water and extreme temperatures. It borders one of the largest cities in the world and the fastest growing city in the country. A garden has a duty to protect this ecosystem for these plants and animals, as well as the happiness, health and economic well-being of the people who live here.
Is there a project your organization is working on that you would like to share with the public?
Through March 31, 2024, the Desert Botanical Garden is proud to present Fernando Botero: The Master, marking Fernando Botero's first major exhibition in Arizona. Renowned Colombian figurative painter and sculptor Fernando Botero has established himself as one of the world's most renowned artists of our time. With his distinctive style and mastery of form, Botero's influence extends far beyond Latin America, and he is the most exhibited museum artist of our time. The exhibition is a collaboration with the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, and is devoted to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latin American art.
Give time to give
Thanks to readers like you, the Arizona Republic's Season of Sharing campaign has raised and distributed more than $73 million to Arizona nonprofits since 1993. Please continue to support our neighbors who need a republic.
Where does the money go?
When you donate to Season of Sharing, you're contributing to nonprofit organizations that help teachers and students, help Arizona seniors, and support struggling children and families. The Republic covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go back to the community.
to give opportunities
Complete the secure online form at sharing.azcentral.com.
Text “SHARE” to 91-999 and click the link in the text message.
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This article originally appeared in The Arizona Republic: How a Desert Botanical Garden Teaches Kids About the Natural World
