Help Us Raise $30,000!
We need your help to grow our educational staff, improve and expand our programs, and better serve a more diverse audience of students from throughout southern Arizona. Now is the time to expand and meet the needs of students ready for engaging, inspiring educational experiences that happen outside the classroom.
Camp Cooper is Back In Session
After a year of strictly online field trips, Camp Cooper is now accepting field trip requests for the 2021-22 school year ahead. Teachers are encouraged to complete this simple form to indicate your desired program, dates and additional teachers you might be interested in coordinating with. We can't wait to see you and your students!
Wildlife at Camp Cooper
Here at Camp Cooper, we use a wildlife camera to capture candid videos of wildlife around our wildlife watering hole. Camera trapping, as it is sometimes called, is a way to observe desert wildlife in a way that is both intimate and non-intrusive. There's nothing more exciting than watching the videos from the previous day, and finding something amazing!
An Adult Wilderness Experience!
Join your fellow travelers in anticipation of wild adventure - we call this adventure a Muir Trek! Your experience begins at Camp Cooper, Friday, November 12th, with check-in, evening festivities and an overnight stay. You will embark on your trek at sunrise on Saturday, November 13th, returning to camp after sunset.
Learn More & Register
Cooper Center Happy Hour
Sept 16th at 5pm
In celebration of the Cooper Center's September fundraising campaign, we hosted a live stream happy hour event featuring musicians and storytellers, cartoonists and crooners, researchers and teachers, as well as donors and supporters.
Thank you to everyone who performed, presented or donated during Happy Hour! Together with Tucson Electric Power’s matching gift we raised close to $12,500 to support our September fundraiser.
Camp Cooper Online
Designed For Ages K - 5th Grade
Parents of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to sign up, and each Monday, participants will receive a weekly activity for kids, delivered straight to their email. There is no cost to sign up.
Self Guided Environmental Education For Parents and Children To Do Together
Camp Cooper Online is a free, online portal to environmental learning made fun and new, brought to you by our amazing team of educators. Activities have been tailored to being done at home using original videos, downloadable worksheets for older kids to complete independently or for younger kids to complete with parents.
Activities incorporate ecological and life science learning opportunities derived from state standards and flexible for a range of ages.
Camp Cooper Facility Improvements
Major Upgrades Ahead!
- We are excited to introduce Phase I of the Camp Cooper Master Plan: Eco-friendly bathroom and shower facility construction, replacing facilities built more than 45 years ago.
- Energy-saving construction features will include: solar energy, composting toilets and rainwater harvesting to serve as a model for sustainable outdoor education facilities.
Cooper Center News
"I am amazed at the effort put into the activities and how great the staff are with the kids"
- Parent of Tolson Elementary student
Cooper Educational Videos
Get to know our educational staff as they take on on virtual walks, hunts for flowers, share some of their favorite books and animals, and lead you in fun activities to do from home or in your neighborhood!
"Exploring the desert with the kids was life changing. I'm not a Tucson native, so I learned so much!"
-Parent of Lineweaver student
Field Trip Update
We're excited to announce that we will be resuming in-person field trips. If you are interested in scheduling a field trip for the 2021-22 school year, please complete our Field Trip Interest Form.