Cooper Receives CORE Grant from CFSA

Like many non-profits, COVID-19 has impacted our ability to fundraise as we all rightfully turn our attention to health and safety. That said, we continue to seek out ways to keep the Cooper Center operational through this crisis.

That's why we are so grateful to receive a Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (CFSA) CORE grant awarded to 30 organizations - up from previous years.

This award will add stability to our operations and staffing as we do our best to manage the COVID-19 situation and its impact on our work. This support is essential to our success in the coming year - we extend a heartfelt thanks to CFSA , its donors and the Connie Hillman Family Foundation.

Cooper Center Goes Digital

Environmental Learning For An Online Era

Cooper's mission has always been to increase ecological understandings and deepen feelings for the natural world through science and earth education.

While we are unable to convene with class groups, this crisis has inspired and motivated our team to take what we do at Camp Cooper and on campus, and create digital content that you can use as an educator, a parent, a student, or simply a member of the community.
Cooper Gets A New Website

Telling Our Story Has Never Been More Important

Cooper Center's new website will help more people learn about who we are and what we do at the Cooper Center.

Camp Cooper Activities

Activities for you or your child that combine learning and discovery. Videos for early childhood & elementary ages.
Take A Hike Around Camp Cooper
Mesquite Cookies Baked With The Sun
Hunt For Wildflowers In Your Neighborhood
Sew True 2020

A panel discussion about sustainability in the apparel industry - great for high school age & adults.

Introduction To The Four Panelists
Sustainable Clothing Alternatives
Working Conditions & Environmental Awareness
Sonoran Desert Animal Lessons

Short Lessons For Children About Sonoran Desert Animals Featuring Camp Cooper Education Staff

Recommended Ages: 3rd - 7th Grades

Animal Spotlight Javelina, with Quail
Butterflies, Part 1
featuring Butterfly
Backyard Birding
 with Herb
Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

If you're a parent, a teacher or just want to learn more about your environment, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
But wait ... there's more!

The Earth Speaks

Environmental Classics Read By Director Colin Waite

Cooper Center director Colin Waite reads from The Earth Speaks, compiled Environmental writings by Steve Van Matre and Bill Weiler. Ideal for adults.
Meet Our (Amazing) Staff

 We are so proud of our inspiring educational staff and we're excited to share videos they have created to introduce themselves to you.


Congratulations to our 2020 SARSEF Award Winners!
Each year, we support the Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Foundation's annual fair with the Cooper Center Award of Excellence. This award is given to two projects that are focused on environmental issues and sustainability OR projects that address the relationship between humans and the natural world. We recognize one winner from upper elementary school grades and one in middle school.

The prize is a free field trip experience at Camp Cooper for the class of the winning students during the 2020-2021 school year!

Congratulations to Elias in Ms. Alvarez's 4th grade class at TUSD's Robins K-8 School for his winning project, "Wildlife Garden!" Elias focused his project on the relationship between wildlife in his neighborhood and planting native plants at his home.

And, congratulations to Ben in Ms. Anderson's 6th grade class at Agua Caliente School in Tanque Verde School District! Ben's project, "Why Don't California Fan Palms Grow Natively in Tucson Even though They Are Native to Arizona?" determined that Tucson's climate is drier than where fan palms are found in other parts of the state, and that it is important to use plants that will thrive in a desert environment when planting here.

We look forward to celebrating with Elias and Ben and their classes at Camp Cooper next year!



Crowdfunding Campaign Postponed

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we made the difficult decision to postpone our crowdfunding campaign until the crisis is over, either later in the summer or this fall.

Of course, if you are still in a position to support our work, your generous gift would be greatly appreciated during these challenging times. You can even sign up as a monthly donor - $5 or $10 a month is incredibly helpful and provides us with some much needed stability!


Thank you to those of you who have given this month - every dollar makes a difference and rewards the hard work of our staff.
Cooper Center for Environmental Learning | (520) 626-1825