Arizona Audubon Center brings nature to city kids

The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is just 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Phoenix, but it feels like a completely different world.

The nature reserve sits on 595 acres of restored Sonoran wetlands and is home to more than 200 species of migratory birds. Paved and dirt trails make their way throughout the park, and in the summers, the Arizona Audubon Society can be found holding summer camps amidst the wildlife.

These camps are designed not only to teach kids about wildlife, but also to encourages careers in STEM. Emily Martell, a teacher-naturalist, says the camps give kids a sense of the world outside their neighborhood.

“We really want to get kids outside of the bubble that they are in all of the time and immerse them in their natural environment,” says Martell, “so they are really understanding they are part of a much bigger picture.“