Location: Tucson, AZ
Strenuous. ~1 miles daily.
Front country. Dispersed tent camping.
Save the Saguaros by removing problematic invasive buffelgrass and fountain grass! We’ll also work on removing fencing.
This project is sponsored by:

This project is eligible for Last Call Pricing.
Service Project Details
Buffelgrass is a highly invasive perennial bunchgrass driving ecological degradation in the Sonoran Desert. The manual removal of this plant will be carried out by digging plants out of the soil and piling them on site. This work creates space for native vegetation to reestablish. The project area lies within a remote part of the park that most visitors never see and is unusually rich in natural water sources. These conditions support exceptional biodiversity, a rare and valuable asset now threatened by the spread of buffelgrass.
Things to know:
Volunteers should be prepared to spend most of the day on their feet and to bend, crouch, stoop, and kneel while removing buffelgrass. The worksite is located less than one mile off trail, with clear and navigable pathways flagged in advance of the project. Volunteers should comfortably lift and carry 5–10 pounds, hike with a backpack containing their daily essentials, and use hand tools for digging.
View the photo gallery from previous Saguaro National Park projects.
Learn more about Saguaro National Park and the importance of saguaros in this 20-minute video, “A Delicate Balance.”
Project leaders: Lee Cooper and TBD
Agency Website
Itinerary
Sunday, October 25th. The group will meet at 10 AM at the Saguaro National Park East Visitor’s Center. The group will go through check-in, introductions, orientation, and then drive vehicles approximately 30 minutes to Madrona. Everyone will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.
Monday, October 26th. Workday.
Tuesday, October 27th. Workday.
Wednesday, October 28th. Day off.
Thursday, October 29th. Workday.
Friday, October 30th. Workday.
Saturday, October 31st. Break down camp, hike back to vehicles, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Tucson, AZ
Nearest Airports
Tucson International Airport (TUS) – ~16 miles away
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – ~129 miles away
Free Time Details
Hiking, viewing wildlife and plants, photography, relaxation.
Accommodations
Dispersed tent camping in a remote site.
Difficulty
Strenuous
Task Details
Swinging, digging, shoveling, hauling, pushing, leveraging, bending over, lopping, etc.
Equipment List
View Equipment List