Field Arts Bootcamp Report
Seventeen naturalists and explorers joined us in magical Aravaipa Canyon in southern Arizona for four days of exploration and immersion in nature. This was our fourth event at the ranch, and we noticed some interesting changes. One of the driest winters on record meant many fewer flowers and less active plants and birds than in the past—but the fact we were not distracted by all the flashy critters and flora, we found we focused much more on the quieter, smaller, more-hidden gems: the dried moss on the grotto wall that magically spring to green life with a drizzle of water; the fuzzy tan digger bees emerging in the dusk; the tiny rattlesnake weed flowers (Chamaesyce albomarginata—a Euphorbia); bats; moths; and the three- or four- life phases of insects on the willows that were possibly a ladybug.
The larger critters did make a show, however: bighorn sheep made a brief appearance, including a mom and baby, and we had nightly coatimundi, raccoon, and skunk visits so the tracking was excellent. We did enjoy time with a tree lizard and a cactus mouse as well. Cold nights and wind kept most of the reptiles under cover, so this was our first bootcamp without rattlesnake show-and-tell. A long-deceased and well-preserved Myotis bat provided great sketching opportunities.
Diva the ranch cat was up front and center, of course, providing plenty of comedy and insistence on her “staff” giving her treats and love.
Interested in this Field Arts Bootcamp next year? Mark your calendar for March 7 – 10, 2026 (though we are hoping to move it a little later if a space opens up).
