KIDS LEARN ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AT MESQUITE WILDLIFE OASIS

by Becky Bouquot

As the desert begins to heat up, the outdoor classroom at Mesquite Wildlife Oasis (MWO) flourishes with wildflowers, dragonflies, frogs and baby birds! The winter rains brought an abundance of flora and fauna—providing incredible opportunities to view wildlife in their natural habitat. From the remote location and primitive accommodations, this one-of-a-kind experience gives students a true feeling of what it is like to be in the wild. For some students, their time at MWO is their first outdoor experience and this is why this program is so important. Time at MWO is an opportunity to inspire the next generation of wildlife stewards on the importance of conservation, habitat preservation and ethical outdoor recreation.

Since 2008, approximately 38,000 students, teachers and chaperones have visited MWO to learn about Arizona’s wildlife and desert habitats. The curriculum taught at MWO was developed to match the desert habitat and is tied to

Arizona State Education Standards. Through this program teachers are able to provide students with a hands-on learning experience that connects classroom lessons to the natural world. With limitations on school district budgets, MWO offers this program free of charge, as well as a stipend for transportation costs for schools to travel to the site.

Just this past year, AES took over the administration of MWO in partnership with Wildlife for Tomorrow and the previous landowner, Consolidated Edison. This partnership has already expanded the reach of MWO, increased awareness of this program, and added additional resources to ensure the longevity and success of this unique opportunity for west Valley students. AES has also received additional funding through a grant provided by the Arizona State Park’s Heritage Fund, that will be used to support AES’ resources dedicated to MWO.

As the 2022-2023 MWO program comes to an end, AES and their team of educators anticipate another great season next school year!

Important information: AES will release the field trip sign-up for next school year in early August of 2023. There are only 30 spots available for field trips and they fill up quickly! MWO is located in Arlington, roughly 60 minutes from central Phoenix. The outdoor classroom can accommodate up to 80 students at a time. Homeschool groups are welcome to join, as long as they have 25 students or more. The outdoor classroom is closed to the general public, however AES offers a Community Education Day for all those interested in visiting the site. If you are unable to make it out to MWO, please join AES at Wapiti Weekend and Wild in the City! For more information on AES’s youth programs, call 623-444-4147 or visit www.arizonaelksociety.org