454818642 · AZ ↑ parent cluster ·
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Friends of Catalina State Park

AZ · EIN 454818642 · $49K rev · operational · friendscsp.org
profile

Friends of Catalina State Park is a nonprofit support group founded in 2012 that partners with park staff to enhance and preserve Catalina State Park in Oro Valley, Arizona. The organization funds programs, facilities, equipment, and volunteer efforts within the park, which spans over 5,400 acres in the Sonoran Desert and serves as a haven for native flora and fauna, including more than 5,000 saguaros and 193 bird species.

activities · 18

what they do

direct service · 15
  • Organizes regular bird walks led by local experts from October to April, contributing to the documentation of 193 bird species within Catalina State Park.
  • Organizes regular bird walks led by local experts from October to April, and has documented 193 bird species within Catalina State Park.
  • Concerts in the Park Community Live Music Series
    Organizes monthly free concerts in Catalina State Park featuring local artists across various musical genres for the public.
  • Concerts in the park Community Live Music Series
    Organizes monthly free concerts in Catalina State Park featuring local artists across various musical genres for the public.
  • Financial Support for Catalina State Park Fundraising for Trail & Park Maintenance
    Provides financial contributions to Catalina State Park to fund programs, enhance facilities, purchase equipment, and support staff and volunteers, having contributed over $242,000 since 2012.
  • Financial and operational support for Catalina State Park Fundraising for Trail & Park Maintenance
    Provides financial contributions and operational support for Catalina State Park, funding programs, enhancing facilities, purchasing equipment, and supporting staff and volunteers. This includes supporting the Bobcat Amphitheater, the Catalina Nature Program, and park improvement projects, and has contributed over $242,000 to the park since 2012.
  • Financial and operational support for Catalina State Park Fundraising for Trail & Park Maintenance
    Provides financial contributions and operational support for Catalina State Park, funding programs, facility enhancements, equipment purchases, and supporting staff and volunteers. This includes specific projects like the Bobcat Amphitheater, the Catalina Nature Program, and buffelgrass removal.
  • Sponsors and supports the eradication of invasive grasses, such as buffelgrass, within Catalina State Park.
  • Supports and sponsors the eradication of invasive buffelgrass within Catalina State Park.
  • Land Acquisition and Park Development Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Participated in the delineation of potential park boundaries, negotiation for private property acquisition, acquisition of land for highway access, and securing recreational leases, culminating in the dedication and opening of Catalina State Park to the public on May 25, 1983.
  • Land acquisition and park development Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Participated in the delineation of potential park boundaries, negotiation for private property acquisition, acquisition of land for highway access, and securing recreational leases, ultimately leading to the dedication and opening of Catalina State Park to the public on May 25, 1983.
  • Land acquisition and park establishment Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Undertook the delineation of potential park boundaries, authorized negotiations for private property acquisition, acquired land for highway access, and secured recreational leases, culminating in the dedication and opening of Catalina State Park to the public on May 25, 1983.
  • Hosts weekly educational wildlife demonstrations from October through March, featuring live Sonoran Desert species like snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, with opportunities for supervised interaction and expert-led visitor engagement.
  • Hosts weekly educational wildlife demonstrations from October through March, featuring live Sonoran Desert species such as snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, with opportunities for supervised interaction and expert-led visitor engagement.
  • Hosts educational programs and demonstrations featuring live Sonoran Desert reptiles and other desert creatures, offering supervised interaction and expert-led engagement. These programs are held weekly from October through April.
advocacy · 3
  • Advocacy for Park Preservation and Establishment Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Engages in advocacy efforts, including opposing rezoning for development, supporting legislation (House Bill 2280) to establish Catalina State Park, and advocating for land acquisition through state land exchanges to create the park.
  • Advocacy for park preservation and establishment Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Engages in advocacy efforts related to park-related community changes, including opposing rezoning for development, supporting legislation to establish Catalina State Park, and advocating for land acquisition for the park's creation.
  • Environmental advocacy for Catalina State Park Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection
    Engages in advocacy efforts to preserve and establish Catalina State Park, including opposing rezoning for development, supporting legislation to establish the park, and advocating for land acquisition for the park.
strategies · 15

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.

named programs · 5

what they call their work

Bobcat Amphitheater Development
Funds and supports the completion and enhancement of the Bobcat Amphitheater, a venue for weddings, educational events, and public gatherings
Buffelgrass Slayers
Sponsors and supports invasive species removal efforts, particularly buffelgrass and fountain grass, to protect native Sonoran Desert vegetation and prevent wildfire risks
Guided Nature Activities
Supports ranger- and volunteer-led educational programs including birding walks, geology tours, history talks, astronomy events, and geocaching
Live Animal Encounters
Volunteer-led program offering weekly displays of live snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, and other desert creatures from October through March, allowing supervised interaction and education
Monthly Concerts
Hosts free monthly concerts in the park featuring local musicians across various genres, enhancing public enjoyment and engagement
relationships · 10

who they work with

  • Bobcat Amphitheater Partner — Collaborates on the development and completion of the amphitheater as part of park improvement projects.
  • Catalina State Park Partner — Works in partnership with the park staff to support volunteers and to promote, improve and preserve the park.
  • Coronado National Forest Government — The State land within the park boundary became property of the Coronado National Forest through the Santa Rita land exchange.
  • Coronado National Forest Partner — Adjacent land management partner, with shared boundaries including the Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area and designated wilderness zones.
  • National Audubon Society Partner — Recognized Catalina State Park as an Important Bird Area, indicating collaborative conservation focus.
  • Pima County Partner — Opposed rezoning of Rancho Romero and advocated for its preservation as open space.
  • Rancho Romero Coalition Partner — Worked with the coalition to introduce legislation for Catalina State Park and delineate park boundaries.
  • United State Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Government — Manages Catalina State Park under a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Collaborated with a class from the School of Renewal Natural Resources to develop a master plan for Catalina State Park.
  • University of Arizona conservation group Partner — Partners with the "Buffelgrass Slayers" group for invasive grass eradication.