activities · 29
what they do
direct service · 23
- Conduct Educational Outreach for K-12 Students Water & Desert Ecology Education FacilitiesProvides hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students through its Educational Outreach Program. Volunteers visit schools to teach about Sonoran Desert ecology, water conservation, and sustainable landscaping, donate plants for school gardens, organize field trips, and support science fair projects.
- Host Monthly Meetings and Educational Programs Monthly Themed Membership Meetings with Speaker PresentationsHosts monthly in-person and virtual meetings featuring informative programs, raffles, door prizes, refreshments, and free plant distribution to members. These meetings also include pre-meeting opportunities to learn about club committees and volunteer opportunities.
- Host Plant Sales Horticultural Exhibitions and Plant SalesHosts plant sales featuring rescued cacti and other plant materials, accepting various payment methods and selling merchandise and memberships during these events.
- Hosts monthly educational meetings with member engagement Monthly Themed Membership Meetings with Speaker PresentationsConducts monthly in-person and virtual meetings from January through November featuring informative programs, raffles, door prizes, refreshments, and free plant distributions to members. Virtual attendees are eligible for a raffle prize of a $25 gift certificate to local nurseries.
- Hosts plant sales and sells merchandise Horticultural Exhibitions and Plant SalesOrganizes plant sales featuring rescued cacti and other plant materials, accepting cash, checks, and credit cards. Also sells merchandise and memberships at checkout during these events.
- Maintain Pima Prickly Park Public Park & Garden StewardshipMaintains Pima Prickly Park, an 8-acre public park, in partnership with Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation. This includes planting special rescued cacti, organizing workdays, and deploying volunteers to assist visitors and answer plant-related questions.
- Maintains a library resource for membersOperates a private library with books, streaming videos, and periodicals focused on cacti and succulents, offering books for checkout at organizational meetings.
- Maintains and enhances Pima Prickly Park Public Park & Garden StewardshipCo-manages an 8-acre public park in partnership with Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, including planting rescued special cacti, organizing workdays, and deploying volunteers to assist visitors and answer plant-related questions.
- Operate Cactus and Succulent Rescue Programs Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementOperates Native and Urban Cactus Rescue programs that salvage native plants from development sites and homeowners' properties. Volunteers dig up and move rescued cacti, which are then transplanted to Pima Prickly Park, distributed to volunteers, or sold at plant sales to promote native plant use and conservation. The program has rescued over 137,500 plants.
- Operate a Member LibraryMaintains an extensive private library of books, streaming videos, and periodicals focused on cacti and succulents for members to check out at organizational meetings.
- Operate a Member LibraryMaintains an extensive library of books, streaming videos, and periodicals focused on cacti and succulents, available for checkout by members at organizational meetings.
- Operates plant rescue programs for native and urban cacti Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementRuns a Native Cactus Rescue program that salvages native plants from development sites and an Urban Cactus Rescue program that responds to homeowner requests to save cacti and succulents. Volunteers conduct scouting, secure state permits, and physically rescue plants, with over 137,500 plants rescued to date.
- Organize Member Garden Tours Online Environmental Education ResourcesOrganizes garden tours for members to various locations, including Pima Prickly Park and other local gardens.
- Organize Member Garden Tours and Silent Auctions Online Environmental Education ResourcesOrganizes garden tours for members and holds annual silent auctions.
- Organize Plant Sales and Auctions Horticultural Exhibitions and Plant SalesHosts plant sales featuring rescued cacti and other plant materials, and holds annual silent auctions. These events also sell merchandise and memberships.
- Organizes member activities and field trips Online Environmental Education ResourcesArranges garden tours, field trips to Pima Prickly Park and other local gardens, and annual silent auctions for members. Also offers pre-meeting sessions to inform members about club committees and volunteer opportunities.
- Provides educational outreach to schools and youth Water & Desert Ecology Education FacilitiesDelivers hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students through classroom visits, teaching about Sonoran Desert ecology, water conservation, and sustainable landscaping. Donates cacti and succulents for school gardens and supports science fair projects with educational materials.
- Publish Monthly Newsletter Member Newsletter & Magazine DistributionPublishes a monthly newsletter containing information about presentations, a message from the President, and announcements of upcoming events.
- Publish Monthly Newsletter Member Newsletter & Magazine DistributionPublishes a monthly newsletter containing information about presentations, a message from the President, and announcements of upcoming events for its members.
- Publishes a monthly newsletter for members Member Newsletter & Magazine DistributionDistributes a monthly newsletter containing information about upcoming presentations, a message from the President, and announcements of events and programs.
- Support Coteco Biological Preserve Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionCovers preservation and maintenance costs for the Coteco Biological Preserve in Sonora, Mexico, and conducts evaluations of its fencing and habitat.
- Support Coteco Biological Preserve Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionCovers preservation and maintenance costs for the Coteco Biological Preserve in Sonora, Mexico, and conducts evaluations of its fencing stability and habitat.
- Supports international conservation efforts Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionCovers preservation and maintenance costs for the Coteco Biological Preserve in Sonora, Mexico, and sends members to evaluate habitat conditions. Confirmed intact fencing, abundant organ pipe cacti, and competent management during a 2019 visit.
advocacy · 3
- Ensure Compliance with Native Plant Regulations Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementAcquires correct tags and permits for saguaro and native plant rescues to comply with State laws.
- Ensure Compliance with Native Plant Rescue Regulations Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementAcquires correct tags and permits for saguaro and native plant rescues to comply with State laws, coordinating with developers and the State of Arizona for native plant removal permits.
- Ensures legal compliance for plant rescues Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementAcquires proper tags and state-issued native plant removal permits for saguaro and other native plant rescues to comply with Arizona laws.
capacity building · 3
- Provide Technical Support Technical Support ServicesOperates a Technical Support Team that addresses technology issues and supports the organization's digital operations.
- Provide Technical Support for Organizational Operations Technical Support ServicesOperates a Technical Support Team that addresses technology issues and supports the organization's digital operations.
- Provides technical and digital support for operations Technical Support ServicesOperates a Technical Support Team that resolves technology issues and maintains the organization’s digital infrastructure.
strategies · 21
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.
- Conservation through education and advocacy conservation_through_education_and_advocacyThe organization promotes interest in desert plants among hobbyists and collectors, and advocates for legislation to conserve native desert plants, aiming to protect unique plant life and foster environmental responsibility.
- Conservation through plant rescue, cultivation, and advocacy conservation through education and advocacyAdvances conservation by rescuing and redistributing plants, supporting legal protections, supplementing regulatory preservation, and maintaining biodiversity in protected areas like the Coteco Biological Preserve.
- Conservation through plant rescue, cultivation, and advocacy conservation through education and advocacyAdvances conservation by rescuing and cultivating native plants, supporting legal protections, supplementing regulatory preservation requirements, and focusing on ecologically significant areas like the Coteco Biological Preserve to protect biodiversity and culturally important species.
- Ecosystem preservation through targeted conservation ecosystem preservationThe organization focuses conservation efforts on cactus-rich areas, such as the Coteco Biological Preserve, to protect diverse plant species, and supplements these efforts with on-site preservation required by development permits and Native Plant Protection Ordinances.
- Education through curated resources and expert knowledge education_through_curated_resourcesThe organization provides educational resources through a curated collection of materials (books, videos, periodicals) and programs featuring knowledgeable individuals to enhance understanding of cacti and succulents among various audiences.
- Education through curated resources and programming education_through_curated_resourcesUses a combination of curated educational materials, photography, newsletters, and expert-led programs to deepen public understanding of cacti, succulents, and desert ecosystems, with the goal of fostering stewardship and informed cultivation.
- Education through curated resources and programming education_through_curated_resourcesProvides structured educational content via curated books, videos, periodicals, photography, and expert-led programs to deepen public understanding of cacti, succulents, and desert ecosystems, with a focus on both aesthetic appreciation and ecological knowledge.
- Engagement through member-driven activities and volunteerism member_engagement_through_varied_activitiesBuilds and sustains community involvement by offering diverse social and educational events, volunteer roles in technical and operational capacities, and incentives like member discounts to strengthen organizational support and participation.
- Guided and safe plant access with educational integration guided plant selectionFacilitates plant acquisition through a guided shopping model during sales events, combining hands-on education with safety protocols to enhance learning and responsible plant care.
- Guided and scheduled access to rescued plants rescue-based sales schedulingOrganizes plant sales around rescued stock availability and uses guided shopping experiences to ensure safety, promote education, and reinforce conservation ethics during public engagement events.
- Guided plant selection for safety and education guided plant selectionThe organization employs a guided shopping model with personal shoppers to ensure safety and provide educational opportunities during the plant selection process.
- Horticultural display and ecosystem support horticultural preservation and public displayCultivates cacti and succulents in public spaces like parks to support pollinators and demonstrate sustainable horticultural practices that align with native desert ecosystems.
- Horticultural preservation and public display horticultural preservation and public displayThe organization focuses on cultivating cacti and succulents, along with other plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, within a park setting for preservation and public display.
- Member and community engagement through inclusive activities and incentives member_engagement_through_varied_activitiesBuilds and sustains active participation by offering diverse social and educational events, volunteer roles, committee involvement, and membership benefits such as discounts, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among hobbyists and conservation supporters.
- Member engagement through varied activities and incentives member_engagement_through_varied_activitiesThe organization provides a variety of activities and offers member discounts to engage a broad membership base, encourage membership, and support rescue plant sales.
- Rescue-based plant sales for fundraising and education rescue-based sales schedulingThe organization hosts sales events based on the availability of rescued plants, utilizing these operations as a major fundraising and educational activity, while also ensuring they are safe, productive, and legal for volunteers.
- Visual education through photography visual_education_through_photographyThe organization uses macro and telephoto photography to highlight fine structural and ecological details of desert plants, particularly the saguaro forest, as a method of visual education.
- Visual storytelling for ecological awareness visual_education_through_photographyEmploys macro and telephoto photography to reveal intricate details of desert flora, particularly in saguaro forests, to enhance public appreciation and understanding of plant ecology.
- Visual storytelling for ecological education visual_education_through_photographyEmploys macro and telephoto photography to reveal fine structural and ecological details of desert flora, enhancing public understanding and appreciation of species like those in the saguaro forest.
- Volunteer-driven capacity building volunteer-driven technical supportThe organization engages volunteers in technical support roles to simultaneously build individual skills and advance organizational digital capabilities, and also involves members in committees and other volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer-driven operations with mutual skill development volunteer-driven technical supportRelies on volunteer involvement not only to support organizational functions like technical operations and plant rescue but also to provide skill-building opportunities, creating reciprocal value between the organization and its members.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Coteco Biological Preserve Support
Provides financial and logistical support for the preservation of a 500-acre cactus-rich ecosystem in Sonora, Mexico, focusing on the culturally significant organ pipe cactus
Native Cactus Rescue
Salvages native cacti from development sites including road construction, utilities, schools, and private developments; plants are relocated to Pima Prickly Park, given to volunteers, or sold at public sales
Pima Prickly Park
8-acre public park in Tucson maintained in partnership with Pima County, featuring themed gardens and serving as a conservation and education site for native cacti and succulents
Urban Cactus Rescue
Rescues cacti and succulents from private homeowners undergoing landscape changes or relocation; prioritizes plants that can be safely moved and benefits the club's collection or sales
relationships · 9
who they work with
- Alberto Búrquez Partner — Mexican ecologist who traveled with TCSS members to the Coteco Preserve.
- Amphi Land Lab Partner — Hosts TCSS plant storage area and sales events at its facility.
- David Yetman Partner — Ethnobotanist who traveled with TCSS members to the Coteco Preserve and recognized the value of the ecosystem.
- Justino Flores Partner — Resident of the Mayo community of Massiaca who guided the group touring the Coteco Preserve.
- Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation Partner — Maintains Pima Prickly Park in partnership with TCSS and has a 15-year operating agreement for the park.
- Pima Prickly Park Partner — Organizes field trips for students to the park.
- Pima Prickly Park Partner — Transplants some rescued cacti to Pima Prickly Park.
- St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church Partner — Hosts the organization's monthly meetings at the Murphey Gallery.
- State of Arizona Government — Works with the State of Arizona to secure native plant removal permits and tags for cactus rescues.