activities · 10
what they do
direct service · 7
- Collaborate on infrastructure and interpretive projectsPartners with the Coronado National Forest on facility improvements and educational infrastructure, including the development of the Bud Gode Interpretive Nature Trail, Amphitheater Bridge Project, and repairs to the Visitor Information Station.
- Conduct trail maintenance and restoration Volunteer-Based Trail Building & MaintenancePerforms regular trail maintenance and restoration in Madera Canyon, including clearing fallen trees, repairing trails and steps, mending stone features in picnic areas, and conducting monthly trail walks to identify issues such as damage or graffiti.
- Maintain memorial features Veteran Commemoration and Memorial EventsDedicated an Honor and Memory wall in 2015 to commemorate individuals and preserve community history.
- Manage invasive species and habitat protection Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementIdentifies and plans for invasive species control in Madera Canyon, with Yellow Bluestem grass highlighted as a major focus for the current year.
- Operate Visitor Information Station Trail Ambassador & Visitor EngagementVolunteers staff a Visitor Information Station at the Proctor Road entrance to Madera Canyon, greeting visitors, providing safety and facility information, distributing literature, answering questions, and serving as a liaison to US Forest Service personnel.
- Organize public outreach and community events Mariachi & Folklorico FestivalsExhibits at regional events such as the Tucson Festival of Books, Tubac Festival of the Arts, Sahuarita Spooktacular, and Fiesta at Tumacacori to promote awareness of Madera Canyon and the organization’s work; also plans and hosts annual "Music in the Canyon" concerts on four Sundays in spring 2025.
- Provide environmental education and guided programs Guided Environmental Field TripsOffers docent-led educational programs for school and community groups, including 4th grade walks, high school, scouting, and homeschool field trips, and participates in regional events like the Tucson Audubon Birding Festival and Hawk Watch to educate the public about Madera Canyon.
research · 1
- Publish historical and educational materialsProduces and distributes informational materials, including brochures placed at 15 distribution points in Madera Canyon, and published "A History of Madera Canyon."
capacity building · 2
- Manage organizational administration and finances Back-Office Financial ManagementHandles full financial operations including accounting system management, IRS audits, compliance with Arizona Corporate Commission, tax preparation with a CPA, and production of monthly and annual financial statements.
- Support volunteer engagement and recognition Volunteer Mobilization & ManagementEngages skilled volunteers, particularly active retirees, in professional-level roles; provides name tags for members and recognizes long-term service through honorary status updates.
strategies · 4
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.
- Advocacy through economic valuation of natural beauty economics of beautyAdvocates for conservation by developing an "economics of beauty" framework that quantifies the financial benefits of natural landscapes—such as tourism and retiree migration—to counter industrial development proposals and strengthen policy arguments with economic data.
- Community-based conservation through volunteer mobilization community-based conservationOrganizes and mobilizes local volunteers in sustained, skilled conservation efforts in partnership with public land agencies to preserve and protect Madera Canyon, leveraging community ownership and on-the-ground stewardship as a core mechanism for environmental protection.
- Environmental education and visitor engagement as advocacy tools environmental_education_and_advocacyUses environmental education, public outreach, and direct visitor engagement—such as the Ambassador Initiative and regional event participation—to increase public awareness and foster a culture of stewardship, thereby building broader support for the protection of Madera Canyon.
- Recognition and memorialization to sustain volunteer commitment recognition_and_memorializationStrengthens long-term volunteer engagement and organizational loyalty by formally recognizing contributions and memorializing individuals who have demonstrated dedication to Madera Canyon, reinforcing community identity and continuity.
named programs · 8
what they call their work
Ambassador Initiative
Members act as mobile information sources for visitors while hiking trails, dispensing useful tips and facts about the canyon.
Box Crew
Volunteers restock brochures at 15 distribution locations throughout Madera Canyon.
Canyon Preservation
Activities include canyon clean-up, trail clearing and maintenance, and removal of graffiti.
Guardian Program
Volunteers walk trails monthly to identify and report problems such as fallen trees, graffiti, and damaged trails.
Invasive Species Eradication
Efforts to prevent the spread of invasive plants, such as Yellow Bluestem grass, in Madera Canyon.
Kids' Nature Walk Docent Program
Educational program for children, including nature walks and a scholarship award program.
Music in the Canyon
A series of concerts held on Sundays in March and April.
Visitor Information Station
Volunteers greet visitors, answer questions, and provide literature about Madera Canyon, its facilities, and safety.
relationships · 14
who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Sells "A History Of Madera Canyon" published by FoMC.
- Arizona Native Plant Society Partner — John Scheuring, State Conservation Chair, presented on invasive species in Madera Canyon.
- CNF Partner — Partners with CNF.
- Coronado National Forest Partner — Collaborates with Friends of Madera Canyon on education programs, interpretation, and facility improvements in Madera Canyon.
- Green Valley Hiking Club Partner — Assists in maintaining trails in Madera Canyon by removing weeds, brush, and litter, and preparing handicap-accessible trails for use by Assisted Living Groups.
- Green Valley Hiking Club Partner — Periodically maintains trails, cutting weeds & brush, removing litter, and sweeping handicap-accessible trails.
- Hummingbird Monitoring Network Partner — Conducts hummingbird monitoring in Madera Canyon as part of a science-based conservation program.
- Santa Rita Lodge Gift Shop Partner — Sells "A History Of Madera Canyon" published by FoMC.
- Scout Troop 247 Partner — Assisted with achievements in Madera Canyon.
- U.S. Forest Service Government — Close cooperation in all efforts in Madera Canyon.
- U.S. Forest Service Partner — Partner agency that appealed to the public for volunteers, leading to the formation of Friends of Madera Canyon to help preserve and protect Madera Canyon.
- US Forest Service Partner — Volunteers at the Visitor Information Station act as a link to US Forest Service personnel.
- United States Forest Service Nogales Ranger District Partner — Manages Madera Canyon and partners with Friends of Madera Canyon on conservation and educational initiatives.
- eBird Partner — Encourages visitors to use eBird hotspots for data collection and reporting in Madera Canyon.