EcoPrograms
Every month, our ITE field team guides local youth, ages 14-20, on outdoor adventures called EcoPrograms. Outdoor adventures include nature walking, birdwatching, hiking, river walking, campouts, and more. Once youth participate in one EcoProgram, they become eligible to join our EcoNetwork of 45 youth and 200+ young alumni.
- Opportunity to hang out in nature and explore with teens from 10+ high schools
- No-cost programs (sponsored by our partners)
- Free transportation provided from ITE Urban Field Station (738 N. 5th Ave., #101 in the Historic Y)
- First to be recruited for paid and unpaid ITE Internships
- Access to ITE EcoNetwork Benefits and Services
To Join our EcoPrograms, please fill out this registration form!
New participant forms can be found here.
Next Program: Free 4-day, 3-night June Backpacking Trips!
Backpacking allows us to access beautiful locations and helps us connect with nature and one another on a deep level as we are able to leave behind the distractions of our normal lives. Backpacking is a style of camping where we carry everything we need (food, tent, sleeping bag, gear) in specialized backpacks that ITE provides. These types of campouts are incredibly fun and empowering but are also challenging. You should be prepared to carry a heavy backpack over uneven terrain for several hours each day as you explore the stunning mountains and canyons around Tucson. If you are someone open to new experiences, new friends, new foods, and a bit of a challenge then this trip is for you!
This summer, ITE staff are leading two EcoProgram backpacking trips for high schoolers! Join us as we ascend one of our sky islands to beat the heat & connect with the biological and cultural diversity of the Sonoran Desert.
On each 4-day, 3-night trip, youth will:
- create friendships
- develop a sense of place in our Borderlands home
- explore one of the Sonoran Desert’s sky island
- learn backcountry skills such as tent setup, backcountry cooking, and Leave No Trace
- connect with the plants, animals, and stories, of this region
June 4-7 (Orientation: June 1): Mt. Lemmon Wilderness of Rocks
June 18-21 (Orientation: June 15): Mt. Lemmon Wilderness of Rocks
Sign up for Backpacking Here!