Mission Garden is a special place to explore the plants, animals, history, food, and culture of the Sonoran Desert region.  Designed for youth of all ages and abilities, and built around K-12 educational standards, the Garden Explorers and Bookworm Path are free outdoor programs for families focused on learning with hands-on and physical activities right here in the garden.

What you will discover: 20 different activity hubs feature books and activities in English, Spanish, Chinese, braille, and other languages.

What you will see: It’s up to you and your young explorers! Follow the order of the path on the map provided in English or Spanish, or choose specific activity stops you’re most interested in. Throughout the garden, you will discover boxes that contain books and an activity related to an aspect of the garden. 

How long it will take: We recommend you take your time on the tour to enjoy the garden. Since you can pick and choose your activities, the Bookworm Path may take as long or as short as you’d like. You may complete the whole Path in an afternoon, or invite your family and friends on multiple visits to explore new “stops” and learn more about Tucson’s Birthplace and its many histories. 

Questions or curiosity: Feel free to ask a Garden Staff member! If you have specific questions about a particular garden plot and want to access more information on your phone, please check out our Virtual Tour.

Kiddos with “fast feet” who need to move their bodies: Paths are intended to provide safety to plants, animals, and people and we ask you please stay on them, but look for the Running Path on the map—a special place where running is allowed!

Examples of activities:

• Read The Tiny Seed then practice planting seeds & grinding seeds on metate.

• Discover a devil’s claw or other seed pods.

• Read When I Lived With Bats, and be on the lookout for other daytime pollinators as well.

• Look for the Taste of the Day in the garden!

Things to know before you visit:

• The Bookworm Path is open whenever Mission Garden is, Wednesday-Saturday 8am-12pm April-Sep (& 8am-2pm Oct-March), a $5 per person suggested donation gets you in for the whole day.

• Hand washing stations and restrooms are available.

• You are welcome to bring food and drink.

• Please read and follow the latest COVID-19 policies on our Visit page, we ask that any family members who are not vaccinated please wear a mask.

• We love photos! Feel free to “snap away” on your visit and share with friends and family. You are welcome to upload to social media and tag “Mission Garden: Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace”. 
  

Getting around with a stroller or a wheelchair:

• All the main dirt pathways around the garden are compacted and have ADA compatible surfaces. Paths are mostly level, without grades, but have occasional dips. 

• There are 2 accessible parking spaces in the lot off Mission Lane available on a first-come, first-served basis for vehicles displaying the appropriate permits. Accessible surfaced dirt pathways and wooden bridge lead to the entrance of the Garden.

• Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located on the north side of the Garden.

If you have any questions regarding the accessibility of the garden, please call or e-mail us.

Tell us about you! As we seek to learn more about how this program can best serve families, we’re asking parents and guardians to take a brief survey, available in English (click here) and Spanish (click here).

Want to help? Do you like the idea of the Garden Explorers & Bookworm Path and want to get involved? The program can always benefit from monetary donations (please make note that you’d like your donation to go directly to the Garden Explorers & Bookworm Path), donations of Sonoran desert-related books or Bookman’s credit for us to purchase our own, and artifacts and realia that can be used in activities. Please reach out directly to Camilla Johnson with questions, ideas and interest at camillajohnsonaz@gmail.com. Thank you!

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