CNUW Introduction
Our Mission
To teach and advocate responsible desert living through the conservation of native and urban wildlife.
What We Do
- Education outreach to share the value and importance of natural desert environments
- Restore Sonoran Desert habitats
- Promote stewardship of Sonoran Desert ecosystems through active involvement
You can call us CNUW (see-new). Read on or get in touch with us if you would like to learn more.
Upcoming events
Fall 2023 Plant Sale
Come to our Fall Plant Sale fundraiser – help urban wildlife and support the work we do! Check back for updates on future plant sales in March and October.
CNUW Fall 2023 Plant Sale Flyer
Open House at Toad Hall
Join us for an Open House at Toad Hall, CNUW's nature center! Every Wednesday from 11 am - 1 pm. People of all ages and small groups under 10 are welcome. Come see and learn about desert wildlife, then visit our Wildlife Demonstration Gardens on campus. Open House Wednesdays run from September 6 through December 13, 2023.
CNUW Open House at Toal Hall Flyer
Monarch Butterfly Festival
Learn how you can support the endangered monarch butterfly at our Monarch Festival, co-sponsored with Southwest Monarch Study. Saturday, October 14 from 8-10:30 am we will have guest speakers on a range of topics, hands-on activities for all ages, and milkweed plants for sale. Come learn what citizen science has done to further our knowledge of the Southwestern monarch population, and how you can be a part of saving this species!
What we offer

CNUW Exhibits
Visit biodiversity past and present and explore our community gardens and greenhouse.

CNUW Projects
Participate in phenology observations, solitary bee studies, plant propagation, burrowing owl nests, and bird surveys.

Biodiversity Tours
Learn about the importance of the Sonoran Desert on our biodiversity tour.
Support CNUW
If you would like to support CNUW through a donation, you can easily purchase items off of our Amazon Wish List and have it shipped to the Center. Your donations help us continually improve and we greatly appreciate your support!
Contact Us

- Dr. John Weser
- Executive Director
- (480) 423-6016
- [email protected]

- Natalie Case
- Education Programs Developer
- (480) 423-6737
- [email protected]

- Exhibits Curator Coming Soon!

- R. Sean Tanner
- Assistant Curator
- (480) 423-6737
- [email protected]

- Alistair Bergstedt
- Assistant Curator
- (480) 423-6737
- [email protected]

- Roy Barnes
- CNUW Founder
- Essay on Biodiversity Education