About Us

The purpose of the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) organization is to provide education that aids the Coronado National Forest in:

1. Promoting an understanding and appreciation of, and respect for, the natural environment.
2. Furthering public awareness of the unique characteristics and values of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.
3. Promoting a knowledge of the management of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area and the Coronado National Forest in the context of multiple use and sustained yields.
4. Encouraging visitors to take responsibility for maintaining the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area and Coronado National Forest.
5. Providing the public with information and interpretation which will increase the pleasure they derive from their visits to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.

SCVN is an Arizona non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

Our History

The idea for the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) began in 1977, with the training of a dedicated group of volunteers to provide environmental education activities in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Acting under the umbrella of the United States Forest Service, it formally became a non-profit organization in the summer of 1984, passing its first set of by-laws and publishing its first issue of Gneiss News, a monthly newsletter. With training classes given each year to members of the community who enjoy nature and are trained to interpret the natural history of the Sonoran Desert, its unique riparian area, and the nearby Catalina Mountains, we continue the legacy of these early visionaries.

Click here to download “The Story of SCVN: How It All Began”

Click here to download our “Indigenous Peoples Acknowledgement Statement“

Mailing Address:
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists
5700 N Sabino Canyon Road
Tucson, AZ 85750

Click here to watch a video on YouTube about the United States Forest Service (USFS) 2022 Regional Environmental Educational Network (REEN) Study Tour at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.

SCVN Board Members