Phil Bentley, president of the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists, shows off the organization's kiosk bulletin board at the canyon's visitor center. The group has more than 150 members.

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When Phil Bentley wants to walk, hike or bike in a lush oasis — or just sit alongside a stream — he heads for Sabino Canyon.

And when Bentley wants to volunteer, he joins more than 150 other Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists who celebrate the distinctive environment of the canyon, considered a hallmark of the Old Pueblo.

"Water in the desert is just very special, and I think it holds an attraction for everyone who comes to the canyon," said Bentley, the group's president.

"This is an intimate little stream, and that makes it very special. It is not the Grand Canyon or the Salt River that Phoenix may enjoy, but it is a beautiful spot in a confined, intimate area and a unique part of the Sonoran Desert, which itself is unique among deserts across the country and throughout the world."

Sharing that distinctiveness with children and adults through environmental education is the primary mission of the Volunteer Naturalists, a nonprofit organization that contracts with the U.S. Forest Service in conjunction with the Santa Catalina Ranger District.

Volunteers provide a wide range of instructive and interpretive activities — including bird and wildflower walks, and creek-side panning for garnets — for visitors to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. They also lead summertime hikes on Mount Lemmon.

In addition, each year the group offers a series of on-site programs to as many as 10,000 local children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The programs range from the study of the Hohokam, highlighted by activities such as making jewelry from shells, to "Critters in the Creek," which gives students the chance to capture, examine and release water creatures.

In preparation, volunteers undergo a 15-week training program covering topics ranging from geography and geology to archaeology, ornithology and botany. Instruction is provided by professors from the University of Arizona, employees of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and other local environmental professionals.

Overall, the services are designed to inspire public appreciation and respect for the riparian area, Bentley said. The retired pilot, whose career with the Air Force and American Airlines spanned 40 years, has been involved with the group since 1988. He said the changes in Sabino Canyon's topography due to fire and floods over the past four years are a testament to the timeless beauty and power of nature.

"Lots of things have changed, but that's what Mother Nature is all about; it's not going to stay constant," he said. "The canyon is a haven for wildlife, birds and plants, and a fun place for people. Part of what makes Tucson Tucson is the association with Sabino Canyon, as well as the Catalina Mountains that people enjoyed hundreds of years ago and that we still enjoy today."

Volunteer Susan Ferguson has found that involvement has enhanced her appreciation of the high desert. After relocating to Tucson from Phoenix four years ago, she also has found the diverse group of volunteers to be a significant source of social support.

"From my perspective, I have a background in biology, but my work life took me in a totally different direction," she said. "I thought this offered me a chance to combine two of my first loves: biology and teaching children about the environment. It has been an excellent experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the environment here in Tucson."