Friends of Saguaro National Park

08/13/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Holly Albrecht joined the NextGen Program in 2022, after graduating from the The University of Arizona with a degree in natural resources and working as a Zookeeper at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. As a NextGen, Holly worked in interpretation at Saguaro National Park focusing on environmental education. She educated local students in the classroom and out in the Park about ecology, cultural history, and natural resources. During her internship, Holly received a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation - NEEF to present on the Lost Carnivores Project, an ongoing wildlife camera research study that tracks at risk mammals with declining populations due to habitat loss. Her time spent in environmental education helped her gain the skills and knowledge required to secure her current position as a permanent Lead Park Guide at Saguaro National Park.

07/30/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Freddy Fernandez-Ramirez joined the NextGen Program in 2015, after volunteering at Saguaro National Park. He was part of the first NextGen class gaining experience in Interpretation, Fee Collection and Visitor Services while also working at Food City and attending Pima Community College. Freddy left school to focus on raising a family and pursuing a career with the National Park Service. He has been a Park Guide at Saguaro National Park for the past ten years. His volunteer experience, NextGen Internship and college education prepared him for this role where he leads Interpretive Programs and connects visitors to the Park. Come visit Saguaro National Park's Tucson Mountain District Visitor Center to see Ranger Freddy during his new Sonoran Desert Bingo Program!

07/25/2026

07/16/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Elle Appell joined the NextGen Program in 2022, after finishing a Youth Arizona Conservation Corps season at Saguaro National Park. She started as a NextGen in Resource Management conducting field surveys and data collection on Saguaros. Elle then transferred to Interpretation focusing on Environmental Education and teaching local youth. She developed and facilitated three-day camps at the Park, while leading and assisting in field trips, classroom programs and many STEM nights at schools throughout Tucson. Elle completed her internship in 2024 to pursue her degree in environmental science at Pima Community College and was hired as a Trip Leader for Parks in Focus at the Udall Foundation.

07/06/2026

07/04/2026

"I was born in the summer of 1776. I started life as a minuscule seed, hidden beneath the canopy of a Palo Verde tree that shielded me from the blistering Arizona sun. Out East, a new nation was declaring its independence. But right here, my roots were just taking hold in the soil of the Tucson basin.

I grew roughly an inch a year, watching history unfold without moving an inch: In my youth, I watched the Tohono O'odham farm the river valleys, their laughter drifting on the desert wind as they harvested the bright red Bahidaj (saguaro fruit) of my elders. I watched Spanish soldiers pack mud and straw into adobe bricks to build the Tucson Presidio (1775-1776).

It took me nearly 75 years just to grow my very first arm. By the time I did, the maps were changing, and the land beneath my roots was about to become a part of the United States (The Gadsden Purchase of 1854).

I was over 100 years old when the first iron horses chugged through the valley, bringing new faces, new languages, and a bustling train station to the desert (Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in 1880).

By 1933, I was a towering giant, providing shelter to generations of nesting owls and woodpeckers, when Herbert Hoover recognized the need to protect my home as a National Monument (established March 1, 1933).

In 1962, I was reunited with my relatives as Stewart Udall worked with Juanita Ahil to amend the regulations, allowing the Tohono O’odham to resume their traditional saguaro harvests.

Today, at 250 years old, I am one of the elders of Saguaro National Park.

My stature and my scars hold the memory of droughts, monsoons, and centuries of human footsteps. If my time on this earth has taught me anything, it is that a landscape—just like a nation—is not defined by a single moment or a single voice. America, much like this desert, is a living tapestry built by the resilience of its people and the myriads of unique perspectives, cultures, and stories that have led us to this historic milestone."

Happy 4th of July from some of America’s oldest living witnesses! 🌵

07/02/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Raeshaun Ramon, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, joined the NextGen program in 2022, where he specialized in Community Engagement and Outreach at Saguaro National Park. He focused on outreach services educating the local community about the Sonoran Desert through public events including STEM/Career fairs, Tucson Rodeo Parade, Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson Parade of Lights and many more! Raeshaun completed his internship and is currently working at Saguaro National Park as the first Tohono O'odham member to become a permanent Lead Park Guide in Community Engagement and Outreach! Since joining the National Park Service, he completed his degree at the The University of Arizona in Anthropology with a minor in American Indian Studies in 2026. Raeshaun continues to share his O'odham culture through events within and outside the Park.

06/18/2026

NextGen Spotlight Series: Moriah Urbano, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, joined the NextGen Program in 2024 where she worked in Interpretation at Saguaro National Park focusing on visitor services. She assisted with visitor center operations, interacted with visitors and created engaging public programs. Moriah planned cultural demonstrations including the popular Storytelling Events that had over 150 attendees! Before she joined the NextGen Program, she worked for ADP in their sales department. She completed her internship last year and went on to become a seasonal ranger at Pearl Harbor National Memorial and is currently a seasonal ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park.