Staff Reports | Community Updates
Scottsdale Community College is celebrating 25 years of biodiversity, conservation, and education through its award-winning Center for Native & Urban Wildlife.
Founded in 2000 as a hands-on learning gateway within the Biology department, CNUW has grown into one of Arizona’s most innovative environmental education programs, serving over 50,000 students and community members since its founding, through outreach, habitat restoration, citizen science, and the on-campus nature center, according to a press release.
To mark this milestone, the college will host a 25th Anniversary Dinner on Friday, Oct. 24, at SCC’s Two Waters Circle, the release states.
The event will celebrate CNUW’s impact and raise support for the next generation of programming across three key initiatives:
•Urban Rewilding – CNUW is helping reshape the Phoenix-metro area by encouraging residents and cities to landscape with native plants. Native species provide critical food, shelter, and nesting materials for wildlife, while also reducing water usage, capturing carbon, and enhancing the beauty and resilience of our urban spaces. By educating the public on how to bring nature back into our neighborhoods, CNUW fosters a deeper connection between people and the ecosystems we share.
•Restoration and Preservation of Natural Habitats – CNUW plays a vital role in restoring Arizona’s fragile desert ecosystems – replanting saguaros after wildfires, helping enhance and preserve habitats along the Verde and Salt Rivers, building habitat for burrowing owls, and supporting the Western Monarch butterfly migration through pollinator gardens and student-led research. These efforts protect at-risk species, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and give students the opportunity to contribute directly to meaningful conservation work.
•Sharing the Beauty and Wonder of Native Wildlife – CNUW’s Nature Center serves as a year-round gateway for environmental education, connecting more than 50,000 K-12 students, college classes, and community members to the rich biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. By creating hands-on experiences with native insects, reptiles, and plants, the center deepens understanding of ecological systems and inspires the next generation of conservationists.
“For 25 years, the Center for Native & Urban Wildlife has shown what’s possible when science, education, and community come together in service of the natural world,” said Dr. John Weser, CNUW executive director and SCC Biology faculty. “We’re proud of what we’ve built, but even more excited about what lies ahead.”
CNUW operates with the support of faculty, student interns, and community partners, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Butterfly Wonderland, and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. The Center offers educational experiences that blend academic research with environmental action, turning SCC’s campus into a living laboratory and model for sustainability.
“CNUW represents the very best of what we strive for at SCC – curiosity, collaboration, and care for our community,” said Dr. Eric Leshinskie, president of Scottsdale Community College. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of the past – it’s an investment in the future of Arizona’s ecological and educational landscape.”
Virginia Korte, honorary co-chair of the CNUW 25th Anniversary Planning Committee, echoes a similar sentiment.
“What makes CNUW so special is its ability to bring people together — students, teachers, neighbors, and scientists — to learn from the land and care for it,” she said. “After 25 years, it’s more than a program — it’s part of our community.”
