Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute

SASI is a private not-for-profit environmental and science education institution founded by Steve Prchal, Director Emeritus, in 1986. With an annual budget of about $100,000 derived from membership dues and contributions, grants, and program fees, SASI maintains a regional, national and international membership of about 600 and relies heavily upon volunteer involvement. We invite you to explore SASI on these pages and to learn more about our activities. Our goal is conservation — through field research, publications and educational programs. We hope you like what you see and are inspired to lend your support. SASI is located within Pima County's 18,422 acre Tucson Mountain Park. Our neighbors within the Park are Old Tucson Studios, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Gilbert Ray Campgrounds. Tucson Mountain Park adjoins the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, adding another 24,000 acres of protected Upper Sonoran Desert surrounding the Institute. SASI's 350 acre site (formerly Brent Orcutt's Westward Ho Ranch) is used to conduct biological research on native arthropods. The remodeled caretaker's house functions as a classroom, laboratory and library. SASI's collections focus on the Sonoran Desert region and include living and preserved arthropods and 35mm transparencies of this biologically rich area. SASI also maintains small collections of arthropod fossils, cultural items and postage stamps. The original homestead is used for SASI's offices and living quarters for the Resident caretaker and visiting researchers. SASI routinely offers a variety of educational field trips, workshops and seminars for its membership and the general public, both on-site and around southern Arizona. SASI also annually hosts and organizes (since its inception in 1993) the Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference, a gathering of zoo, aquarium, museum, and education professionals and other interested persons sharing their programs and accomplishments in invertebrate husbandry, conservation, exhibition, and interpretation.