NATURE SANCTUARY

A VERY UNIQUE  ECOLOGICAL & CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE!

Vincent Pinto has been a passionate and dedicated Conservationist since the mid 1980’s, committed to Environmental Education and Earth Stewardship in the majestic Sky Islands region of southeast Arizona via his Ravens-Way Wild Journeys LLC.  Vincent’s Mission – a hands-on and action-oriented approach – to help preserve the unique Biodiversity in Arizona’s renowned Sky Islands begun in 1987 at Raven’s Mountain Nature Sanctuary .

Since March 18, 2008 Vincent and his wife Claudia have focused on protecting and preserving the unique biodiversity at their 42-acre Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary.  In homage to the land’s strategic location,  their unwavering goal has been reflected daily in their Ecological Restoration  , protecting the precious natural resources, thereby benefiting varied habitats and helping to conserve water in one of the world’s most vital biodiversity hotspots.  Vincent’s passion and knowledge – born via decades of hands-on field experience – are reflected in every direct action taken at Raven’s Nest.  Over the years the transformation of the land has been profound, giving true meaning to the term Nature Sanctuary. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO  SKY ISLANDS BIODIVERSITY

Since March 2008, the main impetus for creating Raven’s Nest  has been two-fold:

1.  To honor the inmense privilege of being the stewards of 42-acres of land in such a world-class  biodiversity hotspot.   Therefore, the founding principles of our Nature Sanctuary include the ongoing protection and preservation of every square inch of land, and all of it’s magnificent species via focused Conservation Strategies, and relentless Ecological Restoration .  Our impetus for creating the  Sky Islands Discovery Center  is to pay tribute and learn about such unique biodiversity.

1. To be able to enjoy a very direct and intimate interface with Nature – amidst the diverse seasons  – including the spectacular Monsoon season, while discovering and interacting with the Sky Islands flora, fauna, and fungi.  Therefore, at Raven’s Nest it’s a perpetual exploration and celebration of the  renowned biodiversity,  all-the-while contributing to the protection of the environment and the health of all the valuable habitats at the Nature Sanctuary. Hence, the 6 miles of groomed Nature Trails and the Sky Islands Safari Camp.

   

RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM

From day one, the focused ecological strategy had multiple critical facets. A key priority upon arrival on March 18, 2008 was to install a large-capacity Rainwater Harvesting System on the lower part of the preserve  and nearby the Sky Islands Discovery Center.   Determined to collect the first rain, and knowing that there were only 3 months before the start of the Monsoon season, the hard work began in earnest. The main objective was to collect water from the 2,000-square-foot metal roof atop the Sky Islands Discovery Center, piping it underground all the way to “Dragon Pond” which we created for the system.  From the pond rainwater is then pumped into the cisterns to be stored.  Through much hard work and the investment in 2 robust metal cisterns – each holding 10,000 gallons – we have been able to fill our active 20,000-gallon system, which in turn waters our native landscaping and fills our Wildlife Ponds.  

GREEN BUILDING PRINCIPLES AT RAVEN’S NEST

Since our arrival in March 2008, we committed to only Green Building Projects throughout our Nature Sanctuary .  Therefore,  every single new project Claudia designed has been both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout – from siting, to design, construction, and maintenance.  In addition, Vincent led the Green Building effort as the Environmental & Conservation Consultant – determined to preserve every single plant and thus forcing Claudia’s designs to contour around – to have the least impact on the land.

Highlights of our Green Building Projects include:

• Sky Islands Safari Camp

• Rainwater Harvesting Systems

• Sky Islands Discovery Center

• While designing all the new infrastructure, Claudia carefully chose only Eco-friendly and sustainable resilient building materials – rock, flagstone, recycled metal, reclaimed wood, clay, straw, grasses – to build with local artisans following her designs custom made solutions

• To further conserve water, every sink and shower at Safari Camp and Main Camp was built following Graywater System principles.  Used water benefits native plants, which in turn support biodiversity and even food production in our Organic Orchards & Organic Edible Gardens

• 6 State-of-the-art stainless steel Incinerator Toilets

• All Fans are energy-efficient  and there is no waste with air-conditioning

• All Portable Heaters are energy-efficient

• Energy-efficient lighting throughout Raven’s Nest

• Passive Rainwater Harvesting via earthen structures

• Close off all vehicular access to the Sky Islands Discovery Center

ECO-BATHROOMS TO BENEFIT NATURE 

VIA GRAYWATER SYSTEMS

Passionate about water conservation and reuse, Claudia & Vincent committed to a Graywater System to reuse the water from all the Indoor & Outdoor Showers and Sinks. Therefore, they are all set up for recycling the use water into an effective Irrigation System which allows the efficient reuse of all water for the benefit of all the surrounding trees, plants, wildlife ponds, and landscape at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary

• Only Graywater Sinks and Showers at the Sky Islands Safari Camp
• 4 hot Indoor Graywater showers at Nighthawk Nook 
• 10 Graywater Sinks at Main Camp