Group activities at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain turn participants into chili chefs, glow golfers, astronomers, wine blenders, margarita mixologists and more, with a special opportunity even available for the custom fitting of cowboy boots and hats.

Highlights of the resort’s group activities and teambuilding program include:

Chili, Salsa and Guacamole Challenges
Adorned in aprons, group teams battle it out in a race against the clock to design, create, and present two different creations chosen from Chili, Salsa or Guacamole dishes. This event pairs well with a dinner reception to follow or as a fun afternoon activity. Guests also enjoy the addition of a Margarita Bar to this friendly competition.

Glow Golf
Glow Golf pairs attendees with resort golf pros in a memorable evening of glow putting and chipping challenges for novice and experienced golfers alike. Playing on expansive putting green illuminated by the glow of custom-created putting holes complete with natural hazards, guests use glow golf balls to navigate the lighted holes, and even chip from a driving range towards a flag outlined in glow attire.

Margarita Mixing Class
The adopted cocktail of Arizona is the Margarita, and this activity incorporates Margaritas using the freshest flavors of the Sonoran Desert. Guests learn the difference between styles of tequila, which are harvested from the blue agave, and the importance and ease of using fresh juices to make the perfect Margarita. Guests will learn to make the classic Margarita, along with fruity variations of the traditional Margarita on the rocks.

Hiking Reception
Event members experience a journey into the magnificent Tortolita Mountains and explore areas which the Hohokam Indians inhabited so many years ago. Experienced guides lead guests along National Geographic-mapped desert trails and provide outdoor refreshments as well as colorful commentary.
Options exist for attendees to voyage on foot or via four-wheel drive.

Group Ranch Adventures
Groups can experience the authentic cowboy spirit of the Old West offered by The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in conjunction with The White Stallion Ranch, a century-old working cattle ranch. Guests enjoy daily or sunset horseback, trail and hayrides, and take part in live cattle penning or the Saturday Rodeo -- a 60-year tradition narrated with an eye to the history and tradition of ranching and rodeo in the West. Back at the ranch or underneath the stars, participants then dust off their boots, enjoy hearty cowboy grub, and witness the ever-changing hues of a brilliant mountain sunset in the Southwest.

Yoga Breakfast
Surrounded by majestic mountains, magnificent and rare Saguaro cactus and fresh desert air, guests begin the day with a centering yoga class, led by one of the resort’s certified yoga instructors. In the class, the focus is on stretching, mental relaxation and overall wellness, and a special enhancement is a follow-up, spa-inspired healthy continental breakfast served in a private location exclusively for group guests.

Stargazing Afterglow
Participants will enjoy a visual journey thousands of miles into clear night skies, as knowledgeable astronomers lead a group stargazing session using high-powered telescopes. One of the astronomy capitals of the world, Tucson offers up expansive skies in which to view constellations, planets, stars and the moon. A delicious addition to this activity is a “Stargazing Dessert” station, filled with sky-inspired treats such as Black Hole Brownies, Lemon Moon Pies, Milky Way Cupcakes, Super Nova Chocolate Chip Cookies, Solar Flare Citrus Berry Parfaits and Cosmic Rice Krispies.

Wine Blending Class
Many of the best wines in the world are blends of individual varietals, and participants learn how to distinguish the characteristics of red varietals and how they can be blended to create a better, more complex wine. By the end of the class, guests will be able to create their own signature wine blends to impress friends and family.

Dining under the Stars
A unique evening experience, Dining under the Stars presents a meal in the middle of an infinity-edge pool surrounded by the changing ambient colors of fiber-optic lighting. The evening can be enhanced by special touches such as a solo guitarist, private telescope and dedicated astronomer and a s’mores station set-up poolside.

Geo-Caching
Geo-Caching is a high-tech treasure-hunting game played throughout the world by adventure-seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is for teams to search outdoors and locate hidden containers, called geo-caches, sharing their experiences afterward either online or in a group gathering. Geo-caching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, offering a strong sense of shared community and support for the environment.

Farm-to-Market Cooking Class
Resort chefs provide guests with the tips, tools and training to prepare a regionally-inspired group meal,
with custom logos able to be placed on participants’ aprons. A unique addition is a visit to the local organic farm where many of the resort’s vegetables and herbs are grown. Guests have the opportunity to take a tour of the farm and speak directly to the farmer, learning first-hand what it takes to get a fresh ingredient from seed to table.

Dining in the Desert
Guests tour the high Sonoran Desert in an open air Jeep, enjoying the strikingly beautiful desert plants and wildlife and ending their journey on a perfectly-manicured lawn surrounded by 20-foot high saguaro and other native cactus. A chef will prepare a lunch or dinner buffet for the hungry explorers. Cactus and other desert products can be incorporated into the menu, giving guests a true “taste” of the Sonoran Desert, while a nice enhancement to the meal is a “Desert-Inspired” cocktail, such as the Prickly Pear Margarita.

Efficient group transportation is available from both the Phoenix and Tucson international airports, with a private airfield also located in Marana itself. Please allow 80 minutes to reach the resort by ground from Phoenix (PHX) or 35 minutes to reach the resort from Tucson (TUS).

At The Ritz-Carlton, we have a genuine commitment to be supportive to the community and sensitive to the environment. Our environmental responsibility initiatives deliver an unparalleled guest experience while protecting our natural resources. We are committed to engaging our Ladies and Gentlemen in a comprehensive sustainability strategy, led by our property-based Ritz-Carlton Environmental Action Conservation Teams (REACT). Within our hotels, we are mindful of our impact on the environment by reducing energy and water usage, offering a linen and terry reuse program, implementing recycling initiatives, and utilizing environmentally preferable cleaning products. Our Ladies and Gentlemen are proud to offer organic and local foods and sustainable seafood in our restaurants, organic treatments and products in our spas, paperless billing to guests upon checkout, and continuously seek opportunities to purchase more sustainable products throughout the hotel. Locally, our Ladies and Gentlemen work to better the environment through community projects such as native plant restoration, the protection of endangered species and the creation of community gardens.

VolunTeaming is now offered under The Ritz-Carlton social responsibility program, Community Footprints. Transcending traditional group activities, VolunTeaming combines teambuilding with volunteer activities that create lasting memories for the participants. Recognizing that many groups want their teambuilding time to make a meaningful contribution, these programs enable guests to be a force for good and feel personally connected to the place that they visit.

Community Heritage Farming
The Marana Community Food Bank provides group guests with an opportunity to help diminish hunger in the community. Volunteers are involved in a variety of organic farming activities including planting, harvesting and sorting crops for market, which are donated to the overall Tucson Community to fight hunger in Southern Arizona. Groups will enjoy a great sense of accomplishment and collaboration as they produce high-quality food for the community’s economically challenged.

The Masterpiece Experience
The Diana Madaras Masterpiece Experience provides group attendees the opportunity to create a masterpiece painting while experiencing the joy of the creative process. The unique and highly personalized paintings will be donated to local children's group homes in Tucson or auctioned off to raise money for organizations benefitting children in need. This meaningful, socially responsible activity provides a unique opportunity to work together with a common goal of giving back to the community.

Please contact your meetings and special events professional for details on how VolunTeaming activities can be matched to group.