Outdoor Desert Education Program in Joshua Tree National Park

We believe in creating a healthy and sustainable future for today’s youth. The Joshua Tree Residential Outdoor Education Experience is an investment in today’s youth to help inspire a new, diverse generation of ecological stewards for the California desert, our national parks and our increasingly changing planet.

When many people hear the words southern California, it evokes an image of crowded cities and sprawling freeways. Yet there is a different California- the Mojave Desert- with stunning vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see, rocky peaks and forests of magnificent Joshua trees. Here, in special places like Joshua Tree National Park, it’s still possible to observe bighorn sheep silhouetted against the mountains, hear the descending trill of the canyon wren and smell the rich aroma of creosote after a summer rain shower.

That’s why we’ve selected a location for the Joshua Tree Residential Education Experience campus in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park – a biologically diverse gem with a rich cultural history and outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation. The park spans the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts and is home to a unique variety of plants and animals. Native American Tribes, as well as homesteaders, miners and ranchers traversed the park throughout the ages, leaving behind petroglyphs, mines, abandoned cabins and many stories.

Our program will utilize Joshua Tree National Park as a living, outdoor classroom that will host students from around the nation to learn about desert ecology, history, Native American culture and outdoor recreation with an emphasis on hands-on, active learning. When students experience the magic of the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park, it will not only increase their scientific literacy, but also instill a sense of wonder and desire to protect this special place for future generations.