Support Youth Outdoor Education

Almost daily, we hear news that highlights the uncertainty of our planet’s ecological future. From these reports one can quickly conclude that there is a serious global ecological crisis looming on the horizon. Much can be done to help change our future path, but it’s clear there is no better cause than supporting efforts to educate youth about the natural world, and by doing so inspire them to take action.

It’s been widely acknowledged that providing youth outdoor ecological education can increase self-confidence and encourage young people to become actively engaged in society. By building self-esteem, personal knowledge, and 21st-century skills its clear we can inspire youth to live healthier, positive, more sustainable and socially engaged lives.

In response, as a newly established charitable 501(c)(3) organization, JTREE is taking action to sustainably provide outdoor residential multi-day youth science-based education experiences. Today, there is currently no permanent, multiday, youth-oriented outdoor education program located in the entire, 20-plus million-acre California Desert region. It is envisioned that JTREE will serve more than 4,000 youth per year and focus on serving a diverse student body that otherwise might not have the opportunity to participate in such a program.

Joshua Tree NP, together with the entire California Desert, is one of the most unique, scenic, intact and threatened ecoregions in the United States. A focus of the JTREE program is to encourage youth to become the next generation of ecological stewards and leaders, and to help increase awareness about the ecological significance, changes, threats and challenges facing the desert.

To make JTREE’s educational programs a reality we desperately need your support. Please join JTREE in making youth outdoor education experiences a reality by contributing today.