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2010 News & Upcoming Events
Quail Mountain Project - a fundraising campaign to save 955 Acres
The Mojave Desert Land Trust launched a land acquisition campaign to purchase 955 acres adjacent to Quail Mountain (on the north side boundary of Joshua Tree National Park) This is pristine habitat and a critical wildlife corridor for a diverse population of wildlife including desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, coyote, skunk, badger, birds, and mountain lion. Read the full story
November 20, 2010 - DESERT SPACES: An Evening of Spoken Word at The Indian Wells Theatre, Palm Desert, CA
The Mojave Desert Land Trust Presents
Desert Spaces: An Evening of Spoken Word to Help Save Desert Habitat
Curtain time: 8:00 pm
VIP Reception and Wine Tasting by Dunning Vineyards 6:30 pm
Silent Art Auction of Original Works by Desert Artists.
Indian Wells Theater, Cal State University San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus
37500 Cook Street, Palm Desert, CA
Tickets: $75 and $100 (includes VIP Reception and Wine Tasting)
For tickets, call 760-366-5440.
All proceeds benefit the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a 501 (c)(3) organization. A portion of ticket price is tax deductible.
September 18, 2010 - Launches Season IV of the Land Stewardship Program!
Learn valuable skills as a Volunteer Monitoring Ranger.
The land purchased by the Land Trust must be permanently monitored to ensure it remains undisturbed, even after it is donated to the National Park Service. Monitoring property is one of the fundamental activities a land trust or natural resource management agency can perform. A specialty training and refresher course for volunteers will be provided by the field professionals.
Volunteer Monitoring Ranger Training
September 18th (Saturday) from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at Joshua Tree National Park, Black Rock Nature Center in Yucca Valley, CA.
Volunteers play a central role in the Land Trusts ability to ensure that donated lands are protected forever.
Volunteer Monitoring Ranger Training will include:
- Locating properties in the field using GPS units and topographic maps.
- Monitoring properties and maintain a written and photo log.
- Documenting threats such as illegal use of off-highway vehicles and dumping.
- Document wildlife sightings for habitat modeling.
Volunteer Prerequisites:
- Able to hike an average of 3 miles off trail on moderate desert terrain.
- Have a vehicle to travel to Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve.
- Be comfortable navigating to remote desert properties with a GPS unit, road map, and topographic map.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Interested or any questions please contact MDLT Land Stewardship Coordinator,
Mizuki Seita at 760-366-0542 or email mizseita@gmail.com
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Mojave Desert Land Trust
Land Stewardship Program Schedule Season 2010-2011
September 18, 2010 (Saturday)
Land Stewardship Training at Black Rock Nature Center in Joshua Tree National Park.
October 16, 2010 (Saturday)
Nolina Peak mapping project in Joshua Tree National Park.
November 20, 2010 (Saturday)
Nolina Peak Restoration work in Joshua Tree National Park.
December 11, 2010 (Saturday)
Quail Mountain Cleanup and Restoration Work in Joshua Tree National Park.
January 22, 2011 (Saturday)
Quail Mountain Maintenance Work in Joshua Tree National Park.
February 26 & 27, 2011 (Saturday & Sunday)
Lanfair Restoration Work in Mojave National Preserve.
March 26 & 27, 2011 (Saturday & Sunday)
Lanfair Restoration Work in Mojave National Preserve.
April 23, 2011 (Saturday)
Quail Mountain Maintenance Work in Joshua Tree National Park.
May 21, 2011 (Saturday)
Quail Mountain Maintenance Work in Joshua Tree National Park.
June 18, 2011 (Saturday)
Land Stewardship Appreciation Date.
May 22-23, 2010 - Land Stewards Restauration Event - MNP
The Mojave Desert Land Trust invites you to the Land Stewards/Volunteer Restoration event coming up from May 22nd (Saturday) to 23rd (Sunday) in Mojave National Preserve. This is the last event for the Land Stewardship Season 2009-2010 before we go into summer hiatus. So, come out and learn how to restore desert roads using available materials nearby.
We have an optional overnight camp on the 22nd (Saturday) at the Hole in the Wall Group Campground in Mojave National Preserve. A community stove will provide coffee and warm drinks in the morning and at night. Camping is free of charge.
May 22nd (Saturday) – MDLT staff will be at the campground by 4:00pm. Come join your fellow Land Stewards for a night under the starry sky.
Bring: Sleeping bag, tent (or you can sleep in your vehicle), dinner, mug, plenty of warm clothes, and a warm hat.
The Hole in the Wall Group Campground has a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a large fire pit, potable water, trash containers, and a large open area for camping. The vault toilets are shared with those in the Equestrian Site. There is no collection of wood in the Preserve. You will need to bring your own firewood and kindling.
May 23rd (Sunday) – Restoration work in the Lanfair area.
For Land Stewards/Volunteers commuting in the morning of 23rd, please meet us at the corner of Lanfair Road and Cedar Canyon Road at 9:30am.
Bring: Gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirt, sturdy boots, sunhat, sunglasses, lunch and a snack, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
The restoration work involves use of hand tools to dig holes in the ground, collection of dead vegetation, and planting vertical mulch.
Click here for map & directions
PLEASE RSVP VIA EMAIL mizseita@gmail.com OR PHONE 760-366-0542
May 14-16, 2010 - Joshua Tree Music Festival
JTMF is offering discounted ticket prices to all current (must have a current membership!) Land Trust Members! Discounted price is $10 off regular ticket price! You can order tickets on-line here, or call us at 760-366-5440. Check out the amazing lineup of artists at the JTMF website.
Please support the festival and the Land Trust by attending this great event!
May 13, 2010 - A Spring Celebration!
Please Join Mojave Desert Land Trust for a May Meet-Up at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. MDLT will be discussing local and regional conservation projects happening in your own backyard!
Thursday, May 13th , 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Hi-Desert Nature Museum, 57090 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA
- Food and Special Musical Guests
- Wildlife Presentation given by David McChesney, Photographer
- Official Kickoff: "Here Today, Here Tomorrow" Student Essay Contest, to be co-sponsored with Hi-Desert Publishing.
Please R.S.V.P. by phone at 760-366-5440 or email: leslie@mojavedesertlandtrust.org
April, 2010 - Here Today ... Here Tomorrow
The Mojave Desert Land Trust Student Essay Contest
The Mojave Desert Land Trust is passionate about preserving the desert, so our children and grandchildren may continue to enjoy the scenery, wildlife, clean air and dark skies we treasure so much. With future generations in mind, the Land Trust has created an award that we hope will encourage today's young people to think about the desert's future and what it means to them.
The Here Today, Here Tomorrow Award is a $50 prize for the best essay written by a K-12 student in the Morongo Basin, on the future of the Mojave Desert. The essay may concern any aspect of the desert's future - wildlife, geology, development, energy, water - provided it addresses the spirit of the Land Trust's Mission Statement: To protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values.
Final date for submission: September 24, 2010
Contest Rules:
- The essay must be between 200 and 300 words, and address any aspect of the future of the Mojave Desert. The essay must address the spirit of the Land Trust's Mission Statement: To protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values.
- All K-12 students in the Morongo Basin are eligible, including publice school, private school and home school.
- All essays must be original.
- Essays may be typewritten or handwritten, provided they are legible.
- Final date for submission is Sept. 24, 2010.
- Decision of the judges is final.
- Winning essays will be published in the Hi-Desert Star
Stewardship Calendar:
For those participating, event details will be sent via email prior to each event.
2/20/2010 – Joshua Tree National Park
3/20/2010 – Old Woman Mountains Wilderness Area
4/24/2010 – Mojave National Preserve
5/22/2010 – Mojave National Preserve
6/25/2010 – Mojave Desert Land Trust Volunteers end of the season party.
If you are interested in Land Stewardship Program or have any questions please contact MDLT Stewardship Coordinator, Miz Seita at 760-366-0542 or email mizseita@gmail.com
February through April, 2010 - Eco Hikes!
Discover nature while learning about our cultural history, desert ecosystems, fascinating geology, and rare flora and fauna. Our expert tour guides will take you to our most scenic desert destinations where you will experience the abundant natural beauty that surrounds us.
This is the perfect time of year to experience our mild temperatures, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and the blooming cacti and wildflowers.
Limited spaces available.
More more info and a detailed schedule of hikes click here.
March 12 - Climate Change and the California Desert Conference
The National Parks Conservation Association and Defenders of Wildlife are pleased to announce the Climate Change and the California Desert Conference. The conference is free of charge and will be held on Friday, March 12, 2010 in the Yucca Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center in Yucca Valley, California. The purpose of the conference is to educate citizens, elected officials, students and the staff of land management agencies about how climate change will affect our California desert and Joshua Tree National Park. Sponsors include The Mojave Desert Land Trust, The Living Desert, The Desert Protective Council, The National Park Service , Copper Mountain College, The Sun Runner Magazine and The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council. Registration for the conference will take place at 8:30am and the conference will be from 9:00am-4:30pm. Conference attendees will be given a lunch break to have lunch in Yucca Valley.
The presentations at the Climate Change and the California Desert Conference will examine how climate change will affect the California Desert, but it will also explore how renewable energy initiatives can help protect the resources of our desert while saving businesses and homeowners money. Our featured speakers will include Dr. Debra Hughson, Science Advisor to the Mojave National Preserve, speaking about how climate change will affect the Mojave Desert’s seeps and springs; Dr. Cameron Barrows presenting on the effects of climate change on the desert tortoise; Dr. Lori Hargrove on desert birds and climate change and Jim Ferguson discussing how AB811 can help counties and municipalities offer low interest loans to business and homeowners for energy upgrades like rooftop solar, energy efficient air conditioning and much more!
We are also organizing a climate change art contest and show after the conference at the Hi- Desert Nature Museum, which will draw upon the works of artists from all over the Morongo Valley.
Please RSVP to Seth Shteir, Senior Program Coordinator
National Parks Conservation Association
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
760-366-7785
sshteir@npca.org
DIRECTIONS:
The Conference is being held in the Yucca Room of the Yucca Valley Community Center at 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. For more information about the location, please go to http://www.yucca-valley.org/departments/recreation.html
News Archive... 2009/08
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