PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
September 1, 2011

Media Contact:
Kimberly Bowers
760-366-5440
kimberly@mojavedesertlandtrust.org

Learn Valuable Skills as a Volunteer Ranger for Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Monitoring Program!

Learn Valuable Skills as a Volunteer Ranger for Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Monitoring Program!

Join Mojave Desert Land Trust on Saturday, September 24th for the fifth season of Ranger Training for our Land Monitoring Program.  The Training will be held from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Joshua Tree National Park’s Black Rock Nature Center in Yucca Valley, CA. 

We need you!  Volunteers play a central role in the Land Trust’s ability to ensure that donated lands are protected forever.

The land purchased by Mojave Desert Land Trust must be permanently monitored to ensure it remains undisturbed, even after it is donated to the National Park Service or other agency for management.

Volunteer Monitoring is a meaningful way to explore the great outdoors!
One of our Volunteer Rangers, Dan Pennington, had this to say about his experiences “I enjoy being outside, exploring, and going places I wouldn’t normally go. The payback I get from Mojave Desert Land Trust is access to beautiful areas I simply couldn’t go to otherwise.”  

Volunteer Monitoring Ranger Training will include:

• Locating properties in the field using GPS units and topographic maps (veteran Rangers will be offered a GPS refresher course)
• Monitoring properties and maintaining a written and photographic log
• Documenting threats such as illegal use of off-highway vehicles and dumping
• Documenting wildlife sightings for habitat modeling
• Field safety and awareness 

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