Desert Institute

Exploring Nature through Education

The Desert Institute is an education program offering an in-depth exploration of Joshua Tree National Park’s natural wonders along with venues in the Mojave and Colorado deserts of Southern California. Learn from highly qualified instructors who are passionate about sharing their expertise, and committed to providing a personal and fun learning experience. The Desert Institute is sponsored by the Joshua Tree National Park Association, and operates with the full endorsement of the National Park Service. Join us this season for an educational adventure.

 

Upcoming (15)

Birds of the Mojave primary image

Birds of the Mojave

Friday at 16:00

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Landscape Photography Hike primary image

Landscape Photography Hike

Saturday at 09:00

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Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Saturday at 19:15

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Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunday at 08:00

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Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness! primary image

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness!

Fri, May 10, 2:00 PM

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Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris primary image

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris

Sat, May 11, 6:00 PM

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Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert! primary image

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert!

Sun, May 12, 8:00 AM

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Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

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Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

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Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience primary image

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience

Sun, May 19, 12:00 PM

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How-To Identify Animal Burrows primary image

How-To Identify Animal Burrows

Sat, May 25, 9:00 AM

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Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes primary image

Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes

Sun, May 26, 8:00 AM

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Birds of the Mojave primary image

Birds of the Mojave

Friday at 16:00

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Landscape Photography Hike primary image

Landscape Photography Hike

Saturday at 09:00

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Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Saturday at 19:15

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Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunday at 08:00

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Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness! primary image

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness!

Fri, May 10, 2:00 PM

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Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris primary image

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris

Sat, May 11, 6:00 PM

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Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert! primary image

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert!

Sun, May 12, 8:00 AM

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Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

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Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

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Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience primary image

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience

Sun, May 19, 12:00 PM

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How-To Identify Animal Burrows primary image

How-To Identify Animal Burrows

Sat, May 25, 9:00 AM

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Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes primary image

Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes

Sun, May 26, 8:00 AM

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Past (694)

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families primary image

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families

Sun, Apr 28, 9:00 AM

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Fossils of the Marble Mountains primary image

Fossils of the Marble Mountains

Sat, Apr 27, 9:00 AM

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Birds of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Birds of Joshua Tree National Park

Sat, Apr 27, 7:30 AM

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Women's "Get-Away" Weekend primary image

Women's "Get-Away" Weekend

Fri, Apr 26, 3:00 PM

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Desert Ecology Bike Tour primary image

Desert Ecology Bike Tour

Sun, Apr 21, 8:00 AM

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Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Sat, Apr 20, 6:30 PM

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Advanced Bird Banding primary image

Advanced Bird Banding

Sat, Apr 20, 10:00 AM

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Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson primary image

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson

Sun, Apr 14, 12:00 PM

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Coming Outdoors - Mixer primary image

Coming Outdoors - Mixer

Sat, Apr 13, 6:00 PM

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Coming Outdoors primary image

Coming Outdoors

Sat, Apr 13, 4:00 PM

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Spring Flora primary image

Spring Flora

Sat, Apr 13, 8:00 AM

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Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families) primary image

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families)

Fri, Apr 12, 6:00 PM

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Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families primary image

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families

Sun, Apr 28, 9:00 AM

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Fossils of the Marble Mountains primary image

Fossils of the Marble Mountains

Sat, Apr 27, 9:00 AM

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Birds of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Birds of Joshua Tree National Park

Sat, Apr 27, 7:30 AM

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Women's "Get-Away" Weekend primary image

Women's "Get-Away" Weekend

Fri, Apr 26, 3:00 PM

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Desert Ecology Bike Tour primary image

Desert Ecology Bike Tour

Sun, Apr 21, 8:00 AM

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Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Sat, Apr 20, 6:30 PM

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Advanced Bird Banding primary image

Advanced Bird Banding

Sat, Apr 20, 10:00 AM

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Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson primary image

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson

Sun, Apr 14, 12:00 PM

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Coming Outdoors - Mixer primary image

Coming Outdoors - Mixer

Sat, Apr 13, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Coming Outdoors primary image

Coming Outdoors

Sat, Apr 13, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Spring Flora primary image

Spring Flora

Sat, Apr 13, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families) primary image

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families)

Fri, Apr 12, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Exploring Nature through Education

The Desert Institute is an education program offering an in-depth exploration of Joshua Tree National Park’s natural wonders along with venues in the Mojave and Colorado deserts of Southern California. Learn from highly qualified instructors who are passionate about sharing their expertise, and committed to providing a personal and fun learning experience. The Desert Institute is sponsored by the Joshua Tree National Park Association, and operates with the full endorsement of the National Park Service. Join us this season for an educational adventure.

 

Events

Birds of the Mojave primary image

Birds of the Mojave

Friday at 16:00

Check ticket price on event

Landscape Photography Hike primary image

Landscape Photography Hike

Saturday at 09:00

Check ticket price on event

Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Saturday at 19:15

Check ticket price on event

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunday at 08:00

Check ticket price on event

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness! primary image

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness!

Fri, May 10, 2:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris primary image

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris

Sat, May 11, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert! primary image

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert!

Sun, May 12, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience primary image

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience

Sun, May 19, 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

How-To Identify Animal Burrows primary image

How-To Identify Animal Burrows

Sat, May 25, 9:00 AM

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Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes primary image

Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes

Sun, May 26, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Birds of the Mojave primary image

Birds of the Mojave

Friday at 16:00

Check ticket price on event

Landscape Photography Hike primary image

Landscape Photography Hike

Saturday at 09:00

Check ticket price on event

Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Saturday at 19:15

Check ticket price on event

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunday at 08:00

Check ticket price on event

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness! primary image

Hiking 101: Everything you need to know to start walking in the wilderness!

Fri, May 10, 2:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris primary image

Dark Sky Photography with Jon Norris

Sat, May 11, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert! primary image

Ants: The Unsung Heroes of the Desert!

Sun, May 12, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Insects and Arthropods of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave primary image

Lizards and Snakes of the Eastern Mojave

Fri, May 17, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience primary image

Desert Bath: An Immersive Experience

Sun, May 19, 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

How-To Identify Animal Burrows primary image

How-To Identify Animal Burrows

Sat, May 25, 9:00 AM

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Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes primary image

Animal Tracks of Desert Dunes

Sun, May 26, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families primary image

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families

Sun, Apr 28, 9:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Fossils of the Marble Mountains primary image

Fossils of the Marble Mountains

Sat, Apr 27, 9:00 AM

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Birds of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Birds of Joshua Tree National Park

Sat, Apr 27, 7:30 AM

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Women's "Get-Away" Weekend primary image

Women's "Get-Away" Weekend

Fri, Apr 26, 3:00 PM

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Desert Ecology Bike Tour primary image

Desert Ecology Bike Tour

Sun, Apr 21, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Sat, Apr 20, 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Advanced Bird Banding primary image

Advanced Bird Banding

Sat, Apr 20, 10:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson primary image

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson

Sun, Apr 14, 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Coming Outdoors - Mixer primary image

Coming Outdoors - Mixer

Sat, Apr 13, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Coming Outdoors primary image

Coming Outdoors

Sat, Apr 13, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Spring Flora primary image

Spring Flora

Sat, Apr 13, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families) primary image

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families)

Fri, Apr 12, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families primary image

Desert Explorer 101 for Youth & Families

Sun, Apr 28, 9:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Fossils of the Marble Mountains primary image

Fossils of the Marble Mountains

Sat, Apr 27, 9:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Birds of Joshua Tree National Park primary image

Birds of Joshua Tree National Park

Sat, Apr 27, 7:30 AM

Check ticket price on event

Women's "Get-Away" Weekend primary image

Women's "Get-Away" Weekend

Fri, Apr 26, 3:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Ecology Bike Tour primary image

Desert Ecology Bike Tour

Sun, Apr 21, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Barker Dam Sunset Hike primary image

Barker Dam Sunset Hike

Sat, Apr 20, 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Advanced Bird Banding primary image

Advanced Bird Banding

Sat, Apr 20, 10:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson primary image

Landscapes of the Soul: Writers Workshop with Cindi Anderson

Sun, Apr 14, 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Coming Outdoors - Mixer primary image

Coming Outdoors - Mixer

Sat, Apr 13, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Coming Outdoors primary image

Coming Outdoors

Sat, Apr 13, 4:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Spring Flora primary image

Spring Flora

Sat, Apr 13, 8:00 AM

Check ticket price on event

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families) primary image

Desert Arts and Crafts (for Youth & Families)

Fri, Apr 12, 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

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