We get by with a little help from our friends
We get by with a little help from our friends – AmeriCorps, that is. Twice in 2023, AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC teams) assisted the Mojave Desert Land Trust with crucial habitat restoration and construction projects for our plant conservation department. Under wide desert skies, the volunteers – some fresh out of high school – aided some of MDLT’s most vital projects and properties, ranging from the remote Desert Springs in Kern County to our very own front door in Joshua Tree.
Data provides rare insights into Mojave summer birds, bees
New data collected by interns offers rare insights into the summer bird populations at two oases in the Mojave Desert. Interns with the Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) program visited Arrowweed and Bonanza springs over a six-month period to study birds and bumble bees. The community science data collected by the interns is the first of its kind at these two oases.
Understanding a Mojave Desert oasis
Bonanza Spring is the largest freshwater spring in the southeastern Mojave Desert. From its 2,105 feet elevation in the low foothills of the Clipper Mountains, the spring’s freshwater is derived from a groundwater basin source. Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) interns studied avian and bumble bee populations at Bonanza Spring in Mojave Trails National Monument between September 2022 and February 2023. This article explores the spring’s flora and fauna, and data collected by the interns.
Nature’s healing paths: A conversation with Travis Puglisi
Not all who wander are lost. In our third blog post honoring Mental Health Awareness Month, we speak with Travis Puglisi, owner and operator of Wandering Mojave Hiking Services. A resident of the desert for over 20 years and longtime supporter of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Travis is also a strong advocate for mental health awareness. We talked about the positive effects of hiking, mental health, and the challenges of desert life.
Interview: Social worker Melissa Grisi on cultivating a relationship with nature
To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, we spoke with high desert therapist Melissa Grisi. A licensed social worker for twenty years, Melissa integrates a range of psychotherapeutic methods into practice, including connecting with nature. Melissa talked about the importance of getting outdoors and cultivating a relationship with nature for one’s mental health.
Overcoming barriers to nature
Connecting to the outdoors can have a profoundly positive, lifelong effect on wellbeing, individually and communally. One way MDLT fosters this dynamic is through educational events. MDLT continually conducts field trips, hikes, and lectures for K-12 students of the Morongo Basin to forge a deeper connection between people and place. From a Star Party in Mojave Trails National Monument, to a walk through our Mojave Desert Discovery Garden, to an exploratory birdwatching hike through Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, 2023 has been a year of outdoor educational firsts for many area students.
Anatomy of a superbloom
A superbloom is loosely defined as a rare occurrence in which an abundance of desert wildflowers blossom at the same time. They rely on many unpredictable factors in order to come alive, a wet winter being just one contributor to this incredible botanical event. Learn what sets the stage for superblooms and how to witness this phenomenon responsibly.