Spend a day in the field with MDLT’s WISDOM interns
Experience a day in the life of a Mojave Desert Land Trust WISDOM intern as they head into the field to gather data on bumblebees and tamarisk beetles within Mojave Trails National Monument.
Surveys show biodiversity in Mojave springs
In 2023 and 2024, interns with the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave program (WISDOM) conducted a biological survey of four springs in Mojave Trails National Monument. Their findings help demonstrate the importance of protecting these natural water sources for the future.
The future is bright: let’s turn the lights down
Miles away from the light pollution from Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Amboy Crater – with its clean restrooms, shade structures, and paved walkways – is one of the most accessible places in the Mojave to experience epic darkness. For the second consecutive year, the Mojave Desert Land Trust partnered with 29 Palms Astronomy Club to bring the wonder of the cosmos to students of Yucca Valley High School. The excitement was palpable from the moment students stepped off the bus into the Amboy Crater parking lot in Mojave Trails National Monument.
Lending a hand to repair a unique riparian habitat
The Earth Day collaboration between the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Four Wheel Campers, Truma North America, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought together outdoor enthusiasts from different corners of the west to help restore the unique riparian ecosystem at MDLT’s Palisades Ranch property near Victorville.
"Unmetered time": An interview with artist and educator Conni McKenzie
For multi-disciplinary artist and educator Conni McKenzie, the Mojave Desert inspired feelings of community and helped process climate anxiety by reconnecting to nature. This spring, Conni brought her immersive experiences to local elementary students and adults alike through partnership with Mojave Desert Land Trust, and performed her piece “Borrowed” through BoxoPROJECTS at Black Rock Nature Center in Joshua Tree National Park.
In honor of BIPOC Mental Health Month, we spoke with Conni about dance, the importance of community, and the concept of ‘unmetered time’.
Dark skies and fault lines: Interactive education in the Mojave Desert
Experiential learning is central to the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Desert Discovery Field Studies program. With screen time increasing and digital media constantly vying for our attention, providing opportunities for real-world, hands-on education is crucial. When students investigate and share their discoveries with others, they learn faster, understand better, and retain information for longer.
Joshua trees need bold action. So do we.
If you are reading these words, you probably have a relationship with Joshua trees. Some of you grew up among them and know them as family. Some of you moved to the desert later in life, at least in part, because of them. Or maybe some of you have never seen one in real life, and you hope to make your way to the Mojave to see their spiny branches warmed by the hot sun.