Field Classes

Desert Institute

Desert Institute Fall 2021 Catalog

Sign Up for Desert Institute Emails

Desert Institute COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Promises

Choosing a Field Class

The Desert Institute offers classes for adult learners in cultural history, natural science, survival skills, desert naturalist studies, women’s programs, citizen science, and creative arts. All programs are taught by expert instructors who provide a personal and enjoyable learning experience on these educational adventures.

Before registering, please take the time to review our General Class Info and download the Enrollment Attachments, that contain pertinent information about your class and Joshua Tree National Park. Please print and fill out the Participant Agreement. You can bring the completed form to the class.

If you are a member of JTNPA you will get a $10 discount off every Desert Institute class. If you are not a member you can become one here.

Eventbrite Registration & Schedule

This season is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Visit 29 Palms. Check out Visit29.org to learn about all the great shops, restaurants, lodging and attractions in Twentynine Palms and start planning your visit.

Fall 2021

"How-To" Courses

Date	Class	Instructor(s)	Outline
March 5 - 6, 2022	“How-To” Navigate with Map & Compass	Misha Askren
April 15 - 17, 2022	Beginning Backpacking for Women in Mission Creek Preserve	Pam Kersey Robin Balch

Natural Science Courses

Date	Class	Instructor(s)
November 20, 2021	Geology of the San Andreas Fault	Ted Reeves
December 4, 2021	Geology & Cultural History of Cottonwood Spring	Ted Reeves
January 7, 2022	CreditCampingGeology and Geomorphology of Death Valley	Alessandro Grippo
January 19, 22, 23, 2022	NewCreditBeginning Bird Banding	Stephen J. Meyers
March 5 - 6, 2022	CreditDesert Invertebrates, Diversity Great and Small A Macro Photography and Microscopy Primer	Paul De Ley
March 12 - 13, 2022	Credit Flora of Joshua Tree National Park	Kurt Leuschner
March 12 - 13, 2022	NewCredit Mosses in Motion: Desert Moss Ecology & Diversity	Theresa Clark
March 19 - 20, 2022	New Geology and Natural History of Anza Borrego State Park	Ted Reeves
March 27, 2022	Credit Wildflower Wanderings	Darrell Shade
April 9 - 10, 2022	Credit Geology of Mojave National Preserve	Ted Reeves
April 24, 2022	Credit Wildflower Wanderings	Darrell Shade
April 30 - May 1, 2022	Credit Birds of Joshua Tree National Park	Kurt Leuschner
April 30 - May 1, 2022	Credit Camping Mammal Tracking in Joshua Tree National Park	Jim Lowery
May 7 - 8, 2022	Credit Birds of the Eastern Mojave: Spring Migration	Kurt Leuschner
May 7 - 8, 2022	Credit Geology of the Marble Mountains	Alessandro Grippo
May 7 - 8, 2022	NewCredit Citizen Science: Phenological Monitoring in Joshua Tree National Park	Monica Gorman
May 20 - 22, 2022	NewCredit Lizards and Snakes of the East Mojave	Jason Wallace

Cultural History Courses

Date	Class	Instructor(s)	Outline
February 25 - 27, 2022	NewCreditThe Art and Science of Flintknapping	Jeanne Binning
March 5, 2022	Art History of the Coachella Valley	Steven Biller

Guided Hikes in JTNP

Date	Class	Instructor(s)	Outline
December 11, 2021	NewHiking in the Shadow of Quail Mountain	Travis Puglisi
December 18, 2021	NewHike the Boundary Lands	Travis Puglisi

Creative Arts Courses

Date	Class	Instructor(s)
December 4, 2021	Winter Light: Photographing Desert Preserves	Craig Fucile
January 29 - 30, 2022	Keys Ranch Nightscape Photography Workshop	Scott Klinger
February 12, 2022	Salton Sea Photography Workshop	Sandi Wheaton
February 18 - 20, 2022	NewPhotographing Soda Springs and the Mojave National Preserve	Craig Fucile
February 26, 2022	Route 66 Photography Workshop	Sandi Wheaton
February 26, 2022	NewCyanotype Processing Workshop	Rose Cefalu
March 5, 2022	Keys Ranch Nightscape Photography Workshop	Scott Klinger
March 12, 2022	Joshua Tree Through the Lens	Craig Fucile
March 18, 2022	Photographing Joshua Tree by Moonlight	Craig Fucile
March 18 - 20, 2022	Mastering Landscape Photography	Ralph Nordstrom
March 27, 2022	Contemporary Art of Joshua Tree	Bernard Leibov Maria Myrick
April 2, 2022	NewCyanotype Processing Workshop	Rose Cefalu
April 9 - 10, 2022	Plein Air Painting Workshop in Joshua Tree National Park	Jessica Schiffman
April 16 - 17, 2022	Capturing Joshua Tree Landscapes with Acrylics Beginning to Intermediate Skill Levels	Janis Commentz
April 16 - 17, 2022	NewDiscovering Color in the Desert Landscape: Creating Vibrant Oil Paintings	Elizabeth Sampson
April 23, 2022	Field Sketching for Non-Artists	Fran Calvert
April 30, 2022	Keys Ranch Nightscape Photography Workshop	Scott Klinger
May 7 - 8, 2022	Night Sky Photography	Dennis Mammana
May 29, 2022	Keys Ranch Nightscape Photography Workshop	Scott Klinger

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel, notify us at least seven days prior to the start of the course and we will process your request minus a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds, transfers, or credits will be granted if cancellation occurs within the seven day period. Please note that we cannot make any exceptions to this refund policy for any reason, including but not limited to medical reasons, illness, travel delays, personal situations, emergencies, or weather. This program depends on registration for its funding. While inconvenient, please understand that this policy enables us to sustain our programs even with last minute cancellations.

Legend

Label	Description
Credit	An academic credit is available from University of California, Riverside Extension. Optional credit courses are marked by the green label. The number of units are listed with each class in the catalog. Credit fees are listed separately from non-credit fees in the catalog.
New	A brand new class that has been added to the current season.
New Format	A class that has been altered into a brand new format.
Full	A class that has reached capacity. Any new registrations will be added to a waiting list.
Camping	A class that includes a camping option
Cancelled	A class that has been cancelled and will no longer take place

Field Classes

Desert Institute

Desert Institute Fall 2021 Catalog

Sign Up for Desert Institute Emails

Desert Institute COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Promises

Choosing a Field Class

Fall 2021

"How-To" Courses

Natural Science Courses

Cultural History Courses

Guided Hikes in JTNP

Creative Arts Courses

Cancellation Policy

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