Upcoming events.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our social media channels to be among the first to receive details about our annual native plant sale and other community events.

MDLT’s Joshua Tree office is open 10am-4pm Monday-Thursday.

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 101
Apr
8

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 101

Ready to learn how to become more involved in speaking up for the environment? The Mojave Desert Land Trust offers free virtual advocacy training sessions that equip our communities with the tools to become advocates for public lands.  Participants are trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. By completion, participants will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to attend their first advocacy meeting. 

Sessions are divided into Advocacy 101 and 102 segments, each an hour long. Advocacy 101 features a beginner’s introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 dives into the specific issues threatening our local public lands and gives you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are brand new to advocacy. New sessions will be added on a monthly basis. 

Our public lands faced unprecedented threats in the past year, but our communities have pushed back and seen major victories, like the defeat of several public lands sell-off attempts and the designation of the new Chuckwalla National Monument. These achievements came down to the passion and dedicated efforts of people like you making your voices heard. With more challenges expected ahead, now more than ever our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register here.

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LA Climate Week Green Jobs Pavilion
Apr
11

LA Climate Week Green Jobs Pavilion

MDLT is proud to be taking part in the Green Jobs Pavilion as part of LA Climate Week. Come along and learn about our conservation and climate work and hear from an exciting line-up of speakers.

Green Jobs Pavilion 2026 comes to LA this Earth Month for a 1-Day Summit on Saturday April 11, 2026 that serves as a nexus for innovation, education, diversity, and collaboration to reshape the future of the green economy. This will be a space to connect job seekers with environmentally and socially responsible employers. Participants will leave with tools, information, and connections to support their professional development and career journeys.

The event takes places at Mi Alma Gardens.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Register here.

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Are the Mojave's dark night skies getting brighter?
Apr
17

Are the Mojave's dark night skies getting brighter?

Dark night skies are dwindling, but we can all be part of the solution. Join us for an interactive evening exploring night skies, biodiversity, and community science. Hear about the latest research into light pollution and the darkest night skies in the Mojave in a presentation by Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) interns. The team will share their findings and adventures while working in Mojave Trails National Monument over 6 months.  Learn how to get involved in recording the nature you see for community science projects with Wildlife Biologist Chris Otahal and then take part in a nocturnal bioblitz. Enjoy s'mores by a campfire and then explore night sky constellations with a National Park Service ranger.

The event takes place at the Mojave Desert Land Trust's headquarters in Joshua Tree, CA. All ages and knowledge levels welcome! This event is wheelchair accessible with concrete and compact dirt surfaces.

Please RSVP here.

The WISDOM program is supported by the Conservation Lands Foundation. Learn more about the work being done to track dark night skies by reading our blog.

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Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 102
Apr
22

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 102

Ready to learn how to become more involved in speaking up for the environment? The Mojave Desert Land Trust offers free virtual advocacy training sessions that equip our communities with the tools to become advocates for public lands.  Participants are trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. By completion, participants will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to attend their first advocacy meeting. 

Sessions are divided into Advocacy 101 and 102 segments, each an hour long. Advocacy 101 features a beginner’s introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 dives into the specific issues threatening our local public lands and gives you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are brand new to advocacy. New sessions will be added on a monthly basis.

Our public lands faced unprecedented threats in the past year, but our communities have pushed back and seen major victories, like the defeat of several public lands sell-off attempts and the designation of the new Chuckwalla National Monument. These achievements came down to the passion and dedicated efforts of people like you making your voices heard. With more challenges expected ahead, now more than ever our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register here.

View Event →

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 102
Mar
31

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 102

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is offering free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges ahead, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register for this training here.

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New volunteer training
Mar
26

New volunteer training

On March 26, MDLT will host a training for new volunteers beginning at 11am. During this training, new volunteers will learn more about MDLT, meet our staff, and jump right into volunteer projects like land stewardship, seed cleaning, or working in our native plant nursery. Afterwards, join us for a group hike on one of MDLT's preserves. We hope to see you there!

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Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 101
Mar
25

Free virtual training: Public Lands Advocacy 101

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is offering free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges ahead, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register for the training here.

View Event →
Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 102
Feb
25

Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 102

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is joining with partners to offer free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges expected in 2026, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register for Public lands advocacy 102 here.

View Event →
Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy  101
Feb
17

Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 101

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is joining with partners to offer free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges expected in 2026, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register for Public lands advocacy 101 here.

View Event →
Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 102
Feb
10

Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 102

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is joining with partners to offer free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges expected in 2026, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register for Public lands advocacy 102 here.

View Event →
Feb
3

Free virtual training: Public lands advocacy 101

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is joining with partners to offer free virtual advocacy training sessions that will equip our communities with the tools to be advocates for public lands.  Participants will be trained in the basics of advocacy, receive an overview of public lands policy, and learn how to meet with an elected official or other decision-maker. Sessions are divided into two segments. Advocacy 101 is an introduction to advocacy and policy while Advocacy 102 will dive into the issues threatening local public lands and give you the opportunity to hone your skills in a mock congressional meeting. We recommend attending both segments if you are new to advocacy. Public lands came under unprecedented threats in 2025, but our communities pushed back and saw major victories. These achievements came down to the dedicated efforts of people like you. With more challenges expected in 2026, our public lands need champions to sway decision-makers and ensure their protection in perpetuity. 

Register here for Public lands advocacy 101.

View Event →
New volunteer training
Jan
22

New volunteer training

On January 22, MDLT will host a a training for new volunteers beginning at 9am. During this training, new volunteers will learn more about MDLT, meet our staff, and jump right into volunteer projects like land stewardship, seed cleaning, or working in our native plant nursery. We hope to see you there!

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Support MDLT at The Last Bookstore
Dec
17

Support MDLT at The Last Bookstore

Step into the strange and shimmering world of the Mojave Desert, from the remarkable, tangled history of the Joshua tree to the fierce beauty of our most overlooked public lands. Gather for a special reading and conversation with the authors of Yuck and The Enduring Wild, two books that explore this landscape in all its complexity.

Plus: free beer, signed books, and limited-edition desert posters and tote bags! 50% of sales will support the Mojave Desert Land Trust and their vital conservation work across the California desert.

Reviewers have called Yuck “an apocalyptic joyride… concise and mystic… a prismatic collage as twisted and weird and ominous and beautiful as the Joshua tree itself…”

and The Enduring Wild “spectacular and striking… a breathtaking tribute to California’s unseen ‘leftover lands’… a clarion call to safeguarding them for future generations."

📍 The Last Bookstore – Studio City (@lastbookstorestudiocity)

📅 December 17, 6:30pm

🎙️ Moderated by journalist Dana Covit

📚 Featuring Barret Baumgart, author of Yuck, and Josh Jackson, author of The Enduring Wild

✨ No RSVP required

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Celebrating California’s National Conservation Lands
Nov
15

Celebrating California’s National Conservation Lands

Join the Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network for a fun-filled family celebration honoring 25 years of protecting America’s most treasured public lands and waterways at Covered Wagon Tours! Click here for more information and to RSVP.

🎉 Event Highlights Include:

  • 🎶 Music from local performers

  • 🍔 Food Vendors offering delicious bites and refreshments

  • 🎯 Games & Activities for the whole family

  • 🏜️ Interactive experiences showcasing the Friends Grassroot Network and the beauty and impact of the National Conservation Lands

Together, we’ll celebrate the incredible progress made over the past quarter-century, the passionate community behind it, and look ahead to a bold future of conservation, stewardship, and advocacy.

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Annual native plant sale
Oct
25

Annual native plant sale

The Mojave Desert Land Trust is holding its in-demand native plant sale on October 25, 2025. Several thousand plants will be on sale, representing over 85 species.

The full inventory of plants and a comprehensive FAQ will be shared with the public in mid-October.

There will be around 5 new species this year. There are several native grasses, including desert needlegrass (Stipa speciosa) and desert fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella), in addition to the returning favorite, big galleta grass (Hilaria rigida). Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) is also a new species this year and we are bringing back the majestic California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera).  

This year, there are ample quantities of pollinator plants. For those looking to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to their yards, there will be plenty of eastern California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium), bladderpod (Cleomella arborea), and paperbag bush (Scutellaria mexicana). Mojave aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia) and rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata) among other pollinator and supporter favorites. 

Entry to the sale will be staggered to ensure safety for all visitors and improve customer experience. Come prepared: Bring a hat, a book to read, a chair, and a friend to join you! Water will be supplied. Read our FAQs to learn what’s new for 2025.

MDLT has prepared a planting guide that can be downloaded to help plan ahead. Please note the sale will be cashless this year but all major credit cards will be accepted (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Union Pay, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay). Checks will also be accepted.

Sign up for our newsletter to be among the first to receive updates about this year’s event.

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Campfire Talk: How WISDOM studies Biodiversity in the Mojave Desert
Sep
23

Campfire Talk: How WISDOM studies Biodiversity in the Mojave Desert

What lives in the desert? You would be surprised! For the last six months, a team of three WISDOM (Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave) interns have been studying life in Afton Canyon, one of the few places where the Mojave River flows above ground. On September 23 from 6:30-8:30pm, the team will be sharing their findings and adventures in desert field work at Mojave Desert Land Trust's headquarters in Joshua Tree, CA. Enjoy s'mores by a campfire and stick around after the presentation to become a community scientist, observe nocturnal animals and insects, and take part in a night time "Bio Blitz" in the Mojave Desert Discovery Garden. All ages and knowledge levels welcome!

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Palisades Ranch clean-up with Force of Nature
Jun
6

Palisades Ranch clean-up with Force of Nature

Veterans and active-duty servicemembers are invited to a special stewardship event at MDLT’s Palisades Ranch, near Helendale, CA. As one of the few places where the Mojave River flows above ground for most of the year, it provides rich habitat for rare and endangered species. Join us for a morning clean-up on Friday June 6, starting at 8am. Lunch will be provided and after the clean-up, volunteers will have a chance to tour the rest of the preserve. Email mackenzie@mdlt.org if you are interested in joining us!   

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FREE First aid/CPR class
Jun
5

FREE First aid/CPR class

Thursday June 5, 1pm-4pm – FREE First Aid/CPR class 

This is a hybrid class. Students will need to commit to approximately 3 hours of online pre-course work before the in-person session. Email mackenzie@mdlt.org to RSVP or for more information.  

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Force of Nature hike
May
31

Force of Nature hike

Veterans and active-duty military are invited to attend a nature hike at the Nancy Karl Trail in Joshua Tree followed by breakfast at MDLT HQ and a special presentation about the military heritage of our desert national monuments. This event is brought to you by Mil-Tree and MDLT as part of the Force of Nature program and is made possible through the Veterans and Nature Grant Program, from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. Please RSVP here

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