Cacti of Joshua Tree National Park: An Ecology Scavenger Hunt (UCRX 1 Unit)
Schedule
Sat May 16 2026 at 08:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree CA | Joshua Tree, CA
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Embark on a quest to see and identify every species of cactus in Joshua Tree National Park! Part field class, part scavenger hunt, this course covers all 15 species of cactus, including where and how to find them, their adaptations, and identifying them. This field class encompasses the Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems in Joshua Tree National Park, beginning at the West Entrance and ending near the South Entrance. Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required. Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Visit recreation.gov or a visitor center to purchase your pass ahead of time. No meals are provided. Desert Institute will provide loupes for observing plant characteristics. Participants caravan in their personal vehicles. Carpooling with other participants is recommended. This class is moderate. It requires less than 5 miles of walking with limited elevation gain on somewhat variable terrain and/or more than one hour outdoors in the elements. Meet Your Instructor! Melanie Davis lives in Joshua Tree and is a lead field botanist at UC Riverside's Center for Conservation Biology in Palm Desert. She has been working in the California deserts since 2017. Her field research brings her to remote corners of the Colorado, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts to study the effects of climate change and human disturbance on desert ecosystems, as well as the distribution of rare native plants. She is also an artist and has published illustrated field guides to several groups of native desert plants. Melanie holds a bachelor’s from The Evergreen State College and the Desert Ecologist and Naturalist certifications from College of the Desert. Equipment list: A minimum of 2 to 3 liters of water, food and snacks, closed-toe athletic shoes or hiking boots — no sandals are permitted, including hiking sandals, sun protection, including hat, sunglasses, sunscreen — light-colored long-sleeved shirts are recommended, daypack to carry equipment and personal items, notebook and writing utensil, full tank of gas prior to arriving at the meeting location, students who complete the UCRX Desert Ecology Certificate Program are eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Students receive digital course badges through Accredible and earn CEUs (hours of instruction) that appear on official transcripts. Transcripts available for purchase through the UCRX website. Photo credit: NPS Carmen Aurrecoechea
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Where is it happening?
6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree CA, 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252-2500, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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