Planning for Community Activity 1 commenced in October of 2022. The Education Manager and Principal at Yucca Valley Elementary School corresponded through email to set the best dates for Community Activity 1, Young Stewards Program. The educational goal for the Young Stewards Program, based on Next Generation Science Standards, is to provide students with access to high quality educational materials that they can use to further their understanding of the desert’s unique qualities of great fragility and ecosystem importance. Thus far, we have completed three of the Young Stewards programs listed under Community Activity 1, working with 23 to 60 students each time, for a total of 183 students in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 calendar school years.

The first Community Activity 1, Young Stewards program, took place December 3rd, 2022. Students in grades 3-6 learned about the impact water has as a resource in the desert. They not only learned about its importance for human consumption but also for its role in changing the landscape. Students used water, pipettes, and trays of bare and vegetated soil to look at the effects water has on both types of soil. Students in K-2 learned about the importance of flora for the desert ecosystem. They learned about some of our most iconic species and why we are careful when we venture outside (outdoor ethics). These students dissected flowers to learn more about the interior structures of the flower.

On March 4th, 2023, we hosted the second of the Young Stewards Program, Community Activity 1. Students in K-2 learned about common bird species in our area and how to identify them. We talked about the avian role in the desert and why we want to protect them. Students created their own birdhouses to take home and went birdwatching outside on campus. Students in grades 3-6 learned about the important themes of climate change and sustainability. These students got to make their own bag out of old t-shirts to learn more about what they can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We talked about the importance of taking care of the desert and we discussed local outdoor places where they can go for free and be safe.

On November 4th, 2023, we hosted the third of the Young Stewards Program, Community Activity 1 at Yucca Valley Elementary School. Students were able to learn more about wildlife in the desert and night sky conservation. Students participated in both activities. We discussed tracks and scat and why these are important indicators of habitat health. We also looked at tracks on school campus and made casts of tracks found. Students were able to take home a small track guide for use on their own outdoor adventures. For the second activity we learned why night sky conservation is important and what constitutes light pollution. Students engineered new light shields that can help protect the night sky from light pollution.

Planning for Natural Area Trip 1 began December of 2022. The educational goal for the Amboy Crater Star Parties is to help educate high school students and their chaperones on the importance of environmental conservation, including the dark night sky. Students are also introduced to National Conservation Lands and the unique management opportunities and challenges currently facing the BLM at Mojave Trails National Monument.

On Friday, April 21st, 2023, we organized a Star Party for Yucca Valley High School for the first Natural Area Trip 1. We hosted students and chaperones for a view of the night sky with astronomers from a local club. Students were able to view the cosmos, shooting stars, learned about the value of the dark night, and got to go scorpion hunting.

Planning for Natural Area Trip 2 began in January of 2023. In April 2023, we hosted two Natural Area Activities. The educational goal of this program is to bring students and chaperones to the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and provide students with a chance to explore a riparian zone within the Mojave Desert, to introduce them to public lands that are free to visit, to provide an educational opportunity to learn more about avian species, to share the importance of the preserve, and provide a way for students to connect to a natural area that is close to home base.

The first Natural Area Activity 2 took place at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve which is inside the Sand to Snow National Monument on April 18th. 82 fifth-grade students from Yucca Valley Elementary explored the preserve. Guided by MDLT representatives, teachers, and preserve volunteers, the students observed migrating birds, abundant wildflowers, and ancient geology. Not only was this the first time many had ever been to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve ‑ it was many students’ first hike ever! It was an exciting and educational way for the fifth graders to connect with their local wild lands.

MDLT reached 194 elementary and high school students through our Community Activities and Natural Area Trips. Based on Next Generation Science Standards, we provided students with access to high quality educational materials that they can use to further their understanding of biodiversity and the value of nature to well-being. We measured our impact through self-reporting measures: over 80% of students learned more about the importance of the desert ecosystem.  We worked with community members residing at home base. Many had never been to Whitewater Preserve before and most stated that they planned to return. One participant signed up to be a volunteer with MDLT. Community members learned more about the importance of water in the desert through this program. By holding a Community Campfire Talk in a park in home base, we raised awareness of a range of local natural areas that are accessible to all and delivered educational programming in the vicinity of residents’ homes.

MDLT partnered with 29 Palms Astronomy Club to share ways of observing the night sky through professional astronomy telescopes and provide an interpretive presentation about celestial events and natural and man-made night sky objects. Prior to the star viewing party, MDLT staff provided an interpretive hike about the history, cultural, and geological significance of Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark in Mojave Trails National Monument.

Through working in our home base of Yucca Valley Elementary School we were able to strengthen our partnership with the Principal, Assistant Principal, front office, teachers, and with all the fifth-grade teachers. We have also been able to work more closely with Yucca Valley High School. Bringing both groups together supports collaborative, science-based education for the students.

MDLT partnered with Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve to provide expert educators on the local avian species during the guided hike. Students and chaperones participated in a birding activity, learning how to identify birds and how to continue bird watching from their own backyards.

MDLT and 29 Palms Astronomy Club hosted a stargazing event for Yucca Valley High School at Amboy Crater Natural Landmark. Astronomers taught students how to observe the night sky. Two activities strengthened our partnership with Yucca Valley Elementary School. In the Young Stewards Saturday School, students followed interactive lessons about desert ecology. https://www.mdlt.org/blog/dark-skies-and-fault-lines . In a field trip, MDLT and the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve taught students how to identify birds. https://www.instagram.com/p/C89o8XnpEsM/?img_index=1 In a new partnership with Yucca Valley High School, students did citizen science research in an MDLT preserve. MDLT and Wildlands Conservancy partnered for a community field trip to Whitewater Preserve exploring nature and the role of water in the desert. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8uMKHvszCi/?img_index=1 A Community Campfire Talk about local public lands was supported by a Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.

We found it useful to enlist the support of knowledgeable volunteers and additional staff when leading a large group of young people on a field excursion. Bringing extra group leaders helped provide more one-on-one assistance and information sharing with students.

We were able to overcome a last-minute logistical challenge. The timing of the event coincided with a large music festival and shortly before the event, the bus company cancelled our reservation. We were able to secure another bus, but it needed to come from further away and the cost was higher.

We learned in future to cross-check that events do not conflict with other activities in the wider community and have now built a relationship with a reliable transport company.

We learned that the lesson on night sky conservation is harder for younger students to accomplish on their own. We will be adjusting this lesson for the kindergarten through second grade students during the next Young Stewards activity which is planned for April of 2024.

A field trip to Whitewater Preserve was a popular natural activity. Providing free transport to this unique preserve, an interpretive hike with Spanish translation, and volunteer assistance all ensured the trip was accessible to a wide group of people. MDLT dealt with an unexpected heatwave by providing hydration drinks and snacks and giving an extended safety briefing. MDLT learned how to do extensive outreach to inform residents about a Community Campfire Talk. Promotional materials included flyers and postcards in English and Spanish, an advertisement in the local newspaper, and a media release to the local radio station. We will partner with another organization in future to reach an even wider supporter base. A citizen science project was held on a weekend to avoid impacting high school student learning, however turnout was low. We learned to hold activities during school hours and aim to partner with a biology teacher in future to conduct the project as a field trip.