Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park February classes

Classes:

February 13 & 14, 2009 Basic Map & Compass

Twentynine Palms, CA – Do you want the confidence to explore the desert and not get lost? Outdoor guide, Karl VonHalle will teach participants how to navigate the desert landscape using a map and compass in this two-day hands-on field class in Joshua Tree National Park.

Date/Time: Friday, February 13, 6 pm – 8:30 pm

Saturday, February 14, 8 am – 4:30 pm

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center

74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA

Fee: $75 ($65 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Karl VonHalle, Outdoor Guide


February 14, 2009 Mining History of Joshua Tree National Park

Twentynine Palms, CA Discover the captivating mining history and the unique geology that created the landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. Margaret Eggers, Ph.D. and editor of Mining History and Geology of Joshua Tree National Park, will explain the natural processes behind the unique Joshua Tree landscapes and discuss how gold ore was mined and refined in the area.

Date/Time: Saturday, February 14, 9 am – 5 pm

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center, 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA

Fee: $60 ($50 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Margaret Eggers, Ph.D., Author, Editor of Mining History & Geology of JTNP


February 15, 2009 Advanced Map & Compass

Joshua Tree National Park, CA – Hone your route finding ability with this advanced map and compass field class. During this all-day desert adventure you will travel approximately 8 miles; prerequisite Map & Compass Basic Skills or prior map and compass abilities, call if you have any questions.

Date/Time: Sunday, February 15, 8:30 am – 5 pm

Meet at: Quail Springs Picnic Area, Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Fee: $60 ($50 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Karl VonHalle, Outdoor Guide


February 15, 2009 Explore Ruby Lee Well

Twentynine Palms, CA Discover a part of Joshua Tree National Park’s rich mining history in this all-day field class. Desert naturalist and outdoor guide Mark Wheeler will discuss the importance of interior Colorado Desert ecology, Hexie Mountain geology, wash ecosystems, and the cultural history of Ruby Lee Well and Mill during the twelve mile round trip walk to Ruby Lee Well.

Date/Time: Sunday, February 15, 8 am – afternoon

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center,

74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA

Fee: $50 ($40 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Mark Wheeler, M.S., Education Desert Naturalist, Outdoor Guide


February 20 & 21, 2009 Tracking in Joshua Tree National Park

Almost Full!

Twentynine Palms, CA Investigate and learn about the natural world in this two day tracking field class. Jim Lowery, primitive skills teacher and author of The Trackers Field Guide, will explain how to read the signs and tracks that create natural stories on the desert landscape.

Date/Time: Friday, February 20, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Saturday, February 21, 8 am – 4 pm

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center

74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA

Fee: $75 ($65 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Jim Lowery, Primitive Skills Teacher, Author of The Trackers Field Guide


February 21 & 22, 2009 Geology & Paleontology of the Pinto Basin

Twentynine Palms, CA – Discover the prehistoric past of Joshua Tree National Park with paleontologists Kathleen Springer, Eric Scott, and Chris Sagebiel in this two-day field class.

Date/Time: Saturday, February 21, 6 pm – 8 pm

Sunday, February 22, 7 am – 8 pm

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center, 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine

Palms, CA

Fee: $75 ($65 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Kathleen Springer, M.S., Eric Scott, M.S., and J. Chris Sagebiel M.S., Paleontologists


February 22, 2009 Advanced Wilderness Navigation

Twentynine Palms, CA – Learn how to explore the desert using advanced navigation techniques with Karl VonHalle, wilderness traveler and educator. Be prepared to spend a day covering up to six miles with moderate boulder scrambling. Prerequisite: Map & Compass Basic Skills or prior map and compass abilities. Call if you have any questions.

Date/Time: Sunday, February 22, 8 am – 5 pm

Meet at: Oasis Visitor Center, 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA

Fee: $60 ($50 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Karl VonHalle, Outdoor Guide


February 27 & 28, 2009 Photography: Nature to the Digital Studio

Joshua Tree, CA Capture the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park through your camera lens and learn how to enhance your images in a digital studio. Artist and educator Spelman Evans Downer will teach participants to develop their personal photography styles against the backdrop of the Mojave Desert and how to manipulate images using Adobe Photoshop in this two-day field class.

Date/Time: Friday, February 27, 6 pm – 9 pm

Saturday, February 28, 7 am – 7 pm

Meet at: Copper Mountain College, 6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA

Fee: $100 ($90 for JTNPA and PINE members)

Instructor: Spelman Evans Downer, M.A., Visual Artist, Professor, Copper Mountain College


Feb. 27 – March 1, 2009 Rocks & Minerals of Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree, CA – Bruce Bridenbecker, professor of physical science at Copper Mountain College, will explain the critical principles that shaped the rocks and minerals of this area into the blonde granite and pre-Cambrian gneiss which are iconic of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts during this combined three day lecture and field class.

Date/Time: Friday, February 27, 6 pm – 9 pm

Saturday, February 28, 8 am – 5 pm

Sunday, March 1, 8 am – 4 pm

Meet at: Copper Mountain College, 6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree

Noncredit Fee: $115 ($105 JTNPA/PINE members)

Credit Fee: $190 ($180 for JTNPA/PINE members)

Instructor: Bruce Bridenbecker, M.S., Geosciences, Assistant Professor, Copper Mountain College


Lectures:

February 5, 2009 Wonders of the Coachella Valley

Date/Time: Thursday, February 5, 2 pm

Location: Rancho Mirage Public Library,

71-100 Hwy 111, Rancho Mirage

Fee: FREE, open to the public.


February 9, 2009 Changing Desert Landscape

Date/Time: Monday, February 9, 6:30 pm

Location: Palm Springs Public Library,

300 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs

Fee: FREE, open to the public.


February 13, 2009 Speciation of Desert Lizards: What DNA Can Tell Us

Date/Time: Friday, February 13, 7 pm

Location: Old Schoolhouse Museum, 6760 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms

Fee: $5 at the door, open to the public.


February 20, 2009 Big Horn Sheep in Southern CA

Date/Time: Friday, February 20, 7 pm

Location: Black Rock Visitor Center,

9800 Black Rock Canyon, Yucca Valley

Fee: FREE, open to the public.


February 27, 2009 The Life of Jimmy Doolittle

Date/Time: Friday, February 27, 7 pm

Location: Portola Community Center

45-480 Portola Ave, Palm Desert

Fee: $5 at the door, open to the public.


For more information or to register please go here or call the Desert Institute at (760) 367-5535, or register by mail: 74485 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 (please make checks out to Desert Institute and indicate which classes you are registering for).

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