DiscoverJTree
Reaching Youth
JTNPA integrated Joshua Tree Residential Education Experience (JTREE) programs into our organization in July 2025 under the new name “DiscoverJTREE.” DiscoverJTREE delivers transformative outdoor education in Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding areas.
This new program expands the primarily adult education offered through Desert Institute to multi-day youth programs that are aligned with California’s environmental literacy and science standards. DiscoverJTREE builds on a foundation of engaging classroom learning sessions, taking education outdoors to help students connect with the desert’s natural systems and history.
DiscoverJTREE focuses on:
Our Vision
Each year, the program provides thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students with hands-on learning experiences centered around desert ecology, geology, cultural history, and environmental stewardship — all set within the awe-inspiring landscape of Joshua Tree National Park.
Empowering Education
This integration marks a significant milestone in strengthening educational offerings at Joshua Tree National Park and reflects a shared vision for ensuring that outdoor education is accessible, impactful, and sustainable for future generations.
DiscoverJTREE is funded in part through the State of California Department of Parks & Recreation Outdoor Equity Grants Program, the National Park Foundation (NPF) Open Outdoors for Kids grant, and a grant from the Public Arts Advisory Committee of the City of Twentynine Palms. The annual Night Sky Festival, hosted by Sky’s the Limit Observatory in Twentynine Palms, also directly supports DiscoverJTREE.
Traveling Miss T.
DiscoverJTREE is proud to partner with Traveling Miss T. to help fourth and fifth grade teachers bring students from anywhere and everywhere into the desert we love — for free! The Explore Joshua Tree National Park field trip is an educational adventure by Coordinate Plane through the park that students can embark on wherever they are.
The field trip’s Math Map guides students through finding and plotting the park’s most significant landmarks on a coordinate plane. The free program includes ready-to-go printable worksheets, educational videos featuring experts in the park, and an interactive StoryMap! Local students also have the opportunity to go out into the field and see the landmarks they’ve learned about up close.
Download the Joshua Tree Math Map Curriculum for free today!
This program is made possible through an Open OutDoors for Kids (OOK) grant from the National Park Foundation and collaboration with Natalie Teboul of Traveling Miss T.
