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Joshua Tree National ParkKeys Ranch Tour
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Joshua Tree National Park
Guest Speakers
Pre-school & Kindergarten
Natural History Who Lives in a National park? introduces students in pre-school and kindergarten to the differences between pets and wild animals and what desert animals are.
 
First & Second Grades
Natural History Habitats introduces students to the concept of what animals need to survive.
Furry Flyers: Desert Bats helps students explore the important roles bats play in our desert ecosystem. (second graders only)
Tooth and Claw engages students in how animals survive in their environment.
Earth’s Bare Bones: Desert Minerals explores the makeup of the minerals in our rocks and helps students identify local minerals by color.
Cultural History What Do Park Rangers Do? helps students understand the importance of national parks and the variety of jobs performed by park rangers.
 
Third & Fourth Grades
Natural History The Joshua Tree Hotel engages students in exploring the world of the Joshua tree and its symbiotic relationship with many desert animals.
Geologic Teenagers: The Rocks of Joshua Tree National Park helps students discover how the rocks of Joshua Tree were formed and eroded. (fourth grade)
Desert Adaptations engages students in exploring how plants and animals have adapted to survive in the desert. (fourth grade)
Cultural History They Called The Desert Home engages students in exploring the human history of the park.
Living in Harmony helps students explore how the California Desert Indians lived and survived in the local area.
What Do Park Rangers Do? An in-class program about the many jobs available in parks.
Jr Ranger Unit Jr Ranger Unit is a comprehensive unit leading to the award of a junior ranger badge.
 
Middle & Jr High Students
Natural History Tortoise, Tortoise launches students into a study of the desert tortoise through scientific study practices using tortoise replicas.
Out’a Sight initiates students in the study of poor air quality and how it affects visibility in Joshua Tree National Park.
Tune into Tracking helps students explore the importance of radio telemetry in animal studies and learn to use equipment.
Cultural History Epitaphs on Rock helps students explore American history in the 1920s and 30s through writings on rocks.
National Park Service Careers helps students explore the importance of national parks and the types of jobs needed to manage these special places.
Current Events Desert Issues helps students understand and explore the issues facing Joshua Tree National Park and the local desert.
 
Highschool Students
Natural History Desert Connections engages students in how the rocks, plants, animals and resource impacts are connected in our desert lands.
Discovering the Ancients: Exploring the Desert helps students understand the ancient ages of our desert plants, how plants are aged, and what is threatening the plants.
Tune Into Tracking helps students explore the importance of radio telemetry in animal studies and learn how to use equipment.
Cultural History Epitaphs on Rock Discover clues to the 1920s and ’30s in the rock etchings of an eccentric miner.
National Park Service Careers helps students explore the importance of national parks and the types of jobs needed to manage these special places.
Current Events Desert Issues helps students understand and explore the issues facing Joshua Tree National Park and the local desert.
Pinto Point  

Did You Know?
Humans have occupied the area encompassed by Joshua Tree National Park for at least 5,000 years. The first group known to inhabit the area was the Pinto Culture, followed by the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and the Cahuilla.
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Last Updated: October 12, 2006 at 15:19 EST