Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.

What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.

Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.

What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!

Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Sunset Journaling & Sketching Field Workshop

Name: Sunset Journaling & Sketching Field Workshop
Start: 2026-09-19T15:00:00-0700
End: 2026-09-19T17:00:00-0700
Location: Live Oak Picnic Area

Sat, Sep 19, 3pm - 5pm PDT

Live Oak Picnic Area

Accessibility info

Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

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Description

This reflective creative workshop invites participants to slow down and observe the desert landscape through writing and drawing. Set against the backdrop of changing light at Live Oak, the experience will encourage mindful engagement with the environment as participants explore plant life, geological forms, and the subtle textures of the desert. Artist and graphic novelist Aidan Koch will guide participants through exercises to strengthen observation skills and help translate sensory experiences into personal creative expression.

Whether sketching or journaling, participants are encouraged to interpret the landscape in their own style rather than focusing on technical accuracy. The experience is designed to be calming, inspiring, and accessible, offering a meaningful way to connect with the desert at sunset.

The workshop takes place at Live Oak Picnic Area in Joshua Tree National Park.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required. Youth under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Please purchase your park pass ahead of time by visiting the NPS website.
No meals or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking, limited shade, uneven terrain, and little elevation gain. Hiking and walking are not required and can be modified to accommodate participants.

Required Items:

Water (a minimum of 1 liter per person)
Appropriate hiking attire: Layers are recommended for low temperatures
Food and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended
Daypack
Notebook or sketchbook
Preferred writing and/or sketching utensils
Camera (optional for taking reference shots)
A full tank of gas (or full charge for EVs) prior to arriving at the meeting location

Discount Policy: Only one discount may be applied per registration. Discounts cannot be combined. Eligible discounts include Friends & Family, Teacher, Veteran, Active Duty Military (and spouses), Park Lover Member, and Student discounts. The highest applicable single discount will be applied at checkout.

Meet Your Instructor: Aidan Koch is an artist and graphic novelist based in Landers, California. Her work is focused on ecological storytelling. Koch has exhibited across the United States and Europe, and her most recent book, Spiral and Other Stories, was published in 2024 by New York Review Comics. www.aidankoch.com | @aidanalexiskoch

Photo Credit: NPS/Hannah Schwalbe

FAQs

Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.
What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.
Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.
What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!
Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Hostinformation

Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

231 followers

Contact host

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Desert Institute is the educational branch of JTNPA, Joshua Tree National Park’s primary non-profit partner and offers field classes, recreational adventures, weekend excursions, and social events that span a wide spectrum of disciplines and formats. Our programming works to articulate and animate the rich resources of not only the national park but also the surrounding desert environment and the community of people who make Joshua Tree so unique. Our vision is to provide a rich, learning environment that inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to recreate together and help steward this beautiful place for years to come.

Desert Institute (DI) was established in 1999 by the former Chief of Interpretation and current Vice President of JTNPA’s Board of Directors, Joe Zarki. DI was operated by the National Park Service in its first year thanks to a grant from the Parks as Classrooms program. After the first year, the Institute program was absorbed by JTNPA as part of its educational operations.

JTNPA has provided support to the park for over 60 years through educational programming, cash aid, in-kind aid, and visitor center operations. We work in partnership with Joshua Tree National Park to help achieve programming goals in education and interpretation, along with scientific and historical research and activities.

Learn more about our work and how you can get involved: (760) 820-1103 | desertinstitute@joshuatree.org