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Education / Tours
Living Desert University (LDU) offers desert residents the opportunity to become skilled and inspired desert gardeners, naturalists, habitat creators, artists and valley hikers. Our goal is to offer a broad range of classes that increase environmental sensitivity and ecological action in everyday life. Classes include landscape design, gardening, natural history, ecology, geology, arts and crafts, and now our NEW Coachella Valley Hiking program which includes the Valley Trek Series – Easy to Strenuous hikes featuring some of the most beautiful sites in and around the Coachella Valley. Professional specialists, educators, certified natural history interpreters, and Living Desert staff teach LDU classes. While class offerings are designed primarily for general education, credits for classes are recorded for those interested in our certificate programs, which include Master Desert Gardener, Master Desert Naturalist, Desert Backyard Habitat and the NEW Coachella Valley Hiking certificate. Such programs have not been available previously in our desert area. Click here to download 2008-2009 LDU Class Catalog. Click here to browse and register for LDU classes (Registration opens October 1st).
Living Desert University Certificate Programs Click here for the Coachella Valley Hiking Worksheet Click here for a list of current Coachella Valley Hiking Classes Our Master Desert Gardener certificate program is designed to meet the needs of desert gardeners who would like to enrich their understanding of our desert environment and increase their skill in creating sustainable lifestyle gardens that are appropriate to the desert. The program promotes sensible gardening that preserves a sense of place and seeks to promote healthy, balanced and beautiful desert garden environments. This program is designed to offer students accurate horticultural information via classes that can be taken at one’s own pace, without the grueling number of volunteer hours and other requirements demanded by similar programs conducted elsewhere. Click here for the Master Desert Gardener Worksheet Click here for a list of current Master Desert Gardener Classes The Master Desert Naturalist certificate program offers in-depth instructions in our local desert environment. Offerings feature class content on native flora and fauna, ecology, geology and natural history with an emphasis on direct experience. The classes are a blend of informative classroom lectures and discussions, as well as ‘real world’ experiences; including tracking, and interpretive hikes and walks led by our knowledgeable LDU instructors. Click here for the Master Desert Naturalist Worksheet Click here for a list of current Master Desert Naturalist Classes Our Desert Backyard Habitat certificate program allows nature lovers to become an integral part of preserving our fragile desert environment. Learn to enjoy and create your own amazing and enriching biological theater, private pollinator garden and backyard oasis by earning your DESERT BACKYARD HABITAT CERTIFICATE! After completing the required classes and a successful site assessment, Desert Backyard Habitat certificate holders will receive a beautiful custom-made plaque and personalized certificate, suitable for framing. More importantly, applicants will have the pride of knowing that they are helping to protect native wildlife and our beautiful, fragile desert environment. Click here for the Desert Backyard Habitat Worksheet Click here for a list of current Desert Backyard Habitat Classes Art Class Supply Lists Travel with The Living Desert & Special Zoo Adventures Each season, October through April, the Education Department offers
a variety of trips to interesting and beautiful places. Choose from day
trips to the world renowned J. Paul Getty Museum, a“Cirque
Dreams Jungle Fantasy” in Orange County, a
Palm Springs ‘Secret Gardens Tour,’ Salton
Sea birding, or 2-7 day educational excursions whale watching
at San Ignacio Lagoon, exploring Death Valley or Copper
Canyon, or a Grand Canyon Railway Excursion -
Traveling with fellow Living Desert members, and others who share your
interests, is always a rewarding experience! We also offer some ‘wild’ adventures closer to home! You
can enjoy one of our Breakfast Behind-the-Scenes right
here at The Living Desert. Come spend an hour or two with us on-grounds,
for an experience you won’t
soon forget! Click here for more information on Travel with the Living Desert & Special Zoo Adventures. “Love at the Zoo” sponsored by and benefiting the California Desert Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers Click here for more information on “Love at the Zoo” And “Grapes for Grevy’s” as well as AAZK sponsored community events. Click
here to check your on-line registration account.
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Living
Desert University
