The Living Desert - Youth Tours

Youth Tours
An Adventure in Education

The Living Desert provides an introduction to desert ecology to more than 40,000 school children each year through its on-site and outreach programs.

Youth Tours have the following exciting options that include our regularly scheduled storytelling, small animal encounters, Wildlife Wonders Show, Village WaTuTu, our hands-on Discovery Room and our new desert play land – Gecko Gulch. Picnic areas are also available by request.

Youth Tours appeal to all other youth leaders for many reasons, including:

There is no time limit, stay until the park closes if you’d like
The Wildlife Wonders program features an up-close and personal look at some of our fascinating animal ambassadors at the Tennity Amphitheater (The show is subject to cancellation in hot or inclement weather)
Tours are priced to fit all budgets: Self-Guided Tours are only $5.00 per person (ages 3 and up), and for only $1.00 more per person, grades 1-12 can book a Docent-Guided Tour! (Subject to availability)
Educators may make arrangements to visit the park in advance to finalize lesson plans at no charge
Free parking

Groups of 15 or more are invited to book one of the following options:

DOCENT-GUIDED TOURS
$6.00 per participant (Grades 1-12 – Limited to 120 per day. Offered Monday through Friday from the mid of October until mid May, excluding school holidays & program black-out dates.)
Our friendly docents take you on a 90 minute tour that can be modified to meet your educational goals. Tours start between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. You may choose a tour of African or North American exhibits, or book a North American tour highlighting the ancient Cahuilla Indians. After your docent-led tour you may continue to enjoy the park at your leisure!
Docent-Guided Tours require a minimum of one adult per 10 children.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS
$5.00 per participant (Grades Pre-K to 12)
(Offered Monday through Friday, excluding program black-out dates year round.)
This option allows you the freedom to adjust arrival time and plan the day around your specific educational goals and time constraints.
Self-Guided Tours require a minimum of one adult per five children.

Pre- and Post Visit Material Packets Click Here:

Youth Tour Info 2008/2009
Chaperone Guide to The Living Desert (English)
Chaperone Guide to The Living Desert (Spanish)
Driving Instructions to The Living Desert
SandTrax - For K and Pre-K groups
Deserts of North America
The Cahuilla
African Desert Life

Materials include:

• Field trip information • Guidelines for school groups • What is a Desert? • Activities for classroom settings • Background fact sheets

We hope you are able to take advantage of this educational program that allows educators to book tours to The Living Desert at a special discount.

For more details or to book a tour contact:

Bobby Sizemore
Education Department
760-346-5694, extension 2519
bsizemore@livingdesert.org

Outreach Programs

Tuesday through Thursday mornings, Docents and/or Education staff make house calls to local classrooms within the Coachella Valley School Districts. We are pleased to offer a variety of fascinating programs for Pre-K through 6th grade, geared to state science and history standards and The Living Desert’s Mission. Call Linda Gaeta at 760-346-5694, ext. 2505 or email her at lgaeta@livingdesert.org for details.

Click Here for the Outreach Brochure, including reservation guidelines and program menus.