Art in the Park: Joshua Tree National Park
November 14 @ 10:30 am – 4:00 pm Pacific
Join us at Joshua Tree National Park for a hike and art workshop where two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, meet. This event is produced in partnership with our friends from the National Park Trust.
Known for it’s biodiversity and dark night skies, Joshua Tree was designated as a National Monument in 1936 and gained National Park Status in 1994.
Make it a weekend and take advantage of the reserved camping spots on November 13–15. Camping is optional and you will need to bring your own supplies.
Schedule of events on Saturday, November 14:
10:30 AM – Check-in
11 AM – Welcome and introductions
11:30 AM – Guided hike (0.25 mile) hike led by naturalist Caryn Davidson.
1 PM – Lunch (provided)
2 PM – Guided field sketching: Explore flora, fauna, and geological features led by teaching artist Aidan Koch.
4 PM – Closing
___
This workshop is free and open to military service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and caregivers over the age of 18.
All eligible participants will receive a free Military Veteran Pass, providing lifetime access to National Parks and federal recreation lands. If you have a military ID, be sure to bring it with you.
About the Facilitators
Caryn Davidson spent 20 years as a park ranger in Joshua Tree National Park’s education branch and was the liaison for its Artist-in-Residence program from 2006 to 2016. She later served as Director of Environmental Education at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and worked as a museum educator in Yucca Valley. Caryn now leads hikes for Road Scholar, the Desert Institute, and Wandering Mojave Hiking Services, sharing her passion for the desert’s beauty and complexity. She holds a master’s degree in French from UCLA and previously worked for the French Consulate in Los Angeles. Caryn’s writing has been published in numerous journals and magazines, and she enjoys yoga, hiking, and photography.
Aidan Koch is an artist and graphic novelist based in Landers, California. Her work centers on ecological storytelling, blending visual narrative with environmental themes. 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.
