News
3/13/09 - Granite Construction to partner with Friends of the Desert Mountains on Whitewater Preserve Trail Restoration Event
Granite Construction will be collaborating with Coachella Valley nonprofit, Friends of the Desert Mountains in restoration of trailheads, clean-up, native seed planting amoung other activities. For a two page PDF file: click here
2/28/09 - Wildflower Celebration 2009 - FREE!!:
Featuring wildflower-related photography & plant workshops, guided hikes & nature walks, live music, wildlife and landscape art, frontier displays, live animals, and booksignings by renowned local authors. Located at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center (located at 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, California, just four miles south of Highway 111). Free parking will be available at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 47-535 Highway 74, with free shuttle service to and from the National Monument Visitor Center. Last year the Wildflower Celebration drew over a thousand visitors. Thanks to the recent rains, event organizers are hoping that this year will be even more exciting and colorful. Don't miss the fun this year. For more information: click here
12/10/08 - BLM Completes Land Acquistion
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed the last of a series of land acquisitions in the Palm Springs area designed to protect the sand dunes ecosystem critical to the survival of the threatened Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard and other native species, the BLM’s California Desert District announced today. Click here.
12/10/08 - Shopping for Dirt for the Holidays?
Desert dirt might sound like a stocking stuffer threat for misbehaving children. But one Coachella Valley nonprofit organization has found a way to turn giving away dirt into a unique, educational and compelling gift this holiday season. Click here.
12/5/08 - The NEW Trail Map
You can now order on-line! The most comprehensive trails map in the history of the Coachella Valley. The map lists locations of more than 75 trails throughout the Monument, and offers trail ratings, hiking advice and safety reminders. It is tear resistant and waterproof. Go to our Bookstore page (it's the 7th paragraph from the top). Click here.
12/5/08 - Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument e-Brochure.
This interactive brochure was produced and funded by The Wilderness Society, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, City of Palm Desert, Southern Callifornia Edison and Palm Springs Life in coordination with the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club, Frineds of the Desert Mountains, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and California State Parks, click here.
11/17/08 - Long Awaited Naturalist’s Field Guide Now Available
Locally Produced Pocket Naturalist® Series Field Guide Highlights Flora & Fauna of the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
PALM DESERT, CA – Thanks to a generous grant from Southern California Edison, a new laminated, fold-up Field Guide to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument has just been released and is now available for purchase at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, in Palm Desert. This guide, which retails for $5.95, is the first in a series of informative natural history guides that will be produced through the SCE grant. A team of local naturalists and Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteers (Kurt Leuschner, Sue Adams, Tracy Albrecht, and Mark Fisher) donated their time and expertise to complete this project. For a one page PDF, click here.
10/16/08 - Come View the Heavens with Friends and hang out with some real stars!
Sponsored by Friends of the Desert Mountains and the Astronomical Society of the Desert
PALM DESERT, CA – This Saturday, October 18th, between 7 and 9 pm, the Santa Rosa & San
Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center will be the location of a fun, free event for
families and stargazers. Join in and look back in time by peering through powerful telescopes to
discover the wonders of the heavens. On the agenda are views of Venus, Jupiter, Pegasus, the moon
rising, the Andromeda galaxy, the Summer Triangle, Milky Way, Hercules Cluster, Ring Nebula, and
Cassiopeia. Those interested in attending this “star party” are encouraged to arrive no later than 7:30
pm and bring a small flashlight if possible. For a one page PDF of this event, click here.
9/25/08 - First Saturday Desert Art Diplays
A series of FREE, fun events for art buffs and outdoor/nature enthusiasts. Held at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center. Need more info? For a two page informational PDF, click here.
7/6/08 - Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail Scenic Loop Bus Tour
Join local naturalist and expert ornithologist, Kurt Leuschner, on a birding adventure through the biotic communities of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. Click here for more info.
6/12/08 - Most Comprehensive Trails Map in Valley's History Premieres
For the next month the maps will be sold exclusively at the National Monument Visitor Center Giftshop. The first 50 maps bought are autographed by Representative Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs. For a two page PDF with more information about this fantastic new map, Click here.
4/23/08 - Friends of Friends Honored for Contributions to Conservation
Four local Friends of the Desert Mountains' supporters will receive awards of excellence from The American Plannng Association, Inland Empire Section (APA) for their leadership in local environmental, education and community planning issues. The award recipients will be honored with a special awards dinner on May 21, 2008 at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. Read More.
4/22/08 - Friends of the Desert Mountains Golf Tournament
Golfers set off on a shotgun start at 1,000 feet above the valley floor against the backdrop of the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains at the private Stone Eagle Golf Club located in Palm Desert. Golfers played the challenging range of elements that incorporate the dramatic desert landscape, while helping to support the Palm Desert non-profit organization, Friends of the Desert Mountains, dedicated to preserving the land in and around the Coachella Valley -- a fitting way to celebrate Earth Day. Read more.
2/16/08 - FREE Birding Guide Available
Almost two years in the making, the Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail brochure is now available for FREE at various locations in and around the Coachella Valley. Read More.
2/7/08 - The Desert Sun Article: New Solar Panels Dedication
Read about the new solar panels installed on the National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert made possible through a grant from Southern California Edison. The new panels save enough energy to take three houses off the power grid and seven average-sized cars off the road. Read More.
2/16/08 -Wildflower Celebration
This popular event was sponsored by Friends of the Desert Mountains at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center. Attendees were treated to Wildflower-related photography and plant workshops, guided hikes, live music, plein air artists, wildflower illustrations, frontier displays, live animals and booksignings by renowned local authors. All for FREE! Read More.
2/7/08 - The Desert Sun Article: Thursday Morning Hikes Program
Read about this popular program in this Desert Sun article by Maggie Downs. Click Here.
2/6/08 - Become a Champion of our $3 million in 3 Years Campaign
The Friends and Champions Campaign will help us acquire environmentally sensitive property, develop interpretive exhibits, support the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and so much more. Click here for more info.
1/15/08 - Friends of the Desert Mountains is proud to be a member of the Conservation System Alliance
The Conservation System is a 26 million acre collection of national monuments, wilderness areas, scenic rivers, trails, and historic sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Find out more about how to enjoy and protect these rugged crown jewels of the American West at a new web site launched by the Conservation System Alliance: http://www.conservationsystem.org
11/27/07 - Fantastic Family Excursions
Friends of the Desert Mountains is coordinating a series of Family Excursions to tour remarkable natural treasures in and around our valley. Read More.
10/13/07 - A Globally Important Bird Area
The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument in the Coachella Valley will now be listed as a Globally Important Bird Area under the American Bird Conservancy’s U.S. Important Bird Area program. Read More.
9/27/07 - Help Share Our Monumental Treasure with Students
Friends of the Desert Mountains is recruiting volunteers to serve as classroom and field trip instructors for local fourth grade students. Read More.
9/27/07 - Friends Looking for Volunteers
Friends of the Desert Mountains is currently recruiting volunteers to serve in a number of very important capacities. Read More.
9/26/07 - Time Change! Thursday Morning Hikes to Meet at 8:30 am
Every Thursday through April 2008, hikers, naturalists and other outdoor enthusiasts will meet at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center at 8:30 am and begin hiking by 8:45 am. Read More.
5/23/07 - The Friends to Offer "Thursday Morning Hikes," A Program of Free Guided Hikes Every Thursday at 6:00 a.m. through August 2007
Join the Friends for a new program providing exciting, early-morning hikes to accommodate the valley's growing community of outdoor enthusiasts. To take advantage of the summer's relatively cool early-morning temperatures, the hikes will begin in the early morning hours. Read More.
4/23/07 – Golf Tournament at Stone Eagle a Swinging Success
Seventy-seven golfers enjoyed wonderful weather and a great game of golf at the Friends’ annual Golf Tournament at Stone Eagle, sponsored by Southern California Edison. Read More.
4/16/07 – Howell Donation
The Friends of the Desert Mountains is pleased to announce receipt of a gift of land in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument from Mr. Charles Howell of Madison, Wisconsin. Read More.
3/15/07 – Educator excited to be working with the Friends
Roger Tansey, CEO of the Friends, announced that Scott Segal, a fully-credentialed teacher and Coachella Valley native, has been selected to serve as the Friends’ Director of Programs and Membership. Read More.
7/10/06 –Healthy Adventures: Environmental Education in local classrooms
Our exciting new education program gets local school children in touch with the natural wonders in their backyard: the National Monument. We need volunteers to help expand this innovative program of nature study, science, and healthy living to even more schools in the valley. Read More
6/7/06 – PRESS RELEASE: Friends of the Desert Mountains Receives Grants from Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Foundation
Friends of the Desert Mountains is this year’s recipient of a $5,000 grant from Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Foundation, plus a matching grant of $2,500. Read More
5/24/06 – Friends Participates in Annual CBS Charity Challenge
Charity Challenge events in Palm Desert, Indio, Thousand Palms, and Cathedral City raised a record $68,000 for local charities in April and May. Friends was one of 57 lucky recipients at the Charity Challenge Rewards Dinner on May 25. Read More
4/25/06 – NEWS ARTICLE: Pay to Preserve (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside)
Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass residents who have a fondness for the outdoors should be ecstatic that the Whitewater Trout Co. was sold. ... The good news is that it was purchased by the Friends of the Desert Mountains conservation group. Read More
4/18/06 – Stone Eagle Golf Tournament Raises $65,000 for Friends
Golfers challenged the stunning Tom Doak - designed course while raising $65,000 for Friends' conservation work, at our annual benefit golf tournament, auction, and luncheon celebration at the exclusive Stone Eagle Golf Club on April 17. Read More
News Archives
Previous News Release, Click Here
Our Newsletter
Mountain Views keeps you informed about our work to preserve Coachella Valley open spaces and wild places. It's mailed to all our members and supporters and available here for downloading in PDF format: Spring/Winter 2005 PDF | Winter/Spring 2006/07 PDF | Spring/Summer 2007 PDF | Summer 2008 PDF
