48 - Joshua Tree Trip for 5th Grade

In spring 2023, the first year of the new Joshua Tree Trip for 5th graders, three students are seen taking a well-deserved break after successfully setting up a tent in this beautiful landscape dotted with the endemic “tree” that gives this park its name. Fifth graders spend three days in Joshua Tree National Park, where they are introduced to the natural and cultural history of this unique area. Activities like pitching tents, outdoor cooking, and cleaning up together after meals teach basic camping skills and how to cooperate within a group, while days filled with hiking, rock climbing, and exploring the desert environment develop our students’ “sense of place” and appreciation for the natural world.