Living Desert Offers Free Field Trips and Funding to Local Title I Schools

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is accepting applications for its new Desert Defender Challenge, which provides free educational opportunities to Coachella Valley Title I schools through September 15, 2025.

The program covers costs for up to 1,000 students and 100 chaperones to visit the zoo, including transportation expenses. Selected schools also receive funding to implement on-campus conservation projects in partnership with the Living Desert staff.

According to Jessica, Curator of Learning and Community Engagement at the Living Desert, the challenge aims to educate students about desert wildlife conservation and demonstrate how individual actions can impact local ecosystems.

Participating schools can choose between two on-site programs: Plant Native, which focuses on indigenous vegetation, or Pollution Solution, which addresses environmental contamination issues. Both programs are conducted in collaboration with Living Desert educators at the school campus.

Schools must submit applications through the Living Desert's website. Selection notifications will be sent to qualifying applicants after the September 15 deadline.