CactusToCloud

12/12/2025

We are excited to announce that applications for the Desert Sands & Sky Island 2026 spring course are now open!

If you have been interested in learning more about the Environmental Stewards programs CactusToCloud Institute offers, don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our growing community of certified

This 10-week course will help you learn about:
📚 Geology, climate, plants, birds, reptiles, and insects – together what make the California Deserts ecologically unique and rich
🧑‍🏫👩‍🏫Includes lectures by local naturalists and scientists, as well as field days that highlight the rich biodiversity of our desert
🏫Earn college credits
🗓️Saturdays, January - April 2026
✍️Open to anyone 18 and older

We will host two virtual informational sessions to help you learn more about the course. We highly recommend that all interested applicants attend either session; the content will be identical. Register for the session that works best for your schedule:

💻Thursday, December 18th at 6pm
💻Saturday, January 10th at 10am

Visit https://lnk.bio/CactusToCloud to complete your application and register for one of the information sessions today!

11/24/2025

Exciting news 🤩 We are absolutely thrilled to announce that CactusToCloud Institute has been awarded the 🎉2025 City of La Quinta Non-Profit of the Year!🎉

Thanks to the City and the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce for recognizing our passion and dedication to protecting our beautiful desert, enhancing outdoor access, and working towards a brighter future for the Coachella Valley and its amazing communities! 🌟

We also want to give a huge shoutout to our incredible volunteer Treasurer and Co-Founder, Tracy Bartlett, who had the honor of accepting this award at the La Quinta State of the City ceremony last Wednesday evening! Your hard work truly inspires us all!

Photos by Jonathan Catellon, Diana Rosas , and Gary and Tracy Bartlett

03/20/2025

This rally is led by Resistance Rangers Joshua Tree, and CactusToCloud is assisting in any way we can 🫶 It will be part of a coordinated effort on public lands around the country. Share this far and wide with everyone you know. Tell your friends across the country to check out to find a rally near them.

Be sure to follow and for updates.

NOTE 📝
🕊️ This is a peaceful and non-partisan rally. Full stop.

🤝 We are discouraging partisan messages at this time. Focus instead on the widespread and diverse support for public lands and why Chuckwalla is important to you.

🆗 We are fine with anti-DOGE or anti-billionaire messages but please keep messaging generally positive and supportive for Parks, Monuments, and for Rangers.

☀️ Take care of yourself: the high in Palm Springs is forecasted to be 86 F. Water will be provided -- make sure you stay hydrated!

Our Desert Is Worth Protecting✊

🐢 🌿 🌌 🐢 🌿 🌌 🐢 🌿 🐢 🌿 🌌 🐢 🌿 🌌

Este mitin es liderado por los Rangers de la Resistencia Joshua Tree, y CactusToCloud está ayudando en cualquier forma que podamos 🫶 Será parte de un esfuerzo coordinado en tierras públicas de todo el país. Comparta esto con todos sus conocidos. Dile a tus amigos de todo el país que visiten para encontrar un mitin cerca de ell@s.

Asegúrate de seguir a y para obtener actualizaciones.

NOTA 📝
🕊️ Este es un mitin pacífico y no partidista. Punto.

🤝 Estamos desalentando los mensajes partidistas en este momento. Concéntrese en el apoyo generalizado y diverso a las tierras públicas y por qué Chuckwalla es importante para usted.

🆗 Estamos bien con los mensajes anti-DOGE o anti-multimillonario, pero por favor, mantenga los mensajes generalmente positivos y de apoyo para Parques, Monumentos, y para los guardabosques.

☀️ Cuídese: se pronostica que la alta en Palm Springs será de 86 F. ¡Se proporcionará agua potable -- asegúrese de mantenerse hidratado!

Nuestro Desierto Merece Ser Protejido ✊

🎨 Sendy Barrows

03/19/2025

Please take 5 seconds to vote NO on the Hi-Desert Star’s poll asking whether Trump should rescind Chuckwalla.

Feel free to share!

Click here to view this item from HiDesertStar.com.

03/16/2025

📢ACCIÓN DE ALERTA!🚨 Chuckwalla Monumento Nacional necesita su ayuda! Hemos escuchado que el presidente Trump puede estar tratando de eliminar las protecciones de nuestro desierto HOY. Si está representado por el Congresista Calvert (Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Western Riverside County) o el Congresista Obernolte (High Desert), llame ahora mismo para expresar su apoyo al Monumento Nacional Chuckwalla.

A continuación se muestra la información de contacto para cada uno y un mensaje de ejemplo que puede incluir. Si puede, deje un mensaje con sus oficinas locales y de Washington DC.

Congresista Calvert, 41o distrito
📞Palm Desert Office: (760) 620-0041
📞Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-1986
https://calvert.house.gov/contact

Congresista Obernolte, distrito 23
📞Hesperia Office: (760) 247-1815
📞Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-5861
https://obernolte.house.gov/contact/offices

"Soy un votante en el distrito del Congresista (Calvert o Obernolte), y apoyo firmemente el Monumento Nacional Chuckwalla. Recientemente me enteré de los esfuerzos del presidente Trump para eliminar las protecciones en esta área vital. Insto al congresista (Calvert o Obernolte), como mi representante, a tomar medidas inmediatas y contactar a la Casa Blanca para abogar por dejar intacto el Monumento Nacional Chuckwalla. Es crucial que el presidente Trump escuche alto y claro cómo nuestra comunidad se mantiene firme en apoyo del Monumento Nacional Chuckwalla."

Por favor, dele un "me gusta" a esta publicación y compartala para ayudar a llegar a más miembros de la comunidad! Juntos podemos ayudar a proteger nuestro desierto✊🏼

03/15/2025

📢ACTION ALERT!🚨Chuckwalla National Monument needs your help!

We have heard President Trump may be trying to remove protections from our desert TODAY. If you are represented by Rep. Calvert (Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Western Riverside County) or Rep. Obernolte (High Desert), call right now to express support for Chuckwalla National Monument.

Below is the contact information for each and a sample message to include. If you can, leave a message with both their local and Washington DC offices.

"I am a voter in Congressman (Calvert or Obernolte) District, and I strongly support Chuckwalla National Monument. I have recently learned about President Trump's efforts to remove protections for this vital area. I urge my Congressman (Calvert or Obernolte), as my representative, to take immediate action and contact the White House to advocate to leave Chuckwalla National Monument intact. It is crucial that President Trump hears loud and clear how our community stands firmly in support of Chuckwalla National Monument."

Congressman Calvert, 41st District
📞Palm Desert Office: (760) 620-0041
📞Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-1986
https://calvert.house.gov/contact

Congressman Obernolte, 23rd District
📞Hesperia Office: (760) 247-1815
📞Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-5861
https://obernolte.house.gov/contact/offices

Please like, share, and save this post to help reach more community members! Together we can help protect our desert✊🏼

01/20/2025

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Washington National Cathedral, March 31, 1968.

Advocating for what you believe in doesn't stop or start with the change of administration, it's ongoing. Yesterday, today and everyday we invite you to speak up for justice, freedom and our environment.

Photo of Dr. King Jr sculpture created by Chinese artist Master Lei Yixin taken last summer.

📸

11/21/2024

11/19/2024

♻️ Join us for a community cleanup day in Mecca Hills 🗑️

Do you love but wished you saw less trash on the way to your favorite 🤔 Then join us this Saturday and help make a difference! Working together, we can help keep our desert clean and beautiful for all to enjoy.

🗓️ Saturday, November 23
🕘 9am to Noon
📌 Painted Canyon Road, Mecca Hills
🌞 Everyone is welcome
🦎 Free resources, water and snacks provided

See link in bio to register and more information. Or call (760) 567-1430 Mon-Fri from 8am to 4pm.
♻️Acompáñanos para un día de limpieza comunitaria en Mecca Hills🗑️

Te encanta Mecca Hills, pero desearías ver menos basura en el camino a tu favorito 🤔 Entonces acompáñanos este sábado y ayuda a hacer la diferencia! Trabajando juntos, podemos ayudar a mantener limpio y hermoso para que todos lo disfruten.

🗓️ sábado, 23 de noviembre
🕘 De 9:00 a mediodía
📌 Painted Canyon Road, Mecca Hills
🌞 Todos son bienvenido
🦎 Recursos gratuitos, agua y aperitivos proporcionados

Ver enlace en la biografía para registrarse y más información. O llame al (760) 567-1430 de lunes a viernes de 8 am a 4 pm.
This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

10/20/2024

The Nuestro Desierto California Naturalist course is about understanding our environment, learning in the classroom and outdoors. Maybe most importantly, it’s also about sharing what we learn with the community through stewardship and service. For our trip to Sequoia National Park, we included a stewardship project to build picnic tables and replace 🐻 decals at Dorst Campground, which has been closed due to floods, wildfires, and a lack of staff at the park. Our student’s efforts will help the campground reopen and for more people to experience their public lands!

Thanks to NPS rangers Melissa Ribeiro and Paul Agnew for working with us! Pictured are each team of Nuestro Desierto students with the first picnic table they assembled for the day. In total, we put together 14 tables, and replaced the safety decals on 20 🐻 bear boxes.

📸 Colin and Sendy Barrows




This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

05/02/2024

01/18/2024

🥳 Thank you for approving a resolution supporting the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and Joshua Tree National Park expansion at tonight's city council meeting ✨

We also want to give a big to Lily Vidal and Erick Rodriguez, two of our California Naturalists who are continuing their conservation journey as part of the Chuckwalla National Monument Youth Ambassador Program.

📸 Sendy Barrows


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