7-23-21
Listen to the latest from FOJT and the National Park embarking on an ambitious new Climbing Management Plan that will manage climbing in the Park for the foreseeable future (like, 20 years!). FOJT Executive Director John Lauretig on the ‘Up Close Show’ hosted by the one and only Gary Daigneault. This interview was aired @z1077fm.joshuatree […]
5-1-20
UPDATE MAY 18, 2020 Joshua Tree National Park will re-open to visitors beginning Monday May 19, 2020. Due to expectations of crowding and extreme pressure on the gateway communities and Park staff, we recommend waiting and staggering trips to midweek and next month. If you choose to visit, know that many businesses in town are […]
12-29-19
What an amazing year it was for climbing, for Public Lands, for Joshua Tree National Park and for Friends Of Joshua Tree. From the impacts of the Federal Shutdown in January to Climb Smart’s 24th running and a splitter fall climbing season and now snow sticking to the ground! 2019 will go down in history […]
11-8-19
Joshua Tree National Park is beginning the planning process for a Climbing Management Plan; the planning process has already started, and this round of preliminary comments has a deadline of NOVEMBER 13. That’s next week! The Park Service and FOJT urge you to weigh in and let them know how you’d like to see management […]
8-26-19
Summer is the time where Friends Of Joshua Tree gets out into the broader SoCal community to spread awareness, education and stewardship mindedness. Not everyone knows about JOSAR, or HARP (the fixed anchor replacement program), the Climber Stewards Program, or even Climbers’ Coffee. So it’s important to reach out beyond the borders of Joshua Tree […]
3-18-19
Heads up intrepid JTree climbers… it’s raptor closure season. As good stewards of our public lands, let’s give these special creatures lots of room to do their nesting and fledging thing. There is so much good climbing to be had this spring all around the Park, we can forego a few sensitive areas… curious about […]
3-8-19
Friends Of Joshua Tree has been chosen as one of 3 grantees being promoted throughout Southern California as part of the ‘Loving Our Local Outdoors‘ initiative, a national REI program letting customers decide how much to support local conservation and advocacy groups. Over a four week period, REI members visiting the stores will help decide […]
2-14-19
See a clip of John Lauretig, FOJT Executive Director, announcing the grants given to some NPS contract employees (Great Basin Institute). This news just broke on The Desert Sun… images and story from the ‘Thank You’ event on Feb. 12, and info on the new Impact Relief Grant launched by FOJT. see full article here […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2019 MEDIA CONTACT: Kenji Haroutunian, phone number, info@friendsofjosh.org Friends Of Joshua Tree provides grants to furloughed workers via launch of Impact Relief Fund Friends group creates new program available to furloughed contractors of Joshua Tree National Park JOSHUA TREE, CA – Continuing to support the community of […]
2-9-19
The Joshua Tree National Park Association is hosting a community day of celebration to honor those who helped support during the latest government shutdown. Tuesday, February 12, 2019 Welcome Address 10 am – Refreshments will be served. Park Headquarters (74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277) Native Plant Nursery Tours 30 minutes 10:30 […]
1-28-19
For at least the next 3 weeks, things will be somewhat back to normal in the Park; the JTNP staff will be back in full service to both the Park and visitors. We at FOJT encourage visitation and responsibly exploring both the park and the town and businesses in Joshua Tree. Get the full JTree […]
1-17-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2019 MEDIA CONTACT: Kenji Haroutunian, 310-489-3281, info@friendsofjosh.org Friends of Joshua Tree Offers Loans to Furloughed Park Staff at Joshua Tree National Park Volunteer Advocacy Group Goes Beyond Keeping the Park Clean and Staving Off Illegal Activities JOSHUA TREE, CA – The local non-profit advocacy group […]