Hi-Desert Nature Museum

07/23/2026

Join Petra from The Sound Mind Garden for a relaxing hour of immersive sound bath experience at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.

Friday, August 14, 2026

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. -
Doors open at 5:40 p.m. and close promptly at 6:05 p.m. Please be sure to arrive on time!

$15 per person, Ages 15+

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit our website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org.

07/23/2026

Escape the heat every Thursday in August at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's Desert Animal Figure Drawing Workshops!

August 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Free, all ages welcome!

These informal figure drawing workshops invite artists of all levels to study the forms, textures, and motions of desert animals up close—no desert heat required.

Settle in for an afternoon of observation, creativity, and quiet focus among the desert’s most fascinating inhabitants. Basic drawing materials will be provided!

No registration required, just drop in and draw.

For more information, visit our website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org!

06/25/2026

The Hi-Desert Nature Museum will be closed on Saturday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day! The Museum will reopen with normal operating hours on Wednesday, July 8th at 9:30 a.m.

06/25/2026

Only a few spots remain!

On July 15-17 (ages 7-9) and July 24-26 (ages 10-12), campers can experience "Ectotherm Extravaganza" and take a deep dive into the world of reptiles.

Campers will get up close and personal with some scaly ambassadors from the museum’s living collection and discover the amazing adaptations snakes, lizards and tortoises have that allow them to thrive in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

Camp is $50 per camper for the three-day experience. Each camp runs Wednesday through Friday from 9:30am-12:30pm. Visit the museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information or to register!

06/10/2026

Please be advised the museum's hours of operation on Friday, June 12 will be 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. due to a planned power outage affecting Town Hall and the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. Thank you!

06/08/2026

Join us this Saturday for Family Fun Day from 10am-2pm at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum and Yucca Valley Community Center!

Slither on down and scale-abrate the wild world of reptiles with FREE educational animal presentations, live reptile encounters, hands-on activities, inflatables, games, delicious food and more.

Click the link for more info!

Join us for First Saturday Cart Talks at the HDNM! Visitors will enjoy a hands-on experience while learning about local desert animals.

05/14/2026

Summer is fast approaching! Let your child’s curiosity blossom at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's three day summer camps!

Participants will become explorers of the natural world through hands-on adventures at the museum.

For more information on camps, please visit the museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org.

04/28/2026

Spring brings the arrival of longer days, warmer weather, and of course, our insect friends! The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is offering a hands-on natural insect repellent workshop to keep those bugs at bay!

Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (This is a two hour workshop and starts promptly at 10:00 a.m.)
$20 per person, Ages 10+

This hands-on workshop, led by Dr. Julie Reints, introduces participants to the basics of creating natural insect repellents using plant-based ingredients and essential oils. Participants will learn about common insects, why certain plants repel them, and how natural compounds can be used as safer alternatives to conventional chemical repellents.

Participants will leave the workshop with their own 3oz spray repellent and 3oz balm. Space is limited, and registration is required! Please visit www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information or to register. Only a few spots remain!

04/16/2026

The Hi-Desert Nature Museum invites the community to come together on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in celebration of Earth Day at a free, family-friendly event dedicated to environmental stewardship, hands-on learning, creative expression and an appreciation for the natural beauty of the Morongo Basin and beyond.

This lively gathering held at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum and Yucca Valley Community Center courtyard will feature educational booths and activities from Burrtec Waste Management, Hi-Desert Water District, Joshua Tree National Park, The Living Desert, Mil-Tree, Morongo Basin Conservation Association, Morongo Basin Activists, Plant Parenthood, and the Soroptimists.

Attendees of all ages can enjoy the tunes of Daytime Moon while harnessing the power of the sun to create cyanotypes with Mojave Light Studios (floral materials donated by Cactus Flower Florist).

Join us for the fun, connect with the community, get inspired, and leave feeling empowered to take small steps toward making a healthier planet! Visit the Museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information.

04/03/2026

Friday, April 17, 2026
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Ages 14+
$20 per participant, registration required!

Head over to the Hi-Desert Nature Museum for this two-hour workshop introducing participants to intaglio printmaking using recycled Tetrapak cartons as printing plates. The workshop will cover basic intaglio techniques, including inking, wiping, and printing the plate using an etching press to produce rich, textured prints.

Participants will learn how to create textures and imagery by cutting, peeling, and incising the Tetrapak surface to create a printing plate.

Space is limited, and registration is required. Visit the Museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information or to register!