The first phase of this innovative approach to environmental education involves locating Discovery Center kiosks at three Mojave Desert locations:

§ California Welcome Center, Barstow, California
§ Joshua Tree National Park, Cottonwood Visitor Center, California
§ Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada

“The Mojave Desert Discovery Centers offer a unique way for the Committee to fulfill one of its major goals: to provide information and education to the public on the threatened tortoise and its habitat, and on the associated plants and animals that share its desert ecosystem,” says executive director, Michael Connor.

“The Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee has leveraged technology to reach out to diverse audiences throughout the Mojave Desert,” says project manager Jun Y. Lee. “Unlike traditional visitor center concepts, the Discovery Centers are mobile and can be deployed in areas where recreational visitors congregate.”

“We estimate that more than 500,000 people per year will interact with the Discovery Centers at the initial three locations,” says Min Yang, AIA of the design firm Project: Architecture.

The Mojave Desert Discovery Center program was made possible by a significant contribution from the late Joan Leslie Dotzenrod and the generous support of members of the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc.

Additional information about the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. and its programs may be found at its website, www.tortoise-tracks.org.