Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a 31,000 acre nature preserve in the desert above Palm Springs. The preserve is nestled in the Little San Bernardino Mountains, along a fault line where ground water rises, and the desert oasis at Big Morongo Canyon is one of the most important cottonwood and willow riparian (stream) habitats in California. The preserve is also a gateway to the Sand to Snow National Monument.
It is home to many animals, is an internationally recognized birding site, and an eBird hotspot. Visitors enjoy our hiking trails, observation decks and rare desert shade.
This year, Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is celebrating our 30th anniversary as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the stewardship of Big Morongo Canyon through education and responsible visitation. We co-manage this preserve with the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County Regional Parks.
With only two staff members, we rely on an incredible volunteer team that exceeds 75 individuals. They are the first point of contact for visitors at the entry kiosk, the leaders of our famous weekly bird walks on Wednesdays, the trails and maintenance team that manages the trails for enjoyable hikes, the native plant and pollinator garden team that’s revitalized the gardens at our Nature Center, and our education docents who provide outdoor field trips for elementary school children, along with “Birding for Kids” in partnership with Desert Recreation District.
Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is led by a board of directors actively working at the preserve with their “boots on the ground”—and we are now accepting applications for two board positions.
Individuals interested in joining an active and engaged board are encouraged to apply at bit.ly/3OrzGRd. The application deadline is March 31.
Board service offers an opportunity to contribute time, expertise and leadership in support of this beautiful preserve. Those with questions about board responsibilities or the selection process are invited to contact Maureen McCarty, board chair, at chair@bigmorongo.org.
Kevin Wong is the executive director of the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Learn more at bigmorongo.org.