Josh Jackson is a writer and photographer whose work illuminates America’s most overlooked public lands—those managed by the Bureau of Land Management. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, High Country News, SFGATE, and Adventure Journal, among others. His first book, The Enduring Wild, is both a love letter to these landscapes and a meditation on belonging and reciprocity.

Noah Smith is a Highland Park based illustrator and creative director with over 14 years of experience leading Scrap Labs, a multidisciplinary design studio. His work bridges observational drawing and applied design, using natural forms and landscapes as a foundation for world-building and visual storytelling. His primary focus involves blending research, drawing, and design to create authentic, place-based identities.

Throughout the weekend, we’ll explore the monument’s biodiversity and wide-open terrain through guided hikes, immersive observation experiences, and optional nature journaling sessions designed to slow perception and deepen attention.

Using sketching as a way to engage more fully with native plants, geological formations, and expansive vistas, these sessions emphasize curiosity and presence rather than artistic skill — inviting participants to connect more deeply with the rhythms of the landscape.

Our journey includes a guided visit to Painted Rock, a sacred site of the Emigdiano Chumash and home to some of the most significant rock art in North America.

Wildlife sightings may include tule elk, pronghorn antelope, barn owls, and — with luck — the elusive San Joaquin kit fox, one of the endangered species that depend on this intact grassland ecosystem.

REI will provide camping equipment, and art supplies will also be included. Participants are welcome to bring personal journals or sketchbooks if preferred. REI basecamp includes shared tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and camp chairs, ensuring a comfortable stay.