Several of our programs are made possible through community collaborations and partnerships. By supporting these programs we contribute to strengthening our cultural community and providing more relevant and enriched programs for our visitors. Below is a list of current collaborations with links to the programs and our partner sites.

Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS)

Creativity, Activity, and Service Program (CAS) is a collaboration with the Cathedral City High School Baccalaureate Program. As part of their requirements for earning their baccalaureate degree, students pitch their project idea to a panel of Sunnylands staff who act as that year’s project review team. Two projects per year are selected. The leaders of the chosen projects are provided support from Sunnylands staff, but the students have to manage a budget, marketing plan, student workers, and design elements of the project to effectively make their project a reality and present it to the public.

Students must be part of the Cathedral City High School (CCHS) Baccalaureate Program and are selected by CCHS teachers and program director. Details listed in our School Programs section.

Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos

CV Days of Los Muertos is a local collaborative to celebrates the cultural significance of the Día de los Muertos. This event, originated by the Aztec culture, has now blended the with icons of Christianity. Today, Día de los Muertos is a celebration and remembrance of ancestors. Traditionally, family visits their graves, bringing gifts and sharing remembrances in their honor.

Our Coachella Valley collaboration is a celebration of these traditions through our local cultural institutions including:

At Sunnylands we provide workshops in October, and a five-day celebration on the weekend of Día de los Muetros. The dates of the celebration concur annually with the traditional dates of November 1-2. During this time the garden is decorated with traditional papel picado, altars, and Calaveras. Day and evening hours are scheduled for altar viewing and each year an evening of entertainment is included.

Altar partners: In addition to our program partners, we support our altar partners with a stipend, which they use to create altars throughout the gardens. The altars are a way for them to represent their organizations within the iconic imagery and with respect for the cultural celebration of Día de los Muertos. Participants have included:

Details listed in Community Programs section.

Dance in the Gardens

Dance in the Gardens is  a collaboration with Nickerson-Rossi Dance/Palm Springs International Dance that activates the gardens with thematic popup dance programs. Details listed in Community Programs section.

Desert Arc

Desert Arc clients work as part of the Sunnylands facilities staff through an employment partnership. The Desert Arc golf community is also able to participate in golf programs where they practice their golf skills in an accessible environment. For some, it’s an opportunity to work on skills for their participation in the Los Angeles Special Olympics.

For information on participation, please contact Desert Arc.

First Tee Coachella Valley

First Tee Coachella Valley and Sunnylands partner to engage students in a development and golf skills program. Students develop leadership skills during weekly meetings that focus on the First Tee core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment. In addition, they hone their golf skills working with both First Tee and Sunnylands golf staff. Participants must be members of the First Tee program, exhibit maturity, and dedication to the core values, and commit to participating fully in the eight-week program.

For more information please contact First Tee Coachella Valley.

MOBIUS

MOBIUS is a youth advocacy project launched in 2019 during the Coachella concert series. Programming addresses topics important to emerging professionals and our future leaders. Sunnylands hosts an evening, in-the-round panel discussion with three speakers. Each speaker provides a unique perspective on an engaging subject. Through moderated conversations, the audience works to develop guidance and processes for addressing social issues that concern them. Details listed in Conversations section.

Sunnylands Series

Sunnylands Series is a collaborative partnership with The City of Rancho Mirage Library to bring free, Sunnylands-sponsored conversations to the community in the Library Theater. Throughout the season, we present conversations with our collections team (or artists related to an exhibition), Sunnylands staff, and cultural, historic, and literary guest speakers. Details listed in Conversations section.

STORY

STORY is a program that utilizes our garden boards to engage visitors in the gardens around the Center. We partner each season with five organizations to amplify under-represented voices on a variety of topics. During these program weeks, walking through the gardens will be an enlightening experience as STORY guides you, sharing thought-provoking perspectives and surprising subjects. Details listed in Self-Directed section.

For more information, contact education@sunnylands.org.