How to Join, Renew, or Support the Desert Tortoise Council

The Desert Tortoise Council (DTC) offers several ways to get involved: you can join or renew your membership, donate, shop, or participate in its training programs, annual symposium, grants, and awards. The organization, active since 1975, describes its mission as promoting science-based conservation of desert tortoises and their habitats and informing the public about their plight. The main entry points on deserttortoise.org are the Join/Renew Membership, Donate, and Shop pages, with Contact the DTC for questions.

Join or renew your membership

The site's navigation includes a dedicated Join/Renew Membership page, which is the starting point for both new members and existing members. The homepage also carries a "Join the DTC" call to action that links to the same membership flow.

• New members: use the Join/Renew Membership page to sign up.
• Existing members: the same page handles renewals, so you don't need a separate renewal route.
• What you're supporting: the DTC states that joining supports its mission to conserve desert tortoises and their habitats.

The available site material does not list membership tiers, dues amounts, or whether membership requires an account login, so check the Join/Renew Membership page directly for current terms before you commit.

Support the mission without joining

If membership isn't what you want right now, the site lists two other direct support routes:

Both appear as top-level items in the site menu alongside Join/Renew Membership and Contact the DTC.

Get involved through programs and events

Beyond money and membership, the DTC runs activities that members and non-members can take part in:

• Introductory Training Course — a recurring training program. Note that registration for the October–November 2026 Introductory Course is listed as full, with a waitlist available via the Details & Registration page. A separate Health Assessment Training is also listed under Training Programs.
• Annual Meeting & Symposium — the 52nd Annual Meeting and Symposium is announced as a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 24–26, 2027, with a field trip on February 23. The program includes a plenary address, invited and featured speakers, and contributed papers and posters, and is to be posted on the website 30 days before the meeting.
• Grants and funding — the site lists a Leeward Renewable Energy Research Grant, a Regular Grants Program, Edison International Funding, the Morafka Award, a Student Travel Fund, and the Allison Memorial Grant.
• Awards and recognition — including a Best Student Paper award, plus symposium activities such as a poster session, photo contest, and raffle and auction.
• Library — the Plans & Best Management Practices section sits under the Library and may be useful if your interest is in conservation planning documents.

Where to go with questions

For anything not covered on the membership, donation, or program pages, the site provides a Contact the DTC page. That's the appropriate route for questions about membership status, renewals, event registration, or how funds and grants are handled.

Quick decision guide

• Want ongoing involvement and updates? Join or renew via the Join/Renew Membership page.
• Want to give once or occasionally? Use the Donate page.
• Want something in return for your support? Browse the Shop.
• Want training or to attend the symposium? Start with Training Programs or the Annual Meeting & Symposium pages — and note the 2026 introductory course is full, so plan for the waitlist or a future session.
• Want to fund or be funded for research? Review the Grants & Funding section.

Because the site material does not state current dues, donation amounts, or whether any of these actions require an account, confirm the specifics on the relevant page before proceeding.