The Public Lands Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, entered into a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Land Management in June 2004 to coordinate and design the core curriculum for the desert learning center.

The curriculum is designed to be involving, flexible, and experiential, with programming that may be adjusted to span anywhere from one to four days—although the preferred model is a multi-day, intensive experience. While the primary focus of the curriculum will be the life and physical sciences, students will also participate in activities related to the cultural history of the area, astronomy, technology, art, and literacy.