A historic win for young scientist Joana
Fourth-grade student Joana A. from Elaine Wynn Elementary School won the 2025 Mojave Max Emergence Contest with an incredibly close guess. She predicted May 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.. The actual emergence happened just nine minutes later at 2:09 p.m. Joana submitted her guess back in January and outperformed thousands of entries across Clark County.
Record-breaking emergence stuns everyone
This year’s event set a new milestone. Mojave Max waited longer than ever before to come out of his burrow. The previous record was April 24, 2023, at 3:40 p.m. This time, he held off until May 8, 2025. His earliest known emergence was back on February 14, 2005, at 11:55 a.m. This delayed appearance made headlines and added extra excitement to the annual Mojave Max Emergence Contest.
Max brings the celebration to school
Usually, winning students take a field trip to Springs Preserve to meet Mojave Max. But due to the late timing, the schedule no longer worked. So, for the first time, Mojave Max took the field trip instead. The team brought the entire celebration to the school, turning the campus into a learning experience. Students were thrilled to meet the real desert tortoise right in their own classroom.
A full team supports the Mojave Max program
The Mojave Max team includes staff from the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, educators from Get Outdoors Nevada, the Senior Zoologist from Springs Preserve, and the Mojave Max mascot. And yes—the live Mojave Max himself. Their combined efforts keep this unique program running strong year after year.
Joana’s big win comes with big rewards
For her accurate guess, Joana received a package of exciting prizes. These included a year-long Springs Preserve family membership, a full-year America the Beautiful family pass, a digital camera, and a laptop. Her teacher, Ms. Lopez, also received a laptop. Joana’s class earned Olympic-style medals, event t-shirts, two tickets each to visit Springs Preserve, a pizza party, and a trophy for their school. The school celebrated in full.
Students learn desert science through guessing
Now in its 25th year, the Mojave Max Emergence Contest helps students explore desert weather, animal behavior, and seasonal science. By studying how temperatures affect Mojave Max, students learn to make scientific guesses based on real data. His emergence marks the unofficial start of spring across Clark County. Each student’s guess is a lesson in observation and climate awareness.
Mojave Max teaches real-world environmental science
More than just a mascot, Mojave Max is a living lesson in desert ecology. Each year, he brumates underground during winter, then reappears when the desert warms. His home at Springs Preserve provides students a chance to see local wildlife in action. Through this contest, the Clark County Desert Conservation Program shows kids how science happens in their own backyard.
Photo credit: Clark County
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