Who Are We? - The Friends of Jawbone

The Friends of Jawbone (FOJ) is a non-profit, public benefit corporation dedicated to the promotion of outdoor recreation in the Jawbone Canyon area. Formed in 1998, Friends of Jawbone supports and develops projects to improve, protect and maintain existing trails and to promote understanding, education and cooperation among all users of public lands.

The Friends of Jawbone organization consists of Off-Highway vehicle users and their local, state and federal agency representatives. These groups work together to ensure the continued availability of multiple use recreational opportunities in the Jawbone Canyon and the surrounding area.

The Friends of Jawbone also provides major support for the day-to-day operations of the Jawbone Station and Visitor Center. The FOJ coordinates its volunteer activities at the station and makes every effort to ensure trained personnel continue to be available in the station to assist all visitors to the area when necessary.

When you support the Friends of Jawbone, you are supporting a coalition of users, groups and public agencies that really works for you!

Activities

Moose Anderson Days
The Friends of Jawbone’s premier annual event is Moose Anderson Day, held each year in April. At this event, volunteers work side-by-side with public officials on clean-up and restoration projects, enjoy guided tours of the area, as well as a BBQ lunch and raffle. The Board of Directors hold their annual meeting at the conclusion of the event.

Mark “Moose” Anderson, the person for whom our annual event was named, loved motorcycle riding in the Jawbone Canyon area and served as a governor-appointed Commissioner on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission.  

As a college graduate with a degree in Natural Resource Planning, Mark was just the person to work toward the unification of the off-road vehicle industry and the education of government agencies.  He had been racing motocross since age 15, and had a unique understanding of the issues facing OHV enthusiasts and the BLM.

Mark successfully worked in conjunction with many other individuals in the Jawbone area to promote responsible recreational OHV use. His hard work has helped make the Friends of Jawbone what it is today.

Sadly, Mark suffered a fatal motorcycle accident while riding to Mexico in July 1987.  A plaque at the flag pole near Jawbone Station was dedicated in his honor. His service to the Jawbone Canyon area has never been forgotten and his legacy lives on as he is remembered every year at Moose Anderson Day.

We honor Mark Anderson for his community service and enthusiasm for outdoor recreation.

Mission Statement

The Friends of Jawbone has three goals:

1.) To provide a forum for the users of public lands in and around Jawbone Canyon, in which to promote the preservation, multiple use, and restoration of all public lands.
2.) To support and develop projects which improve, protect and maintain existing trails in the area.
3.) To promote understanding, education and cooperation between all the various users of public lands.

Dedicated to Ed Waldheim

Man standing next to dirt bike

Founder of the Friends of Jawbone (FOJ)

Friends of Jawbone is a non-profit corporation under section 501(c)(3). If you or your business would like to support Friends of Jawbone, please click here.

Special Thanks To:

Please join us in thanking our Supporters:

Shaw Charitable Fund

PIONEER MEMBERSHIP

Please join us in thanking the sponsors of our 26th Moose Anderson Day:

Bureau of Land Management
Terra-Gen 

CarMax Foundation
Mojave Gold