Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve: Ah, Wilderness. The History of the Establishment of State Wilderness Areas at Anza-Borrego
Moments in Time with Dave VanCleve: Ah, Wilderness. The History of the Establishment of State Wilderness Areas at Anza-Borrego David Van Cleve has many ties to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In the 1980s, he was an environmental scientist in the San Diego regional office, where he collaborated with park staff on […]
Welcome Back to the Desert — Support Borrego Partners on Your Next Visit
Photo Credit: The Desert Sun Welcome Back to the Desert — Support Borrego Partners on Your Next Visit As the desert begins to cool and the stars shine brighter against crisp night skies, there’s no better time to return to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Whether you’re here to hike hidden canyons, marvel at the night […]
ABF in Action: Samantha Young, Education Director
https://youtube.com/shorts/q4-0naiiMO4?feature=share ABF in Action: Samantha Young, Education Director ABF in Action is our monthly spotlight series highlighting the people who bring Anza-Borrego Foundation’s mission to life. Each month, we introduce you to a member of our dedicated team; the people working behind the scenes (and often out in the desert!) to protect the Park, inspire […]
Member Spotlight: Timothy Mielcarek & Brian Marquez
Member Spotlight: Timothy Mielcarek & Brian Marquez This month we are delighted to feature ABF Board Member Timothy Mielcarek and his husband, Brian Marquez, whose lives are deeply tied to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Tim’s connection to the Park spans more than 70 years, beginning with camping trips as a baby with his conservationist parents. […]
Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve: How General is a General Plan?
Moments in Time with Dave VanCleve: How General is a General Plan? David Van Cleve has many ties to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In the 1980s, he was an environmental scientist in the San Diego regional office, where he collaborated with park staff on many significant natural resource projects. In 1989, he […]
Nicholas Clapp: A Renaissance Man Who Left His Mark on ABF
Nicholas Clapp: A Renaissance Man Who Left His Mark on ABF Written by: Diana Lindsay Nicholas Clapp, former ABF board member who died at the age of 89 on July 30, had a deep engagement with desert landscapes and storytelling. As a filmmaker, author, and amateur archaeologist, Nick explored and documented the cultural and […]
Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Latham
Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Latham From camping at Bow Willow as a child to introducing her own kids to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park today, Elizabeth Latham has spent her life connected to this landscape. Now serving as an ABF board member, Elizabeth continues her family tradition of exploring the desert’s wild canyons and wide-open spaces—finding freedom, […]
Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve: How We Got Here and Where We Hope to Go, Part One
Moments in Time with Dave VanCleve: How We Got Here and Where We Hope to Go, Part One David Van Cleve has many ties to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In the 1980s, he was an environmental scientist in the San Diego regional office, where he collaborated with park staff on many significant […]
ABF Member Spotlight: Patrick Yrarrázaval-Correa
From chasing wildflowers in spring to hiking remote canyons and monitoring bighorn sheep, Patrick Yrarrázaval-Correa has spent over 40 years exploring every corner of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. What began as a spark around a campfire during a college ecology class became a lifelong connection to one of California’s most rugged and awe-inspiring landscapes. In […]
Gerald the Kangaroo Rat’s Big Adventure
By Amanda Cochran, California Naturalist in the Desert Graduate In the wide, golden sands of Anza-Borrego Desert, under a sky sprinkled with stars, lived a little kangaroo rat named Gerald. He had the softest brown fur, the longest tail with a fluffy tip, and the biggest, roundest eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. Gerald loved […]
Summer Storms in the Colorado Desert: Nature’s Lifeline
Summer Storms in the Colorado Desert: Nature’s Lifeline As we head into the North American Monsoon season, the Colorado Desert begins to transform. From late spring through early fall, moist air from the Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico flows into the region, triggering dramatic afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Though often brief and highly […]
Borrego Partners: The Heartbeat of a Park-Loving Community
Borrego Springs is a truly unique place; an entire community nestled right in the heart of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Completely surrounded by the Park’s vast and rugged beauty, Borrego Springs is filled with passionate people, thriving local businesses, and a strong spirit of community. At the center of this special community are the local […]
ABF Member Spotlight: Matt McArdle
At the heart of the Anza-Borrego Foundation is a vibrant community of explorers, learners, and protectors who share a deep love for the Park. Our Member Spotlight series is a chance to introduce you to the people who make that community so special. This month, we’re excited to feature Matt McArdle, a passionate desert adventurer […]
Why the Stars Still Shine in Anza-Borrego: The Power of Being a Dark Sky Park & Community
Imagine standing in the desert at night. The air is still. A cool breeze moves across the sand. You look up, and instead of a dull haze or distant flickers, the entire sky is alive with stars. The Milky Way stretches from one horizon to the other. Constellations are bright and bold. The night feels […]
Surviving the Heat: How Mojave Desert Tortoises Beat the Sun
When the summer sun scorches the landscape and surface temperatures soar above 110°F, most creatures seek shelter. But for the desert tortoise, one of the region’s most resilient animals, survival is all about adaptation. These slow-moving reptiles have evolved extraordinary ways to endure life in one of the harshest climates in North America. Here’s how […]
How Hot Does It Really Get?
Summer in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is not just hot, it’s extreme. From June through September, daytime highs often soar past 100°F, with rock and sand surfaces reaching 140–150°F—hot enough to fry an egg in minutes. Even as the sun sets, temperatures linger near 80°F+, offering little relief after dark. In this environment, careful planning […]
Summer in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Top Five Survival Strategies
Summer in Anza-Borrego Desert: Top Five Survival Strategies Anza-Borrego Desert State Park comes alive in countless ways each summer if you know where (and when) to look. While temperatures can soar above 110°F (43°C) and water becomes more precious as gold, many desert inhabitants thrive rather than merely survive. From stealthy nighttime foragers to plants […]
From Yips to Howls: Coyotes Come Alive in Spring
Coyotes in Anza-Borrego come into a unique phase during spring that not only marks a time of change in the desert but also plays an important role in our ecosystem—and in our upcoming coyote webinar! In the spring, after the relative quiet of winter, coyotes become noticeably more active as they engage in behaviors vital […]
ABF Member Spotlight: Fred & LLouise Jee
For decades, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has shaped the lives of those who know it deeply—and few know it more intimately than longtime Park stewards Fred and LLouise Jee. In this Member Spotlight, we’re honored to share reflections from a pair whose connection to the desert began in the 1970s and has only deepened with […]
2025 Desert Warriors Award
We are proud to honor Diana and Lowell Lindsay as Desert Warriors! The Desert Warrior Awards is awarded to individuals who are dedicated to conserving Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The Award was established in 2020 to recognize individuals for their extraordinary contributions in supporting the mission of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza-Borrego Foundation, and the […]