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 future generations, and connect our community to California’s largest state park. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Samantha Young, Education Director, who leads programs that connect thousands of people each year to the wonders of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
What excites you most about launching the fall education season?
This will be my fourth year of running the Education department at ABF and each year I’ve learned so much and we’re constantly working to improve on the previous year. I’m excited to be offering programs that we know are highly valued by our participants as well as creating unique experiences that enhance learning, appreciation, and stewardship of this incredible landscape. We’re bringing back lots of fan favorites and introducing some new (to me) programs, like interpretive hikes.
How do you design programs so they meet people where they are and invite them deeper into the Park?
Myself and the staff in Education interact with participants quite often, get feedback from our volunteers regularly, and always read surveys that come in after a program. We’re always looking to provide the experiences that people want and we listen to feedback!
It’s also true that we serve many different types of people – some who have never been to the Park before and we’re trying to entice them out with a beginner friendly program. Others are experienced desert goers looking for their next adventure. We try to offer a range of programming with many types of experiences.
Can you share a story of a student or family whose experience really stuck with you?
I remember a student from Camp Borrego, our 5th Grade Outdoor Camp, who was very nervous about being in the desert and camping for the first time. He was unsure about the animals out there, what meals would be like, how sleeping in a tent would feel… (I get it, it’s all quite intimidating!) But over the course of three days, surrounded by friends and teachers, myself and another Outdoor Educator slowly made this student feel more at home. By the end of the camping trip, it was like interacting with a new person – familiar, comfortable in the outdoors, and curious about the desert.
What challenges do you face in bringing education to the desert, and how do you overcome them?
I hate to say this — it feels so cliché — but honestly the hardest part right now is figuring out how to fund education programs, particularly those where we charge a low fee or are free, where our goal is to welcome more people to Anza-Borrego and increase access to this marvelous Park. Many of the registration fees that we charge don’t actually cover the full cost of planning and running a program. We’re exploring new funding sources, working to create relationships with funders, and experimenting with programs that charge a little bit more and using that surplus to cover other programs.
Another challenge is the overwhelm of wanting to do so much and give people exactly what they want – there’s so much we could offer but are limited on time and resources. However, my best friend always reminds me to not let “perfect be the enemy of good.” We are genuinely doing the best we can!
How does education directly tie to ABF’s mission of protecting and connecting people to the Park?
The education department facilitates experiences in Anza-Borrego that are impactful and lead to connection to the desert, to nature, and to actionable feelings of wanting to protect this space for the future. In my opinion, and that of many scientific studies, there is no comparison to experiential education and in-person experiences for learning, turning information into values and behaviors, and creating stewards of public lands. It’s unimaginable to me to envision a scenario where we ask people to protect a huge swath of land (largest State Park in California!) without being able to access it, know it, and love it. We are also working more closely than ever with State Park staff and volunteers to connect people with this land so that it may be conserved.
What keeps you motivated when the work feels hard?
My sister passed away last March. She was the biggest nature lover and she had the most beautiful heart I’ve ever seen. She constantly reminded me to love, of what was important, and to live a life full of my passions. This work is my passion and I think of her always when things are hard.
How do you measure success in your role?
Well there’s the boring stuff, like how many people attended a program, did we stick within budget, etc. But I think I REALLY feel the success when I hear from people that they loved a program, that they had an incredible time on a hike, that they brought their friends and family back to Anza-Borrego, that their kids had so much fun. This is why after-program surveys are so valuable to us.
If you could design one “dream program” for the Park, what would it be?
I think we’re actually doing a lot of dream programs already! I love the California Naturalist course. I love our camping field trips for schools. But if I could ask for whatever I wanted, it would be an endowment or some sort of never-ending funding source to bring classes out for free on camping field trips.
What’s your favorite trail, canyon, or stargazing spot in Anza-Borrego?
I love Coyote Canyon – for the variety of plants, the riparian environment, the modern and ancient history, the solitude.
Why does protecting Anza-Borrego matter to you personally?
There is no doubt in my mind that being in nature is the best medicine for a million different ailments. I think of how I feel outdoors, how my children feel outdoors, and I MUST work to create opportunities for others to feel that. It is also very clear to me that no matter what your politics are, we MUST protect nature and keep it wild. And in order to do this, we have to connect to the land. Anza-Borrego is the first wild place that I fell in love with as an adult. It’s also just SO fun and cool and beautiful.
Every role at ABF is part of a larger story — protecting 650,000 acres of desert wilderness, wildlife corridors, and cultural treasures, while inspiring people to experience and care for this place. We’re grateful to Samantha for sharing her story and for her tireless work on behalf of the Park. Stay tuned for next month’s ABF in Action spotlight, where we’ll introduce you to another member of our dedicated team.