California’s Outdoors for All Initiative and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
California’s Outdoors for All Initiative is a statewide effort to ensure that every Californian has access to safe, welcoming, and meaningful outdoor experiences. Championed by
Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the Initiative expands access to parks and outdoor spaces, supports programs that connect people to nature, and fosters a sense of belonging in the outdoors for all communities.
California is home to some of the most iconic landscapes in the world. Yet for many, these places—and the benefits they provide—remain out of reach. Outdoors for All recognizes that access to nature is essential, not optional, and works to remove barriers so everyone can experience and care for California’s natural, cultural, and historic resources.
Why Outdoors for All Matters
Spending time outdoors is critical to both individual and community wellbeing:
Health Benefits: Research shows that spending at least 30 minutes outdoors each week can reduce rates of depression and high blood pressure.
Climate Resilience: Natural spaces help buffer extreme heat, filter stormwater, and store carbon.
Biodiversity: Well-managed outdoor spaces provide vital habitat for plants and wildlife.
Economic Impact: Outdoor recreation supports one of the largest and most active economies in California.
Together, these benefits highlight why expanding equitable access to nature is a priority for the state.
How Does Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Fit into Outdoors for All?
As California’s largest state park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park plays an important role in advancing the goals of Outdoors for All:
Vast Open Access: The Park offers hundreds of miles of trails, backcountry roads, and open desert landscapes for exploration.
A Place for Discovery: Visitors can experience everything from wildflower blooms and desert wildlife to cultural history and dark night skies.
A Living Classroom: The Park provides opportunities for education, stewardship, and connection to nature across all ages and backgrounds.
Ensuring that these experiences remain accessible, inclusive, and sustainable is central to the Initiative—and to our work.
How is Anza-Borrego Foundation Advancing Outdoors for All?
As the official nonprofit partner of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) plays a key role in expanding access, deepening connection, and supporting inclusive outdoor experiences.
1. Creating More Places to Access
We protect and connect critical landscapes within and around the Park, ensuring public access to vast, open desert spaces. To date, ABF has conserved nearly 58,000 acres, helping expand and safeguard places for people to experience and enjoy the outdoors through strategic land conservation and partnerships.
2. Welcoming Everyone
We are committed to reducing barriers to access. ABF offers education programs that eliminate or heavily subsidize fees, provides scholarships for the majority of participants, and prioritizes youth from Title I schools and underserved communities. By addressing financial and logistical barriers, we help ensure that all people can build a connection with the desert.
3. Programming that Connects People to Place
Our programs go beyond passive recreation. Through guided hikes (day and night), overnight campouts, native plant walks, and storytelling rooted in the cultural and natural history of the region, participants develop meaningful relationships with the landscape. These immersive experiences allow the desert itself to become the teacher.
4. Aligning Funding to Make Access Possible
We secure support through individual donors, foundation grants, state and federal funding, and partnerships with local businesses. This funding directly subsidizes programming costs, ensuring our educational offerings remain accessible without placing financial burden on the communities we serve.
5. Partnering with Communities
We work directly with local communities—including tribal nations, rural families, and school districts—to understand their needs and design programs accordingly. Community voice is central to our approach, shaping programs from the beginning and informing continuous improvement.
6. Building Future Pathways
We are committed to developing pathways into conservation, public lands, and science careers—especially for young people from communities historically underrepresented in these fields. By providing direct experiences and exposure, we help the next generation see themselves in this work and understand its importance.
Learn More
To explore the Outdoors for All Initiative and how you can get involved:
A Shared Vision
The Outdoors for All Initiative reflects a powerful idea: that nature belongs to everyone.
Through land conservation, inclusive programming, community partnerships, and education, we are helping ensure that Anza-Borrego Desert State Park remains a place where all people can experience the beauty, resilience, and inspiration of the desert.
Together, we are building a future where access to the outdoors is not limited—but shared, protected, and sustained for generations to come.