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Anza-Borrego Foundation

FAQs

Events, Programs, Camping, and Hiking

What is your cancellation policy?

Anza-Borrego Foundation Program Cancellation Policy 

We understand that plans can change and strive to balance participant flexibility with the costs of program preparation and nonprofit operations. As the only nonprofit that directly supports Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, we rely on registration fees and community support to keep our doors open and programs running without interruption. Thank you for your understanding! 

In the event that ABF cancels a program due to weather, emergencies, or circumstances beyond our control, participants will receive a full credit toward future programs or a refund. 

1-2 Day Programs (e.g. hikes, drives, workshops, webinars) 

  • Unfortunately, cancellations made less than 30 days before the program start date are ineligible for a refund. 
  • If you are unable to attend a program and choose to donate your registration fee, or do not request a refund 30 days before the program start date, your registration fee will be considered a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the Anza-Borrego Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID: 33-0334338). You may receive proper documentation for tax purposes by emailing Emily@theabf.org. 
  • Transferring Registration – If you’re unable to attend a program but would like to transfer your spot to someone else, please reply to the confirmation email with the name of the person who will attend in your place.  

 

Multi-Day Programs (e.g. Retreats, Wilderness First Responder course) 

  • A nonrefundable deposit is required to hold your spot at the time of registration. 
  • The balance of your registration fee, minus the nonrefundable deposit, is refundable up to 30 days prior to the program start date. 
  • Unfortunately, cancellations made less than 30 days before the program start date are ineligible for a refund.   
  • If you are unable to attend a program and choose to donate your registration fee, or do not request a refund 30 days before the program start date, your registration fee will be considered a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the Anza-Borrego Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID: 33-0334338). You may receive proper documentation for tax purposes by emailing Emily@theabf.org.  
  • Transferring Registration – If you’re unable to attend a program but would like to transfer your spot to someone else, please reply to the confirmation email with the name of the person who will attend in your place.  

 

California Naturalist Course Cancellation Policy 

  • Full refunds can be issued up to 30 days before the course start date. 
  • Unfortunately, cancellations made less than 30 days before the course start date are ineligible for a refund but your registration may be transferred to the next course session.  
  • If you are unable to attend the course and choose to donate your registration fee, or do not request a refund 30 days before the course start date, your registration fee will be considered a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the Anza-Borrego Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID: 33-0334338). You may receive proper documentation for tax purposes by emailing Emily@theabf.org. 

 

Why This Policy Exists 

Your support through your registration fees helps us to sustain our mission of protecting and connecting people to the wonders of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. As the only nonprofit that directly supports Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, our program fees help us cover the real costs of planning, staffing, materials, and logistics—costs that are incurred well before a program begins. Processing cancellations, refunds, and credits require a lot of administrative time that reduces our ability to focus on creating fantastic programs, conserving more land, and contributing to the needs of the State Park. Thank you for your understanding and support! 

As Anza-Borrego Foundation is a non-profit organization, almost all program costs are used to pay for the cost of running education programs. Anything extra is used to subsidize programs that seek to increase access to the outdoors. In many cases, running our programs actually costs more than we charge for registration.

Yes! A limited number of scholarships are available for those with financial hardship. If you’d like to request a scholarship, please reach out to emily@theabf.org with a two–three paragraph description about why you’d like to attend a program and your need for a scholarship.

Unfortunately, animals are not allowed at programs unless they are certified service animals. We love our pets too, but must adhere to the State Park’s rules and regulations. Dogs on trails can disrupt the local ecosystem and are an additional consideration for program facilitators.

Family camping programs are typically three days and two nights of camping in a private area of Borrego Palm Canyon. We provide all camping gear, food, and guided activities, unless otherwise specified in the event. A full packing list with additional expectations is provided when you sign up for an event. You do not need any prior experience camping – we will teach you – just a desire to be outdoors and explore the Park.

The essentials include: clothing, personal belongings, including layers and sun protection, two water bottles per person, and a headlamp. A comprehensive packing list will be shared in advance of the program.

The Leave No Trace Initiative outlines seven principles for enjoying the outdoors responsibly, including activities such as hiking, camping, and biking, that in this case are specific to the desert. The goal is to better inform visitors about how to behave in a desert environment and leave the space as you found it, including how to dispose of trash, human waste, staying on trail, and campfire use. To learn more about Leave No Trace, please visit our webpage.

If you receive a message that a program is full, please email emily@theabf.org to join a waitlist.

Information about our private tours (including pricing and options) can be found here.

Please bring at least 2 liters of water per person, snacks, layers, sun protection, and sturdy, closed-toed hiking shoes.

Please bring at least 2 liters of water per person, snacks, layers, sun protection, closed-toed shoes, and a vehicle in good working order.

Please bring a red-light headlamp, a folding chair, and layers. Option to bring snacks, drinks, and camping gear (please refer to the specific event information for details).

To sign up for events, please visit our event page, where you can register for individual events. If you need assistance with registration, please email emily@theabf.org.

General

How can I become an ABF volunteer?

Volunteers are an essential part of our organization and integral to the work we do at ABF. Most of our education programs rely on volunteer support, as do many other areas of the organization, including the Photo Contest, Land Conservation, and Retail. We would love to have you join us! If you’re interested in becoming an ABF volunteer, please email stacy@theabf.org.

You can sign up for our newsletter here! Signing up for our newsletter will get you: exclusive news about Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; highlights of our conservation and education projects; invitations to special events and programs; and tips for exploring the park and enjoying its beauty.

You can make a donation here! Your donation to Anza-Borrego Foundation will provide much-needed funding to conserve land in the Park, fund education programs, and keep Park services running. Donations over $35 automatically qualify as memberships and also give you many benefits as a member.

You can become a member here. Membership starts at just $35 per year. With membership, you’ll gain access to insider knowledge about ABF, discounts on events, access to members-only events, and special discounts on merchandise at the Visitor Center and State Park Store. Membership includes your entire household.

ABF Members enjoy 15% discounts on our educational programming and purchases at our retail and online stores! Members also receive access to special events and receive monthly member newsletters.

An excellent way to learn more about ABDSP’s natural resources is to become a certified California Naturalist in the Desert! Each season, we offer a course on the natural history of California, with a special focus on the geology, flora, fauna, and water resources of the Anza-Borrego Desert. You’ll learn from expert scientists in their respective fields while gaining hands-on experience in education, interpretation, participatory science, and environmental stewardship. At the end, you’ll receive certification as a California Naturalist by the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources program. To register, please visit this page.

You can learn more about the Photo Contest (including dates, deadlines and entry) here.

To inquire about opportunities to lead or instruct an educational program, please email our Education Director, Samantha Young, at samantha@theabf.org. We’d love to hear from you!

There are many ways to support ABF, including becoming a member, donating online, leaving a legacy, donating your vehicle, registering for an event, and volunteering!

ABF and the Visitor Center have separate but complimentary volunteer programs. ABF volunteers lead and facilitate ABF events and support other areas of the organization, like the Photo Contest, Land Acquisition, and our retail stores. Visitor Center volunteers volunteer at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) Visitor Center and with ABDSP programs. The two volunteer programs have separate training, requirements, and expectations. To learn more about volunteering for ABF, please email stacy@theabf.org. To learn more about volunteering at the Visitor Center, please visit Employment and Volunteer Opportunities.

Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is the official nonprofit partner of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We are the designated cooperating association, which means everything we do supports the State Park’s mission. Our education programs expand the reach of visitors to the Park, our land program conserves land within the Park’s boundaries to become part of the Park, and our Retail stores serve as interpretive centers for visitors.

The Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA) is a community-based, independent educational non-profit 501(c)3 organization that also hosts education programs and runs a gift shop in Borrego Springs.

Visitor Information

How can I stay safe while exploring the desert?

We recommend these desert safety tips from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park:

  • Know your physical limitations in the heat and rugged desert terrain. Summer temperatures can reach 125°F (51.7°C).
  • Always carry plenty of water … and drink it! It does you no good if it stays in your water bottle. One gallon minimum per person per day is recommended.
  • Wear sturdy footwear and a hat, and use sun protection.
  • Do not hike alone — use the buddy system.
  • Tell someone of your trip plans.
  • Carry a map and use it. GPS systems are less reliable in remote areas.
  • Start out with a well-maintained vehicle. Carry extra water, shovel, tools, flares, and blankets. Check the road condition board at the visitor center before you start out.
  • While not always required, it is recommended to have 4WD or AWD whenever leaving the pavement.
  • If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it! Raise your hood. It is much easier to find a vehicle than a wandering person.
  • Should you find yourself in trouble, do not panic. If you have followed the above precautions, help will soon be on the way.

We recommend the National Weather Service. The weather often changes last minute – it’s a good idea to frequently check the weather if you’re planning a visit to the Park.

There are many lodging options in Borrego Springs, including hotels, paid campgrounds, and primitive and dispersed camping (free). For a list of recommended hotels, please visit our Borrego Partners page.  

The State Park has three types of camping, and whichever you choose, it’s a good idea to check with the Visitor’s Center to get up to date information on established and backcountry camping in the park.

  • Established campgrounds require reservations and a fee but also come with amenities. For established campground availability and reservations, please visit Reserve California.
  • Primitive campgrounds are designated first-come, first-served camping areas that offer few if any amenities. Camping is free. In some cases, distinct sites are demarcated by stones and fire rings, while other campgrounds allow you to camp wherever you’d like to pitch a tent or park your RV. Fires are prohibited outside of official fire rings, to avoid scarring the slow-to-heal desert soil. You can, however, bring your own fire pit to hold a fire.
  • Anza-Borrego also allows dispersed camping – setting up your tent or RV in a non-designated camping area. This is perfect if you want more solitude or want to stay off the beaten path. However, there are a few rules: you must bring your own fire pit (no fires outside of this), and please carry out ALL trash, toilet paper, and human waste (yes, we said it!). Backpackers can camp along any of the Park’s trails, with the exception of areas that may be closed by the State Park. View all the Park’ rules here.

 

For a list of primitive and dispersed camping areas, we like to share this blog for an overview of what exists. (Note- we are not affiliated with this website, we just think they did a good job)

In addition to ABF events, you can find additional Borrego Springs events here. For a list of recommended shops and restaurants, please visit our Borrego Partners page.

We have two retail stores located in Borrego Springs as well as an online store!

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