Join Anza-Borrego Foundation for a very special retreat into the desert to study and spend time in quiet with experts in the field of soundscape science. This retreat is limited to only 15 participants! Spend the weekend in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at a state-of-the-art research facility with Matt Mikkelsen of Quiet Parks International. All accommodations and food are included in this three-day, two-night experience.

This will be Quiet Parks International’s second research trip into the State Park, and we want to open this one up for the public to participate and assist in data collection. Work side by side with a major sound recordist to capture the sounds of nature in Anza-Borrego. Hike in silence amidst the sunset chorus. Eat delicious catered food amongst like-minded friends. Quiet your mind through optional mindfulness practices.

A sample itinerary is as follows:
Friday evening: arrival, happy hour, dinner and lecture
Saturday morning: early field start to set up and collect sound data at sunrise
Saturday afternoon: lunch, rest and free time
Saturday evening: dinner and silent night hike
Sunday morning: breakfast and data collected and analyzed

All field experiences will be accessible to a wide variety of skill levels. There will be some easy to moderate hiking and data collection, and no experience required!

All meals will be catered. Accommodations are included – we’ll stay at the Steele-Burnand Anza Borrego Desert Research Center, with three to four people per dorm style room. This iconic research facility, managed by UC Irvine used to be a country club and sits on 80 acres of a protected reserve, adjacent to the State Park. It is set back against the hills and a perfect location for our quiet retreat. You are also welcome to find your own accommodations, if preferred.

You must register by March 20 to claim your spot. 

Cost: $450 members, $500 non-members

*Note that if this retreat does not fill up, it may be canceled, and you will be fully refunded. 

Please email Samantha Young with any questions: Samantha@theABF.org 

Check out the Quiet Parks International website for more information about their work: https://www.quietparks.org/ 

REGISTER HERE

Cancellation Policy
Notification must be received at least 7 days before the first day of the event if you need to cancel and wish to receive a refund. A $10 cancellation fee will be retained for each registration. For cancellations made after the 7-day deadline, we cannot issue refunds for any reason. We understand that unforeseen or emergency circumstances may arise, but our nonprofit organization operates on a limited budget and, while inconvenient, this policy enables us to sustain our programs even with last-minute cancellations. If ABF cancels a program, we will issue a full refund or credit.