Camp Borrego: 5th Grade Outdoor Camp 2026 Impact Report

Thanks to the generous support from Slaggie Family Foundation, Anza-Borrego Foundation successfully delivered another transformative year of Camp Borrego, our flagship 5th-grade outdoor education program. In 2026, we welcomed a new cohort of approximately 24 students from Borrego Springs Elementary School for a three-day, two-night camping experience that immersed them in the wonders of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. For many students, this was their first time camping—and in some cases, their first meaningful visit into the Park that surrounds their community. 

The funds this year allowed us to hire and train four new Outdoor Educators, one of whom joined our highly skilled education team as a trainee on this Camp Borrego program. Our outdoor educators are trained in environmental education and interpretation, ensuring that every program is grounded in best practices for effective youth learning in the outdoors. Parent and teacher chaperones supported the program through coordinated day and night shifts, helping us provide safe and community-centered supervision throughout the experience. 

During Camp Borrego, students: 

• Learned how to set up tents, manage gear, and create a  
  functional campsite. 

• Helped prepare meals and practice shared responsibility,  
  from chopping vegetables to washing dishes. 

• Hiked Borrego Palm Canyon trail while learning about local  
  ecology, geology, and Leave No Trace ethics. 

• Explored the Visitor Center and Discovery Lab. 

• Observed wildlife and plants using inquiry kits and journals,  
  deepening their understanding of desert ecosystems. 

• Participated in team-building activities, environmental lessons,  
  and hands-on science learning. 

• Gathered at the campfire each night to share reflections,  
  stories, and s’mores. 

• Formed meaningful bonds with classmates, educators, and 
  the desert landscape itself.  

This year’s program continued our long tradition of building confidence, curiosity, and community among young people. Students learned not only outdoor skills, but also resilience, collaboration, and a sense of belonging in a place that is both ecologically significant and culturally important, and that surrounds their home. We were proud to see many students grow over the course of the trip—whether it was overcoming homesickness, trying a new skill, or discovering something unexpected about the natural world. 

We remain grateful for the opportunity to provide this life-changing experience and to deepen our relationship with Borrego Springs students. Camp Borrego continues to plant seeds for future environmental stewards and builds a foundation for continued engagement with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park through middle school field trips, Junior Ranger programs, and eventually high school conservation internships. 

Consider becoming an Anza-Borrego Angel recurring monthly donor and help us continue work like this!