In 2022, ABF gathered to create a five-year strategic plan for the organization, including a new Education Strategic Plan which guides the education programs we offer. General program descriptions are found below. Check out our Calendar of Events for an up-to-date schedule of our program dates, presenters, and details. Below, you can also learn more about our Partnerships, Guiding Principles, and the future of ABF Education.
For questions about ABF’s education programs, please contact the Education Director, Samantha Young, at samantha@theabf.org.
ABF offers many educational programs and fun events ranging from photography to wildlife to archaeology. Take a Spring Plant Walk. Become a California Naturalist. You’re sure to find something that will spark your interest! Learn more - click the icon above!
Intermediate guided bike rides via different routes in the State Park, led by experienced cyclists.
Presentations and stargazing with telescopes to tour the night sky with an experienced astronomer. Option at Anza-Borrego under the Stars (star parties) to camp nearby.
Adult or family camping experiences in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Beginner experiences teach families to camp on their own, while adult and thematic camping trips offer an experience focused around a theme or holiday. Prices vary from almost free to reasonably priced, with gear and food included!
Experienced local artist, Shirley Spencer, teaches participants how to observe the desert around them and convey the scenery using watercolor.
Participants are guided on a three-day field trip with birding experts to view birds in three different ecosystems (the Anza-Borrego desert, the Cuyamaca Mountains, and the Salton Sea).
A two-day free community event in partnership with the City Nature Challenge, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park scientists, and UC Irvine Steele / Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. Participants mingle with scientists and learn how to help identify flora and fauna at various locations in Anza-Borrego. No experience necessary!
A nine-week, hybrid, in-depth training about the natural history of California and Anza-Borrego, in partnership with UC Environmental Stewards. Consists of online lectures, coursework, and in-person field trips in Anza-Borrego, with students becoming Certified California Naturalists. :earn more by clicking the icon above!
Interpretive, Intermediate, and Adventure Hikes. Interpretive hikes are beginner-friendly and thematic. Intermediate and Adventure (advanced) hikes visit more challenging trails or peaks and teach hiking preparedness.
Beginner and Intermediate Four-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Guided Driving Tours teach participants how to “off-road” with intention and respect for the State Park. Each trip takes a different scenic route, with interpretation and teaching rules and etiquette of driving on desert dirt roads.
These are customized, private, guided tours made by request, led by expert naturalists. We harness our unique position as the State Park partner to focus on education and interpretation of desert natural history. We customize the tour location, length, and focus according to group requests. Learn more by clicking the icon above!
Award-winning photographer, Paulette Donnellon, teaches sunrise and sunset Nature Photography, taking participants to her favorite spots in the State Park and sharing tips on capturing the scenery and wildlife. Experienced photographers teach Astrophotography, where participants learn how to capture the majesty of the night sky in this International Dark Sky Park. Experienced photographers and entomologists teach Macrophotography, where participants learn how to photograph our smallest organisms, such as insects or plants, close-up.
These lecture and field trip series share desert research, either in-person or via webinars, and are presented by knowledgeable researchers and desert naturalists.
Participants go on leisurely walks led by experienced botanists to learn about common plants species and their adaptations for living in the desert environment.
In-depth courses providing wilderness medical knowledge for desert enthusiasts or industry professionals, in partnership with accredited organizations.
An all-inclusive experience for participants to learn from experts about Anza-Borrego’s iconic plants and wildflowers during a three-day retreat with presentations, meals and lodging, and field trips.
An elevated and all-inclusive experience for participants at one of Borrego Springs’ finest resorts and includes exclusive presentations and field trips with expert legacies from Anza-Borrego's past.
Professional development three-day workshops for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Teachers learn about the desert from experts and create experiential learning opportunities for their students. Learn more about the Teacher Symposium – click the icon above!
We offer all-inclusive guided school field trips in Anza-Borrego for all ages, including full-day and multi-day camping programs, for a fee. ABF organizes the entire experience, providing camping equipment, Outdoor Educators to lead activities, guided hikes, team building, and food. Learn more about the Desert Discoveries Field Trips - click the link above!
ABF’s long-running fifth grade camp, a one-of-a-kind outdoor camping experience. Students camp for three days in the desert, learn about desert resources, and engage in team building activities. Camp Borrego is funded each year by generous grants from our donors. We are proud to provide this free outdoor learning opportunity to students from underrepresented communities.
All programs fit within a strategic program area and touch upon a topic of priority for the State Park, including:
We work to increase access to programs by providing student discounts, scholarships for financial hardships, and making programs free when possible through grant funding.
We work to reach a variety of demographics across program areas, including underrepresented communities.
We track success of programs through an evaluation process that measures cost, public interest, access, and relevance.
ABF plans to build a new Desert Education Facility. This state-of-the-art facility will include cabins, dormitories and multipurpose rooms and provide a comfortable space for public access programs and camping in the California Reserve System. Working together with California State Parks, Anza-Borrego Foundation is designing a space that aims to be both educational and beautiful!
