Anza Borrego Foundation
TEACHER SYMPOSIUM
Anza-Borrego Foundation would like to partner with 3rd-grade, middle school, and high school teachers interested in preserving Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by educating their students on its natural beauty and abundant resources.
To bring awareness about the desert to classrooms across Southern California, ABF is hosting three weekend teacher symposiums at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center and in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We are looking for teachers interested in learning more about the desert and willing to learn ways they can influence the next generation of visitors on climate awareness, conservation, and preservation.
We also invite our teacher symposium participants to become advisory council members who provide input into our educational program’s continued development and improvement.
The three-day spring symposium will consist of one full day, “Learning in the Park,” with a certified volunteer naturalist for California State Parks and an Environmental Scientist for the California State Parks, and a hike on Sunday. We will provide all meals and group lodging at the UCI Research Center located in the Park.
Teacher Symposium Details
When:
- March 27–29, 2026 – Middle School Teachers
- April 10–12, 2026 – High School Teachers
Where: Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (UCR Research Center), near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Lodging is in a shared bunkhouse.
Who: Each symposium will host 24 teachers. (No prior desert experience necessary.)
Why: We aim to ensure that the next generation understands and appreciates this unique desert environment.
How: Participants will enjoy hiking with desert experts, engaging guest speaker sessions, and receive lodging and meals throughout the weekend. Participants will share a 6-bed bunk room at the research center.
What: A weekend-long professional development retreat in Borrego Springs, CA, held at the state-of-the-art UC Irvine Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. The experience includes:
- Presentations from naturalists and scientists
- Hands-on hikes
- Collaborative lesson planning
- All meals, lodging, and activities from Friday evening to Sunday morning.
Cost: We request a $185 commitment/registration fee per teacher. (Price increase from prior years covers inflation. After completing the interest form, you will be notified of your registration status and sent additional materials, including the registration and payment forms and a welcome letter.
Past guest experts, guides, and presenters have included:
- Paulette Donnellon, nationally acclaimed desert photographer
- Diana Lindsay, author of Anza-Borrego Desert Region
- Terry Hunefeld, international wildlife tracker
- California State Parks PORTS Program
- Representatives from the Anza-Borrego State Park
- Will Madrigal, Tribal Capacities and Partnership Manager, Climate Science Alliance
- Danny McCamish, Senior Environmental Scientist, California State Parks
- Helen Shafer-Garcia, is a painter, mixed media, book arts and assemblage artist and award winning illustrator
- Ami Admire, a Payómkawichum from the Rincon Indian Reservation and coordinator of Indian Health Council’s Native Connections grant.
Questions? Please email Erin English at eenglished@yahoo.com.
Teacher Testimonials
I was amazed how much life there is in the desert. It has inspired me to teach more in the desert. I found the hikes most valuable because I was able to experience the desert in such a different way than expected. ~DD
“Hearing from Will Madrigal was powerful. The symposium would not have been appropriate without Indigenous voices. Learning about the problems and effort towards solutions from Danny was very interesting. Tracking by prints and scat with Terry was really fun.” ~JR
As a new person to the desert, I was hooked by Paulette’s photography slide show. It made me curious and want to learn more. ~KR
My favorite moment from the symposium was during the Font’s Point hike with Terry. We had walked so carefully and mindfully, taking in every small detail about the ground. Once we reached the top of the hill, I was so surprised by the vastness of the land below us. The wind also added a fun aspect. 🙂 It was so beautiful and a pleasant surprise. ~AL
This program opened my eyes to the unique biodiversity that the desert holds. I also learned so much about the conservation and preservation efforts by the foundation and partnering organizations. ~Participant
My weekend with the Anza- Borrego foundation was eye opening and enriching. I have learned to appreciate the desert environment with so many different lenses. Historian, biologist, photographer, tracker…I will never see the desert in the same way again and I am so excited to share it with my students. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers from the Anza-Borrego foundation. I appreciate your generosity and willingness to share your love of the desert with the next generations!
M.S. – California virtual academies
The Anza Borrego Teacher Symposium was an unparalleled gift. To spend a weekend led by field professionals, and in the company of thoughtful peers, has been edifying and uplifting. I have been provided with a wealth of resources, foundational knowledge, and the means to immediately translate my learning experience to my classroom. The accommodations and provisions were ample and exceptional. Every detail was considered and resulted in a highly valuable and memorable experience.
KM – Horizon Prep
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I approached this weekend as a middle school ELA teacher. It was the perfect opportunity to slow down and experience the world as we want our students to appreciate it. As teachers, we get so caught up in the day-to-day life of behavior management and student necessities, we sometimes forget to slow down and observe the world too. This experience reminded me to step back and approach teaching from a standpoint of students’ impact on the world and how they can begin the process of learning to appreciate the environment we live in. With the support of the amazing speakers and hand-on experiences, I gained more tools and understanding of the desert environment and how we could integrate these ideas into the classroom setting. Additionally, this experience didn’t keep us sitting inside a classroom or workspace all weekend. Instead, we listened to relevant speakers then followed them out into different zones of the desert to apply the knowledge we collected indoors. I genuinely enjoyed observing and learning from professionals of the desert environment, which lead to an unforgettable and priceless experience. Thank you!
-Kersten M, The Classical Academies
The Anza Borrego Foundation Teacher Symposium was an experience that far surpassed my expectations. The knowledge, experience and passion that each presenter demonstrated in their area of expertise had a profound impact on my familiarity with this unique desert ecosystem. Paulette’s passion for capturing the beauty of life that fills Anza Borrego left me in awe. Danny’s ability to make the current biological concerns of the wetlands ecosystem more accessible provided an entry-level understanding that allows us to bring these real-world relevant concerns to our classrooms. His understanding of the history of the land and changes over time provided the background knowledge to create multi-disciplinary lessons that teachers who participate in this program can use immediately in their classrooms. Erin’s welcoming nature truly made this experience one of a collaboration of colleagues. This was genuinely an opportunity of a lifetime!
Jen P. – Encinitas Union
