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
April 11-13, 2025 3rd – 8th Grade Teachers
May 2-4, 2025 High School Teachers
Where
Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (UCR Research Center) near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Shared bunkhouse lodging).
Who
Twenty-four teachers in each symposium interested in STEM, Art, Drama, Math, and/or Language Arts. (No desert experience necessary.)
Why
We want to ensure the next generation appreciates this unique natural environment.
How
Hiking with desert experts, guest speakers, lodging, and meals
What
A weekend long professional development retreat for teachers. Hosted in Borrego Springs, Ca at our partner’s state of the art facility, the UC Irvine Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. We bring in naturalists and scientists for presentations, hikes, and collaborative lesson planning. Cost is minimal – $85 per teacher – and includes all food, lodging, and activities from Friday evening to Sunday morning). Space is limited to 24 participants per workshop.
We’ve now run four Teacher Symposia with great success and rave reviews from teachers (humbly speaking). We’ve brought in desert experts, such as your former school board member Paulette Donnellon, now a nationally acclaimed desert photographer, Diana Lindsay , who wrote the book “Anza-Borrego Desert Region”, Terry Hunefield, international wildlife tracker, the California State Parks PORTS Program, Will Madrigal, the Tribal Capacities and Partnership Manager for Climate Science Alliance, and Danny McCamish, the Senior Environmental Scientist and Natural Resources Supervisor for the Colorado Desert District for California State Parks, just to name a few.
Cost
We request a $85 commitment/registration fee. After you complete the INTEREST FORM, we will inform you of your registration status and send you the registration and payment forms and a welcome letter.
Questions? Please email Erin English at [email protected].
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
