ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy

Environmental Education
Inspiring stewardship for nature in our “wildlife classroom”
Recognized as a trusted messenger for environmental education, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s education programs increased
in 2012. More than 3,800 people—school children and the public—joined us for naturalist-guided walks in the Reserve.
Support from our members, Birds of a Feather Gala biennial gala, and educational grants from our corporate and
government partners (see next page) enable the Conservancy to provide educational opportunities to all ages throghout
the community and watershed. Some of the year’s highlights include:
Elementary School Programs
The kindergarten through fifth grade program continues to be our largest program in the education department
representing 60% of docent-led walks. More than half of the students came from underserved communities, such
as Escondido and Vista. In 2012 we created a new program focused on watersheds designed for fifth grade. Students
learn about the distribution of Earth’s fresh and salt water, and how valuable fresh water is to all communities. This
program complements the Water and Wetlands Teachers Guide developed in early 2012. We also began researching and
developing a K-2 Teachers Guide for publication in early 2013.
Public Programs
Family Discovery Days
In our second year of collaboration, County Rangers and the Conservancy presented free nature-themed events, crafts,
and live guest performances at quarterly Family Discovery Days at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. Wings Over
Wetlands in January celebrates winter bird migration. Spring EGG-ucation highlights emerging life timed with spring’s
arrival. Native San Elijo Lagoon in summer reveals unique native plants, animals, and Native American influence in the
wetland. Before Halloween, Not-so-Scary Estuary hosts children in costume for nature-themed scavenger hunts, and notso-creepy
animal encounters. Conservancy staff design stations and provide volunteer coordination. Family Discovery
Days hosts an average of 750 people each season.
Wildlife Walks
Board members and docents, Elizabeth Venrick and
Linda Jones, worked with the education director to test
pilot naturalist-led walks in the evenings. The popular
Summer Evening Walks series occurred on third
Wednesdays from June through September on Rios
Avenue Trail and were attended by an average of
30 people each walk. Plans were finalized for introducing
new Wildlife Walks in 2013 that will feature four distinct
regions of the reserve by rotating trails each season.
Weekly Saturday walks led by Conservancy docents
continue at the Nature Center.
Program Partners
Docent-Naturalist Carol Rayes shares the wonders of wetlands with elementary
school children from Escondido; a neighboring community east of the Reserve.
Escondido to San Elijo Watershed Collaboration
The Conservancy is piloting a three-year partnership, launched in 2012, with San Diego Zoo Global, The Escondido
Creek Conservancy, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, and San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. The
collaboration aims to connect Escondido’s third through fifth graders with nature in their backyard, through all-school
assemblies, field and museum visits, and an annual family event. With Escondido Creek watershed as an outdoor
classroom, this project will foster the next generation of environmental stewards. We recognize and thank SDG&E for
funding the launch of this collaboration.
CSU San Marcos
An environmental education pilot program is coordinated by a professor at California State University San Marcos.
Through collaboration, this partnership seeks to link classroom teachers (K–12), their students and families, with
community science resources to build awareness of the science and stewardship of natural resources.
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy | Annual Report 2012 | Page 8