Did you know there are 22 species of bats in San Diego County? We had the fantastic opportunity to host a bat monitoring event for the public by our newly installed bat hotel! Drew, the bat expert at the San Diego Natural History Museum, enlightened us about our local bat populations, and we even got to observe them in flight and record their frequencies with bat detectors. Such a fantastic evening!

Simon & Ashley, EDI’s Education Director & Coordinator, had a phenomenal time attending and presenting at the annual statewide Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE) conference this month! They learned a wealth of information and presented on Family Matters: Building Comprehensive Nature-Based Programming for Historically Marginalized Families. With other organizations and the help of AEOE, we’re building a California more inclusive of outdoor access and more appreciative of the beautiful natural resources the Golden State has to offer!

We enjoyed an EDI Members spring bloom hike at Crestridge Ecological Reserve and identified many wildflowers and perennials - our favorite being Delicate Clarkia (Clarkia delicata) - that will be in bloom for the rest of May. If you’d like to become a member and attend exclusive events like these with some incredible people, consider joining for $50/year*!

*Student memberships offered for $30/year

We hosted our first-ever Facebook Live Q&A to chat about all things Monarch Butterfly Gardens! We had an engaging audience and discussed various caterpillars, pests, milkweed, our favorite nectar plants, and so much more. We were immensely grateful for those who chimed in and wanted to be part of the conversation!

Our Conservation Director, Ida Kaller-Vincent, presented a poster about our cactus scrub restoration project at the SERCAL (California Society for Ecological Restoration) conference, alongside our partners at RECON. The conference was a great event that included informative presentations, engaging panel discussions, and a valuable opportunity for ecologists to come together, learn from each other, and collaborate!

We took 70 East County community members on their first visit to Cabrillo National Monument! Adults and kids alike had a fantastic time learning about the history of San Diego, taking in the incredible vistas, and exploring the coastal trail next to crashing waves and soaring pelicans! We love visiting Cabrillo!

This program is part of our Education through Recreation program, funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

We hosted an event at El Monte Ecological Preserve for biology students from Grossmont College! Together we planted around 100 cactus pads, extending our prickly pear islands and educating students on EDI’s conservation and habitat restoration efforts for the Coastal Cactus Wren at this site!

We had a wonderful time on a hike at Crestridge Ecological Reserve to celebrate the 21st annual River Days in support of our partners, the San Diego River Park Foundation! We spotted many beautiful native blooms and chatted about the river and its magnificent importance. Thank you to those of you who made it to a weekday morning hike - we had a great time with you!

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve gets an estimated annual three million visitors from all over the world. And yet, there are people right here in San Diego County who have never stepped foot in this majestic wonderland. Thanks to the Route to Parks grant, we had our first "Family Day" trip at the Torrey Pines Extension Trail. Families boarded buses from El Cajon and were whisked away to hike, discover coastal sage scrub flora and fauna, and take in the spectacular views of the ocean. We're so grateful to Parks California for providing this grant to help remove barriers that East County families face in accessing the outdoors, and making these beautiful places more inclusive! Stay tuned for more adventures!

This event was made possible by Parks California through the Route to Parks grant. This year, we will provide a series of trips for families from Magnolia Elementary to Torrey Pines, Carlsbad State Beach, Crestridge Ecological Reserve, and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Stay tuned for more adventures!

Katherine is not just a fresh face, she’s a familiar one too! Katherine once graced our organization as an intern, sprinkling magic in every department of EDI. Now, she’s back - this time as a field instructor! Her passion for EDI's mission & vision makes her a perfect team member, helping us nurture future environmental stewards.

This internship is part of our Education through Recreation program, funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

Aaron joins EDI with a love for camping, gardening, landscaping, hiking, and cycling, and has experience as a survival wilderness guide! He is a biology major at San Diego Mesa College and is excited to educate the local communities we work with about nature (he even speaks some Pashto!).

Sarrah is an active volunteer with EDI and we are so happy she has joined the team! She has a bachelor’s in Animal Science and volunteers with animal rehabilitation organizations in San Diego and Northern California. She loves native plant restoration, her family, exploring nature, and making a positive impact on people and the planet.

Celesté is a first generation college student, artist, and mental health advocate. She aims to reconnect historically marginalized folks to natural spaces, healthy food, and overall self-sustaining practices. She is excited to work with EDI and help the next generation connect with and advocate for our shared home!