October was full of so much excitement for the EDI community. Equipped with our native plant sale, annual fundraiser, and many environmental education events, we were so pleased to be presented with countless opportunities to see all of your wonderful faces!

That’s a wrap on our second camping trip of the year! We had such a fun outdoor adventure with these families and many expressed interest in camping on their own now that they’ve experienced it with EDI. This is what the core of our environmental education programming is all about: helping foster a connection between children (and their loved ones) and nature. We are so happy to see these connections forming firsthand!!

EDI is thrilled to offer Family Day events like this one as part of our Education Through Recreation program. This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

Continuing with our Science & Nature Club at the El Cajon Library, we hosted lessons for all 5 Mondays in October. So far, we have learned about watershed, helping habitats, protecting pollinators, and climate care! There are three more FREE lessons taking place throughout November where we will learn about pollution solutions and camping 101 - we can’t wait and hope to see you there.

Scorpions, moths, and beetles - oh my! We had an illuminating Creatures of the Night event earlier this month exclusive to EDI members. Led by Hector Valtierra, a professor of general biology and microbiology at Southwestern & Cuyamaca colleges, we observed various moth species, detected scorpions with U.V. lights, and used echolocation devices to track bats.

Our native plant sale was a huge success this year thanks to the native plant enthusiasts in our community. With a majority of plants sold, we feel so fortunate we are able to help you with your native gardens and to have such passionate members in the community who want to help protect and support our local pollinators and wildlife. Thank you so much and we cannot wait to see you at the next one!

We had a truly spectacular time at our second annual fundraiser two weeks ago with all of you! It was so special to host this event and be among generous donors, enjoying each other's company at sunset within the beautiful oak grove at Crestridge and celebrating what we have all accomplished together. Thank you to each and every one of you who take part in our community in so many ways. We are SO happy to be here, and so happy you're here, too.

A happy 16-month (or VERY belated one year) work-iversary to Simon Breen (left), who has made leading our entire environmental education department look effortless. Thank you for all that you do and for being an incredible leader, Simon!

A happy one year work-iversary to Ida Kaller-Vincent (right), who has taken our conservation and habitat restoration projects above and beyond with only a single year here at EDI. Thank you so much for your passion and drive, Ida!

Celebrating one year with Ashley Ersepke, who has occupied a new role as Education Coordinator and totally knocked it out of the park. As she has proven to be an invaluable asset to EDI, we are pleased to announce she will be going full-time starting January of 2024!

And last but certainly not least, we are so thrilled with how our team has grown, and even more thrilled with who has occupied each role. Thank you and happy one year work-iversary to four of our field staff who remind us each day how lucky we are to be surrounded by such passionate and amazing humans.

Here’s to a year of amazing growth and many more on the horizon!