October 2025 Newsletter

Earth Discovery Institute
Oct 31
4 min read

Elfin Forest Enchantment

It was such a treat to bring East County families to the enchanting Elfin Forest in North County as part of our "Education Through Recreation" program. Guided by our field instructors, multigenerational families explored the wonders of the Interpretive Center, hiked the botanical trail, had a leaf race in the Escondido Creek, played totem tag, and enjoyed the splendor as families connected with nature and each other. A key goal of our family-focused events is to help people fall in love with nature. As one of the 8-year-olds exclaimed during this outing: "I'm coming back here forever!" Mission accomplished!

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.

Sale Success!

The EDI Annual Native Plant Sale was a huge success! We had a busy morning filled with native plant enthusiasts and home gardeners visiting our sale and getting advice from our experienced volunteers and staff about native plants. We had over 50 transactions and are so excited for those who have added some wonderful new native plants to their natural spaces!

Copious Kayaking Continues!

This month, we made a splash with not one, but two exciting family kayaking and paddle boarding days at beautiful Bayside Park in Chula Vista! Our amazing partners at Chula Vista Water Sports provided all the gear and hands-on instruction, helping both first-timers and seasoned paddlers get out on the water. Across the two events, we welcomed 145 participants from East County, many experiencing the San Diego Bay for the first time! Families soaked up the sunshine, connected with their community, and discovered the natural beauty of the bay. Even those a little nervous at first ended up feeling relaxed, happy, and energized after their experience, and can’t wait to visit the bay again in the future! Below are some quotes from participants:

“The people surrounding me made me feel welcome. They were very kind and helpful.”

“Fue una bonita experiencia y poder compartir la misma emoción con mi familia”

“Es muy bonito y quisiéramos volver a vivir esta experiencia “

“Thank you for this great opportunity to learn kayaking and paddle boarding and spend quality family time”

A huge thank you to the California Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast grant for making these events possible!

California Native Plant Society Plant Sale

This month, we were lucky to host a table (again!) at the California Native Plant Society's native plant sale! We are so grateful for their partnership and had SO much fun chatting with the many plant lovers who made their way through the sale. Our three California Climate Action Fellows hosted our booth and did a stellar job spreading the word about EDI and the importance of helping our environment - now more than ever! Nothing beats an involved and passionate community.

Celebrating 1 Year with Veronica Cuadras, EDI's Conservation Technician!

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since Veronica joined the EDI team, yet at the same time, it feels like she’s been an integral part of our team for much longer! Working with Veronica is an absolute delight. Her positive attitude, dedication, and enthusiasm for our work shine through in everything she does, whether she’s out in the field, working alongside our volunteers, or supporting our restoration projects. She brings great energy to everything she takes on, and we are so lucky to have her on our team. We look forward to many more years of working together and continuing to make an impact!

Celebrating 3 Years with Ashley Ersepke, EDI's Education Coordinator!

This month our own Ashley Ersepke hit a milestone of 3 years with EDI! Ashley began with us as a Field Instructor, and her penchant for all-things logistical quickly earned her a promotion to Education Coordinator. Teachers, community liaisons, students, and families we serve know her as a perennial presence who helps schedule trips and prepares participants with clear info so they can make the most of their experience. In addition to being a scheduling whiz, Ashley's an expert naturalist, a passionate educator, and a compassionate ally to the communities we serve. On top of it all, she's also an extraordinary nature illustrator, and has contributed her talents to EDI's silent auctions (including a beautiful new wildlife illustration piece that will be up for bid at our Annual Fundraiser tomorrow). Thanks for elevating EDI with your many talents, Ashley! Happy anniversary!

Celebrating 3 Years with Ida Kaller Vincent, EDI's Conservation Director!

We are so fortunate to have had Ida Kaller-Vincent (right) as our incredible and unstoppable Conservation Director for the past 3 years! Not only is she one of the strongest people we know (and love), she is also beyond reliable, determined, and passionate, and has kept our Conservation program flourishing and growing year after year since joining the EDI team! Ida is an invaluable member of our Dream Team and we can only hope for many more years together. Happy 3 year workiversary, Ida!