September 2026 Newsletter
Volunteer Appreciation Day!
As always, we are endlessly grateful for the volunteer heroes who show up for EDI week after week. As a small token of our appreciation, we hosted an appreciation day equipped with tasty treats and coffee beneath the Oak Grove at Crestridge Ecological Reserve. We had a wonderful time spending the morning with them without getting our hands dirty! Each volunteer also received a Monarch Butterfly tote with illustrations from our very own Ashley Ersepke (Education Director) as a thank you for their continuous hard work and selflessness!
Eco-Leaders
Throughout September, our Education Dream Team created and delivered a brand new program to high school students from SDCOE's Juvenile Court and Community Schools! 21 students joined us in exploring Crestridge and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge while gaining hands-on career skills. Throughout the month, they learned about habitat restoration, irrigation installation, and science communication. Each eco-leader also got to enjoy kayaking on the San Diego Bay thanks to our partners at Chula Vista Water Sports followed by a litter clean-up at Bayside Park (where we collected nearly 50 pounds of trash!). This program was made possible thanks to funding from the San Diego Foundation, and each student received a stipend as well as hiking gear for their dedication to learning about environmental stewardship.
Biodiversity BioBlitz
To celebrate California Biodiversity Day, 11 nature lovers joined us for a Twilight BioBlitz at Sweetwater River where we spotted two rattlesnakes, hummingbirds, and an abundance of beautiful summer blooms! It was a great evening and everyone really enjoyed the cooler evening air as the sun set. We were thrilled by our sightings and had so much fun getting out into nature as the sun clocked out for the day!
Animals on the Bay Day
We were thrilled to take part in Animals on the Bay Day at the Living Coast Discovery Center! Families got to experience animal encounters, participate in educational arts and crafts, explore the various booths (including EDI!), and enjoy incredible views by the coast.
Community Trail Walk
We enjoyed a walk along Finney Trail Overlook and had a great time exploring the trails and talking about the future of San Diego's trail system! Community members joined us to share what they value about our trails and provide feedback on what could be improved as part of the City of San Diego's Citywide Trails Master Plan. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to the City of San Diego for creating opportunities for our communities to have a voice in the planning process!
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