Birding Walk: Rams Hill Golf Course (Easy)

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers Looking for something different to do on Christmas morning? Join us at one of the better birding spots in the Borrego area! Generally closed to the public, we have permission to walk the course on the one day of the year when it's closed. Look for Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Grebes, and others. 4 mi RT, 100' vertical. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10

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Hike: Moonlight Canyon – Inner Pasture Loop Car Shuttle (Strenuous)

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub Hike 10 miles, 1100’ gain. After leaving a few vehicles at the hike’s end, we drive 3 miles back to Agua Caliente Park. After less than a mile on the Moonlight Canyon trail, we deviate up to the Inner Pasture overlook. Lots of little dry falls to navigate! Then we descend into Inner Pasture, walk a mile through it, then back to the road via an easy, very scenic unnamed canyon. Max. 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

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Auto Tour of Borrego’s Metal Sculptures

Leader: ABDNHA Program Director Mike McElhatton Join Mike on this auto tour of the outdoor sculptures in the Borrego Valley, including the newest addition, the Roadrunner and the Rattlesnake! See the sculptures, hear the story they were created to tell, and how and why they were made. No charge. Limit: 22, registration required. Visit or call the Nature Center to register, 760-767-3098.  We will carpool from the ABDNHA parking lot.

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Public Presentation of the New Desert Botany Club

Coordinator: Don Rideout If you are interested in being part of this new ABDNHA club or would like to learn more, there are two programs today you’ll want to attend. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be an open meeting to discuss the club's activities, such as field trips, hikes, lectures, gardening, and more. From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is the first club presentation, “The Plants of the Anza-Borrego Desert” in the ABDNHA Library. (See 6:30 below for more information.)  Note: This afternoon's meeting requires no pre-registration. The lecture on Saturday night does require registration and a fee. 

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Nature Journaling (Easy)

Leaders: Pat Matthews and Selden McKee, ABDNHA Volunteers This activity repeats on the first Tuesdays of the month to explore nature journaling in the ABDNHA garden and in the field until noon.  No experience necessary—just a curiosity about the natural world. Participants will need a small, unlined journal, a pencil, an eraser, a micron pen, colored pencils or a compact watercolor set, and a chair. We will be outdoors, so a sun hat, water, and a snack are recommended. Meet in the parking lot of ABDNHA. No charge; call the Nature Center to reserve.

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Short Walk in ABDNHA’s Desert Garden

Leader: Amateur Botanist Kathy Bussey Join Kathy Bussey for a short stroll around ABDNHA’s garden, a peaceful and beautiful spot filled with desert plants from throughout the southwest deserts, trees, cacti, shrubs, and annual flowers, featuring many colorful signs and artwork. The garden begins to bloom in mid-February. Bird activity, artwork, and information panels lend additional color. The garden surface is flat, making it very easy to walk on. Meet in the ABDNHA Parking lot. Call or drop by the Nature Center to register. Also presented on Jan. 25.

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Hike: Sentenac Mountain Loop (Strenuous)

Leader: Tom Keffer, ABDNHA Volunteer We start with a pleasant hike up well-shaded Plum Canyon, but then after a mile, we’ll head off-trail up a rough canyon, heading for the summit of Sentenac Mountain. The views on top are sweeping. The descent rejoins the Plum Canyon trail about a half mile from the parking area. 3 mi. RT, 800’ vertical. Steep with an occasional cholla. Sandy 1.5-mile access road, suitable for most 2WD. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Wear sturdy boots (no tennies!) and long pants. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit 10 people.

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Borrego Walkabout (Easy)

Leaders: Selden McKee and Mike McElhatton Get a little exercise, take some photos, learn the history, and hear the stories behind the buildings and places in this tiny desert town we all love so much - Borrego Springs. We will start at ABDNHA and cover approximately 1.5 miles, all of which is flat. Wear comfortable walking shoes. No charge, but pre-registration is required at ABDNHA's Nature Center, 760-767-3098.

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Birding Walk: Sonny Bono Refuge Visitor Center (Easy)

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers Some of the best birding in our area. We will walk out to Rock Hill, 2 miles RT, with no elevation gain. We are likely to see Snow Goose (sometimes in the thousands), Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Dowitcher, and Burrowing Owl. Travel time is 1 ¼ hours each way. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

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Nature Journaling in the Field (Easy)

Leader: Pam Blake, ABDNHA Volunteer Come practice nature journaling in the field with Pam Blake. Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot at 9 a.m. and set out from there. You’ll need your own supplies and some familiarity with this practice, as this session offers a chance for further nature journaling with a group but without instruction. No charge; call the Nature Center to reserve. This activity is repeated on the third Tuesday of each month.

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