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.
Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers Typically, the Torote Tree (Elephant Tree) grows only in the harshest deserts of Mexico, but we have a small population here in Anza-Borrego, its northernmost range. 3 mi RT, 600’ vertical, sandy tread with a few loose rocks and step-ups. Travel time is 75 minutes each way; not suitable for passenger cars, but okay for high-clearance all-wheel drive SUVs. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.
Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub, ABDNHA Volunteers Hike 4 miles, 500’ gain. Hike with us cross-country up Juanito Canyon to the top. There are plenty of big rocks to scramble up and around, but nothing too difficult. Then we descend the trail through pretty Glorietta Canyon and walk 0.6 miles on the road back to the cars. Dirt road suitable for all cars. Max 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring snacks and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.
Leader: Dave Walters, ABDNHA Volunteer Rated Level 4: Short Wheel Base Vehicle only ** see vehicle information We meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 9 a.m., then caravan to the Fish Creek trailhead. We travel 12 miles to the entrance of Sandstone Canyon, then drive 1.5 miles to the end of the jeep trail, where we will take lunch and take photos. We will return by the same route to the paved road. Bring food and water. Wear weather-appropriate clothes and bring a hat and chair. We will be using 2-way GRMS radios on channel 15. No charge. Space limited. This is a member-priority trip. To register, call or visit the ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098. ** Level 4: 4WD with short wheel base REQUIRED due to deep sand, large rocks, steep sections, large obstacles, or rough conditions
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. 11, and Jan. 25.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.