The Escondido Creek Conservancy‘s mission is to preserve and restore the Escondido Creek watershed in northern San Diego County. Founded in 1991, their primary priority initially was to acquire land for preservation. Since then, they have helped preserve more than 7,000 acres in or adjacent to the Escondido Creek watershed. Their education department was created in 2009 out of the recognition that without environmental education, the problems confronting their watershed, community, and planet would persist. Providing environmental education and access to outdoor experiences that foster environmental stewardship is the primary goal of their education department. They believe that, through the Conservancy’s leadership, the Escondido Creek watershed will become a model of vibrant urban communities and viable natural ecosystems thriving together for a better Escondido and a better world.
Escondido Creek Conservancy Education Program options include a range of topics.
Habitats (for ages 8-13) – where students discover the interrelationships between native wildlife, native plants, the biological communities they inhabit, and the impact human activities have on these ecosystems.
Adaptations (for ages 8-13) – where students get outdoors and discover how different native plants and animals adapt and survive in their native habitat. What can the shape of a bird’s beak tell you about its diet? Why are most of the trees in the Elfin Forest so small? Why is it so important to recycle and dispose of our trash properly? The program consists of multiple stations with hands-on activities where students will learn the answers to these questions and more.
Watersheds (for ages 8-16) – Without water, there is no life–and faced with ongoing drought, water is quickly becoming one of San Diego County’s scarcest natural resources. In this program, students learn about the Escondido Creek watershed, how human behavior can affect water quality, and ways to conserve water at home and in school.
Sardina Preserve Guided Hike (for ages 8-17) – Learn more about the Conservancy’s efforts to preserve and restore land around the Escondido Creek watershed. In this program, students are led on a guided hike through land managed by our team. Students are introduced to the robust history of our Sardina Preserve, Leave No Trace principles, and utilizing their observational tracking skills to find evidence of animals on the trail. They are then taken on a guided hike through the preserve showcasing the history of the land and the Conservancy’s efforts to restore this former paintball and airsoft range back to wild and healthy habitat.
Trout in the Classroom (for all grade levels) – In this program, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) supplies classrooms with salmonid eggs. Students and teachers take on the responsibility of incubating and nurturing these young fish until they are ready to be released into a waterway designated by the CDFW.The Escondido Creek Conservancy published GoldiLox and the Three Habitats, written by Simon Breen and illustrated by Camie Martinez. GoldiLox is a southern steelhead trout looking for the perfect place to lay her eggs. But a good habitat can be hard to find for a sensitive fish living in a polluted world. Join her on her quest as she meets interesting animal friends, explores different ecosystems, and searches for a home that’s just right. GoldiLox y las Tres Hábitats is also available in Spanish.
A New Chapter in Environmental Education: The Mountain Meadow Preserve Outdoor Classroom.
As demand for outdoor education programs grew, the staff saw the need for a dedicated space to expand hands-on learning. In mid-2024, a grant from the Escondido Community Foundation allowed them to begin building an outdoor classroom at the Mountain Meadow Preserve. With funding in place, they moved quickly—drafting plans, consulting experts, and relying on dedicated volunteers. By winter, they had cleared the site, installed shade tarp poles, and started building benches from recycled eucalyptus. The classroom is taking shape with multiple teaching stations, a native habitat mural, and an informational kiosk, set for completion by fall 2025. Once finished, this space will host expanded after-school and field trip programs with the Escondido Union High School District, as well as community and volunteer events. It will deepen connections to the Escondido Creek watershed, strengthening both their education and conservation efforts.
The Escondido Creek Conservancy boasts numerous other educational achievements from last year (see their 2024 Annual Report). They built a 3D model of the Escondido Creek watershed and this teaching tool engages all visitors to the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center. Annually, they reach every 3rd grade student across 18 elementary schools in the Escondido Union School District and launched Schoolyard Safari in 2024, a program reaching over 200 students across 11 schools. They engage Escondido High School students in hands-on, habitat restoration work, planting over 125 native plants across 0.6 acres.
Community involvement in local non-profit organizations is critical. At the Conservancy, they offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities that allow individuals to actively participate in the mission to protect and restore the Escondido Creek watershed. Volunteers can engage in both hands-on short-term events or become part of a dedicated team working toward long-term habitat improvement. Both forms of volunteerism help shape the future of their landscape. The Conservancy offers volunteer opportunities designed to meet various interests and skills. These include Land Stewards, Conservation Crew, Wednesday Work Group, and Shrub Club. Volunteers involved in these efforts are the backbone of their work, helping them maintain the preserves and push forward restoration and stewardship projects.