05/28/2025
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, students from the Interpretive Host class at Borrego Springs High School took a field trip to the San Diego Natural History Museum - thanks to generous sponsorship by the museum itself. The visit focused on the “Coast to Cactus” exhibit, which explores San Diego County’s incredible range of habitats - from coastal beaches and chaparral to mountains and the Anza-Borrego Desert. As one of only 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world, the region is home to species found nowhere else and is under threat from habitat loss.
Students also explored “Fossil Mysteries,” an interactive exhibit that spans 75 million years of prehistoric life, with a special focus on Ice Age mammals. The group was guided through “Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science” by a museum docent and wrapped up their visit with a self-guided tour led by their teacher, Miss Valdez. The experience gave students the chance to connect classroom lessons to the broader story of our region’s natural and cultural history.
This trip was one of over twenty field experiences this year, including visits to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Borrego Art Institute, the ArtPark, and many surrounding sites like the Salton Sea, Cuyamaca, Coachella, San Diego, and Ocotillo.
These experiences help students see their local environment through new eyes and inspire a deeper connection to place. Thanks to programs like this, they’re not just learning, they're preparing to lead.
This program is made possible by grants from the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund, San Diego County Board of Supervisors - District 5, and private donations.
