Watershed Explorers
Connecting Kids with Nature
Watershed Explorers is an all-expenses-paid summer day camp for children to explore nature at locations up and down the San Dieguito River watershed. The final location, at the Surprise Farm Retreat Center in Ramona, includes an overnight stay. The free camp provides transportation, lunch and supplies to all attendees.
​
Participants include two-dozen children ages 12 to 18 from underserved communities in Escondido and staff from San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Volcan Mountain Foundation, Surprise Farm Retreat Center, Escondido Public Library and other partner organizations.
​
In 2024, the Watershed Explorers session included visits to Volcan Mountain (near Julian); Sikes Adobe (South Escondido); San Diego Archaeological Center (San Pasqual Valley); Lake Hodges (West Escondido); San Dieguito Lagoon (Del Mar); Surprise Farm Retreat Center (Ramona).
​
The 2024 session was featured in an article in The Coast News.
​
Established in 2015, Watershed Explorers is in its second year of focusing on underserved communities in Escondido thanks to an Outdoor Equity Grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
VOLCAN MOUNTAIN
Led by the Volcan Mountain Foundation, activities include an creating a “rainstorm” on an interactive, 3-D map to show how water flows into creeks and rivers and how pollutants effect life throughout the watershed. Students then test the water quality outdoors at a year-round steam to determine its ability to support life. During a hike on the Sky Island Trail, students explore oak and pine woodland and take in a view the watershed from one mile high.
​
Teacher resources:
Download site curriculum here.
View video of Volcan Mountain visit here.
LAKE HODGES
At Lake Hodges, students learn the role wetlands play in the watershed's health. As "citizen scientists," the children gain an understanding of habitat monitoring and management efforts and even collect bird surveys and water quality data for analysis by the San Dieguito River Park.
​
Teacher resources:
Download site curriculum
View video of Lake Hodges visit here.
​
SAN DIEGO ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER
​
At the San Diego Archaeological Center, students learn about cultural history and how the earliest inhabitants of the river valley used natural resources to survive. Students practice scientific methods of observation and inference. Staff members emphasize the importance of protecting archaeological sites.
​
Teacher resources:
​
Download site curriculum here.
​
View video of San Diego Archaeological Center visit here.
SIKES ADOBE HISTORIC FARMSTEAD
At the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, students travel to the late 1800s to understand the daily lives and challenges of early pioneer families. During the make believe time travel, students learn the importance of raising crops and animals and the roles played by the natural environment, both as friend and foe.
​
Teacher resources:
​
Download site curriculum here.
​
View video of Sikes Adobe Historical Farmstead visit here.
SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON
San Dieguito River Park rangers lead participants on an interactive hike along the San Dieguito Lagoon Trail to show the importance and diversity of the lagoon. Along the way, the group stops to watch birds and test water quality at storm water detention ponds.
​
Teacher resources:
​
Download site curriculum here.
​
View video of San Dieguito Lagoon visit here.