ACTIVITY CALENDAR
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Associaton
P O BOX 310, Borrego Springs, CA 92004  760-767-3098
Important Program Information
Unless specified otherwise in the activity descriptions below, all hikes and field trips have a
15 person limit and they begin in the ABDNHA parking lot.
Many of our programs are in high demand and often have waiting lists.  If you register for a program and cannot attend please contact our Borrego Nature Center (760-767-3098) so that others can be notified to attend. 

All of our hikes are now rated from EASY to STRENUOUS  View the Rating System
HAWK WATCH LECTURE AND FIELD TRIP
Mar. 23, Sat., 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Special Program and Field Trip: Borrego Valley Hawk Watch The Story of the Swainson’s Hawk
Speaker: Hal Cohen, Borrego Hawk Watch Founder and Coordinator, ABDNHA Member

We begin with a presentation by Hawkman Hal about the incredible Swainson’s Hawk, a bird that spends the fall and winter as far south as Argentina and then migrates to the north during the springtime, headed to their summer grounds as far north as Canada.  After the presentation this afternoon in the ABDNHA Library, we head to the evening viewing location to look for hawks coming into town to roost. Each spring, thousands of hawks migrate through the Borrego Valley. The birds typically roost here for the night, and then kettle up in the morning, sometimes feeding first before continuing their flight north. If you have time on Sunday morning, you’re invited to come by the morning viewing site to see the hawks take off for their journey north. ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8.  Register www. abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
Mar. 23 Journey of the Swainson's Hawk

LECTURE  ARCHITECTURE DESERT LIVING
Mar. 23, Sat., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Desert Dwellings, Then and Now Sustainable Designs Inspired by Nature
Speaker: Lizbeth Barcena, Designer & ABDNHA Member

In this presentation Lizbeth will talk about the history of sustainable Southwest desert designs beginning with the dwellings of Native Americans, constructed entirely of the available raw natural resources, and up to current construction, using new construction and energy technologies and evolving building materials.   Los Angeles Designer Lizbeth Barcena has 20 years of experience working in the architecture profession. She is also a certified California naturalist and certified in regenerative buildings. She is particularly interested in Biomimicry, design strategies that mimic nature. ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8.   Register www. abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098
Mar. 23 Desert Dwellings - Designs by Nature



FULL MOON DESERT WALK
Mar. 24, Sun., 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  
This activity is full but taking wait list
Full Moon Walk  Easy to Moderate
Leader: Mike McElhatton, ABDNHA Education Director

The moonlight walk by Mike McElhatton is an ABDNHA tradition now in its 13th year as an ABDNHA activity.  Experience the unique and serene beauty of moonlight on the canyon walls as we take a 1.6 mile walk through South Palm Wash. Most of the walk is on flat sandy ground, rocky in some places, with a few short "stepup" spots that require agility n tight parts of the canyon.  Meet at ABDNHA to carpool. A flashlight, water, and good hiking shoes are required. Max. 23. Activity cancels with cloud cover or high wind. No charge; call the Nature Center at 760-767-3098 to reserve.   Read before your hike: Important information for hikers 

Mar. 25, Mon, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lecture: The year of the Lily
Presented by Don Rideout

Desert lilies are one of the most charismatic flowering plants of the desert. This year they are appearing in huge numbers, with so many lillies that it is being referred to as the "Year of the Lily", with .  Several aspects of their life history are unknown and are in need of further study. This talk will cover what we know about desert lilies and what remains to be discovered.  ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8.   Register www. abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098
Year of the Lily March 25

WALKING
Mar. 28, Thu, 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Pam’s Ambles (Easy to Moderate)
Leader: Pam Blake, ABDNHA Volunteer

This activity repeats on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Pam’s ambles are easygoing social walks where we can explore along the way – plants, flowers, geology, scenery and time for photographs. Locations are selected where participants can easily return to their cars or continue on their own if they wish. No charge, call the Nature Center to reserve. Meet at ABDNHA.   Read before your hike: Important information for hikers

BIKING
Mar. 29, Fri., 10:00 a.m. start time 
Friendly Friday Bike Ride Volunteer
Leader: Paul Petersen

Relaxed social ride of 20-30 mostly flat miles at a 10-12 mph pace. Routes will vary weekly, fun rides to highlight the roads less travelled. Return time will vary with route chosen. No charge. Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot.   Read before you ride: Important information for bikers

ASTRONOMY - STARGAZING
Mar. 30, Sat., 8:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.
Astronomy and Viewing: Multiple Star Systems
SSpeaker: Dr. Randolph Baron, Astonomer & ABDNHA Member


Ursa Major, the Great Bear, this constellation and its associated Big Dipper ride high in the evening sky.  Rich in legend, galaxies and other astronomical gems this is a great area of the sky for us to explore!  NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www.abdnha.org or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.   

LECTURE ARCHEOLOGY - ANTHROPOLOGY
Mar. 29, Sat., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Program: A Desert Chiefdom and the Metal Revolution (4500 – 3600 BC),
Speaker: Thomas Levy, Ph.D., Archaeologist & ABDNHA Member

Dr. Levy's work in these early communities in the Negev Desert give us indications of how human society transitioned away from the hunting and gathering ways of life that had been so successful for the previous 1.2 million years and towards more structured settled communities. Around 4500 to 3600 BCE, the first metal producing societies evolved in the southern Levant, an area that includes Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, southern Syria, and the Sinai Peninsula.  This lecture is based on Tom Levy’s excavations at the Shiqmim site in the Negev Desert of Israel, with Tom’s new book on this research helping to explain an enigma that has puzzled researchers for more than 100 years.  In the ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www. abdnha.org, Nature Center, 760-767-3098.

Thomas E. Levy is Distinguished Professor, and inaugural holder of the Norma Kershaw Chair in the Archaeology of Ancient Israel and Neighboring Lands at the University of California, San Diego. Tom has published 17 books and hundreds of scholarly articles. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Tom received an honorary doctorate from Charles University, Czech Republic. 
March 29 - Archeology  Tom Levy
HIKING
Mar. 30, Sat., 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 
Hike: Redman Mine 
Leaders: Alan Parks, ABDNHA Volunteer and Sanjiv Nanda

Moderately strenuous 4-mile out-and-back hike with a 1000 foot elevation gain, to a gold mine on the south face of Granite Mountain. We will follow an old mining “road” to the miners “campsite.” From there, getting to the mine requires some strenuous cross-country scrambling up the hillside. We will have lunch at G. Redman’s dining table at an elevation of 3500 feet with fabulous views to the east and south. Meet at ABDNHA from where we will carpool. 4WD is needed for the last 2 miles of travel to the trailhead off S-2. No charge, call or stop by to reserve, 760-767-3098.   Read before your hike: Important information for hikers

HIKING
Apr. 1, Mon., 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hike: Eagle Rock
Leaders: Sanjiv Nanda and Alan Parks, ABDNHA Volunteers

Eight-mile moderately strenuous car shuttle hike on the rolling, meandering Pacific Crest Trail. This is a local favorite portion of the PCT with a variety of higher elevation wildflowers, wide open vistas, a stream crossing and riparian habitat. We will have lunch at the spectacular Eagle Rock. Expect to meet through-hikers on their way to Canada from Mexico. The meeting point is a 40-minute drive from ABDNHA. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the dirt parking area in front of Warner Springs Fire Station on SR-79, 2.5 miles north of the intersection of SR-79 and S-2. From there we will car shuttle to the PCT Barrel Spring Trailhead on S-22 and do our one-way hike northbound on the PCT. No charge, call or stop by to reserve, 760-767-3098.   Read before your hike: Important information for hikers

HIKING
Apr. 6, Sat., 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Hike: Hellhole Canyon Overlook (Easy)
Leader: Kathy Bussey, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer

Take in great Borrego Vally views on this easy 2.0-mile round trip hike. The trail begins at Culp Valley (elevation 3412’) and descends a gently sloping sandy wash to the Overlook (elevation 3187’). We skirt thicket-choked Pena Spring. Annual spring flowers may appear later up here. We return uphill the same way. Meet at ABDNHA’s parking lot to carpool the 15 minute drive to Culp Valley. Bring water, snack, good hiking shoes. No charge. Call to reserve.  

ASTRONOMY - STARGAZING
Apr. 6, Sat., 8:30 p m. - 10:30 p.m.
Astronomy and Viewing: Far Distant Galaxies
Speaker: Dr. Randolph Baron, Astronomer & ABDNHA Member  


In the springtime, the Milky Way, our home galaxy is no longer visible. While we miss its beauty, the spring time sky is chock full of distant galaxies millions of light years away!  Tonight we will explore some of these most distant "island universes." NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www.abdnha.org or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.   

HIKING

Sat. Apr. 6, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hike: Rainbow Canyon/ Box Canyon Loop : Strenuous
Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer

Starting at a large parking area near Mile Marker 27 on S2 we'll make our way South and then into the opening of Rainbow Canyon, and negotiate our way over approximately 14 dry waterfalls.   Most of these waterfalls are a moderate to easy climb, but we'll take our time to make sure everyone is up before moving on to the next one.  After negotiating this canyon we'll hike cross country through the Southern end of Blair Valley, and join the California Riding & Hiking Trail to walk through the Box Canyon paralleling S2 to get back to our cars.    This hike is approximately 8.25 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain. Wear long pants and long sleeves and bring 2 to 3 liters of water, lunch, snacks and a cholla comb. We'll encounter several species of cholla including the Mason Valley cholla I've only seen in this area. Max. 15. Meet at the ABDNHA at 8 a.m. to carpool out to the start of the hike.    Read before your hike: Important information for hikers

4 Wheel Drive Trip
Sun. Apr. 7, 9:00 a.m. (Depart from ABDNHA)  3:00 p.m. (Ride ends at Ocotillo Wells)
4WD: Fonts Point, Vista Malpais, Ocotillo Wells.
Leader: Ed Polliock, ABDNHA Volunteer
This drive is fairly easy but there are areas of soft sand and wash outs can be expected. After Vista Malpais we will find a lunch spot en route to Ocotillo Wells  This will be a BBQ potluck.  If you chose please bring a dish to share, your own drinks, camp chair and small tables would be welcome.  BBQ meat and utensils are provided. Trip will end at the Ocotillo Wells off road park station approximately 3:00 PM. Flush toilets available at the park HQ and there is a a small museum with related items and a small store. 4 Wheel Drive with good clearance is required.  No charge for this activity, call the Nature Center to reserve (760-767-3098) . Meet at ABDNHA for departure, ride ends at Ocotillo Wells.

BORREGO ROCK AND GEM CLUB
Apr. 10, Wed., 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Borrego Rock and Gem (BRAG) Club
Field Trip Repeats 2nd Wed of the month through May.
Meet at ABDNHA.

HIKING
Apr. 11, Thu., 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 pm
Hike: Rainbow Canyon (Moderate to Strenuous)
Leader: Bruce Kelley, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer

Pretty, 4-mile hike (round trip) up a wash with beautiful rock formations and many types of cactus in canyon. There are a number of step-ups and several dry waterfalls that are a bit more difficult to negotiate. Bring water, sunscreen, good hiking shoes and a snack. Bring poles if you want them for balance, but they can get in your way climbing waterfalls.  We’ll drive 45 minutes—south on S2 to mile 27.6 where the road makes a bend, and park in a wide place on the side of the road. Meet at ABDNHA parking lot by 7:50 a.m. We will carpool, but bring (any type) vehicle if you can.  No charge; call the Nature Center to reserve, 760-767-3098.   Read before your hike: Important information for hikers

PHOTOGRAPHY
Apr. 13, Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Photography:  Around Town Photo Walk
Leader: Professional Filmmaker Alicia Wszelaki, Path 88 Productions

Join filmmaker Alicia for this casual walk around town as her creative eye finds interesting subject matter.  This is open to all experience levels and all levels of equipment including smartphone cameras.  Meet at ABDNHA.  No charge but registration is required.  Call 760-767-3098 or visit the ABDNHA Nature Center at 652 Palm Canyon Drive.  


SPECIAL DESERT LECTURE SERIES WEBINAR
Apr. 17, Wed., 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 
Lithium and the Salton Sea
Speaker: Jim Turner, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Controlled Thermal Resources

The webinar is free but registration is required:  REGISTER


ABDNHA's webinar in 2022 with Jim Turner about lithium extraction at the Salton Sea was our most highly attended webinar ever.  Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) is one of three companies that will be extracting lithium from facilities on lands just south of the sea.  Construction of CTR's plant is now underway.  Jim returns tonight with an update on lithium extraction at the Salton Sea, an explanation of how the extraction will take place, and background history of geothermal power production at the sea. For millions of years the Salton Sea basin has been stretched and pulled apart by the action of the San Andreas fault, resulting in what is called the Salton Trough. 

For all of those millions of years water has poured in from the surface, water that is rich in minerals.  At a depth of 8,000 feet below the surface vast amounts of superhot water, or brine, holds one of the richest sources of lithium in all of North America.   The geothermal industry has made use of that that hot water for decades, extracting the hot water from deep beneath the earth, using the steam to generate geothermal electricity, and then pumping the water back down into the earth. 

Lithium extraction adds one step to that process; lithium is taken out of the water before it is pumped back down.  Lithium is essential for the needs of America’s electric future, for electric vehicles, computers, solar power storage, batteries, and communication. The Salton Sea basin is America’s largest source of the important metal and one of the world’s largest, with annual production estimated to be as much as 600,000 tons. There are very few large sources of lithium in North America. The extraction process of removing lithium from super-heated brine 8,000 feet below the surface also has the potential to make the Salton Sea lithium extraction process one of the greenest lithium mining projects in the world.  


PHOTOGRAPHY

Moonrise & Sunset at Fonts Point
Apr. 23, Tue., 6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This is an ABDNHA Members Only Activity    
Photography:  Moonrise over the Badlands & Sunset over the Mountains
Leader: ABDNHA Program Director Mike McElhatton

This is a newly listed program that does not appear in the Spring Sand Paper This is a special photography program for member photographers.   Come along with us to Fonts Point to photograph the setting of the sun to the west ( at 7:23 pm.) , quickly followed by the moonrise over the Borrego Badlands ( at 7:27 p.m.) to the east.  We will stay as long as the light allows.   We will leave the ABDNHA parking lot at 6:15 p.m., allowing enough time to reach Fonts Point and get set up for the moonrise and sunset.  Fonts Point always requires a high clearance a vehicle adequate for sand.  The road will be checked prior to the activity and the group will be updated with current conditions and that will determine acceptable vehicles.  We will carpool from the ABDNHA parking lot. All levels of experience and photography equipment is welcome,  Bring snacks and your favorite beverage!  22 max.  No charge, ABDNHA Members only, Register at Nature Center, 760-767-3098.


BORREGO ROCK AND GEM CLUB

Apr. 24, Wed., 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm
Borrego Rock and Gem (BRAG) Club Meeting
Meet at ABDNHA Activity Room.