After thirty years of camping with their two sons in Anza-Borrego during winter holidays and school breaks, Mike and Terri McElhatton are now full-time Borrego Springs residents. Mike has joined ABDNHA as education program director.
His first real job in the early 1970’s was as a wedding photographer in his hometown of Philadelphia. But his love of camping and nature drew him to the west. Shortly after marrying in 1974, Mike and Terri moved to Idaho, where Mike obtained a degree in natural resource and park management from Idaho State University.
Mike started his career in that field with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, working as assistant park manager at Priest Lake State Park and Boise area state parks. He then served as park manager at Winchester State Park, Dworshak State Park, and Hells Gate State Park.
He took an early retirement from the park system in December of 2006 and returned to his love of photography, starting Digital Arts Photography, covering all of northern Idaho and eastern Washington.
But a strong connection with the desert kept pulling on Mike and Terri, and they changed from being 30-year visitors to permanent Borrego Springs residents in 2011. Mike’s position as ABDNHA’s education program coordinator brings him full circle to his early days at Idaho State Parks, when interpretation was his main interest, developing and conducting programs for park visitors.
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
P O BOX 310 ( 652 Palm Canyon Drive) Borrego Springs, CA 92004-0310
Office 760-767-3052 | Desert Store & Nature Center 760-767-3098 | FAX 760-767-3099