Upcoming Events
at Nature Collective

Spring Nature Festival | April 19

• Sunday, April 19, 2026
• 3 hours

Spring is in the air, and the natural world is abuzz. Join the family-friendly spring festival celebrating nature’s renewal. Learn why flowers and pollinators need each other and discover ways you can help pollinators thrive.

Join us for lots of fun, including:

-Nature Collective Discovery Booths that explore:

• Traveling seeds—did you know plants have a unique way of spreading their seeds? Discover the variety of ways seeds may fly, float, or burst into the world!
• Amazing nests—spring is an exciting time for birds. Discover all the unique nests built by our feathered friends, from tiny “hummers” to intricate weavers.

-Eco Scavenger Hunt + Craft
-Live Animals
-Face Painting
-Bounce House

Presented by County of San Diego Parks and Recreation with support from Nature Collective.

*We encourage zero-waste and eco-friendly practices at all our events. Please bring reusable bottles and cups

Family Fun Day | April 5

• Sunday, April 05, 2026
• 2 Hours

Welcome all busy bees who are ready to explore the magic of pollinators! Come buzz through activities to learn how birds, butterflies, bees, and beetles help plants in the San Elijo Lagoon reproduce. With free, hands-on activities and crafts, you’ll discover how shape, color, and smell attract different species of pollinators – you may even get to see them in action!

Volunteer Restoration Event | April 18

• Saturday, April 18, 2026
• 3 hours

We need your help to restore precious habitats within the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and the surrounding areas. By removing invasive plants and helping grow native plants indigenous to the area, you will support a more balanced ecosystem.

Discovery Tour | April 4

• Saturday, April 04, 2026
• 1.5 Hours

Celebrate Earth Month on a guided tour of the San Elijo Lagoon where we’ll explore riparian and lagoon ecosystems and discover the plants and animals that call this sanctuary home.

On our Nature Center Loop Trail, accessible for all, you can watch and listen for various birds that rest in – and fly across – the salt marsh and mudflats. Where fresh water and saltwater meet and the scent of sage drifts with the breeze, you’ll be able to enjoy, identify, and photograph a host of plant and animal species.

Volunteer Emmy Garnica leads your nature experience.

Wildlife Tour | April 11

• Saturday, April 11, 2026
• 2 Hours

Mid-spring is a kaleidoscope of color: blue sage, white fiesta flower, yellow sea dahlia, red monkey flower, and purple lupine. We have previously found an impressive 52 species in just two hours. Can we outdo ourselves this year? Join us on this nature challenge and keep your peepers peeled.

Weather permitting. Wildlife is unpredictable. There is no guarantee of what you will see.

Volunteers Elizabeth Venrick + Mark Jenne will lead your nature experience.