Sara was born and raised in southern California. Her love of natural resources was instilled at a young age while growing up horseback riding, camping, and spending time outdoors. Her passion for the environment and nature led to her earning a degree in Environmental Studies. She found an interest in outdoor education while working as an interpreter for California State Parks, where she led interpretive programs about ocean ecosystems, native plants and animals, Native American history, and...

Audrey Holloway is an Environmental Stewardship Teacher here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, where she teaches in our all-outdoor preschool as well as teaching our school programs. Audrey also works in shark conservation with Shark Stewards. We are excited for you to listen and learn about shark conservation and the ways you can help!  Contact The Show Podcast website: Nature All Around Me The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969 Podsafe Music...

Today we welcome Dr. Linda Hammond. Visit Thermo Fisher here. Linda is a Board Member here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, elected in 2021. She has worked in Carlsbad at Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2014. Linda has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, and a B.S in Chemistry from San Diego State University (SDSU). At Thermo Fisher, Linda works as a Technical Writer. In...

Today we welcome Renee Junge. Renee is a Carlsbad resident and joined the AHLF board in 2021. Renee serves as the Vice President, Corporate Brand Strategy and Communication at The Bumble Bee Seafood Company, a role she has held since 2019. With a love for the planet and as a believer in businesses that operate as a force for good in the world, Renee has spent her career at organizations that share her values including Jamba Juice, Sambazon, The Coca-Cola Company, and now The Bumble Bee...

Contact The Show Podcast website: Nature All Around Me The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969 This Giving Season, The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF), has a lot to be thankful for. We are thankful for the 90 donors that helped us reach 110% of our Giving Tuesday Goal by November 30th. We are thankful for the 20 families who allowed us to be their children’s environmental learning outlet during our Discovery Fall Camp. We are thankful to the 87...

Today, we welcome Joe Cooper of Under-SEE and we are excited to learn more about Under-SEE, uROV’s, MPA’s, and marine education. Joe Cooper is the owner of Under-See, an on-and-below water services provider for coastal conservation agencies. Over the Summer of 2021, Under-See provided Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation with underwater remote-operated vehicles (UROVs) and expertise for their Explore the Coast day camp for under-served youth. With degrees from SDSU in both biology and recreation...

This is Emily Bonds and today, I welcome my sister Leanna Bonds who’s the Development Manager at The Ecology School located in Saco, Maine.  Contact Leanna Bonds [email protected]  https://theecologyschool.org/  Contact The Show Nature All Around Me podcast https://www.natureallaroundme.org/ Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation https://www.aguahedionda.org/ 760-804-1969 Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/ Produced by...

We welcome Josh Cantor today and are excited to learn a little bit about the history, current offerings, and all the recreational opportunities you can find at the lagoon, which goes hand in hand with our environmental education.  Josh was recognized as our honoree during our 2019 Gala (Bond ~ The Lagoon that Loved Me) for his contributions to the Foundation. Josh is the owner of California Watersports, which is the recreational arm of the lagoon. His facility offers private beachfront...

Today we are unveiling our Raptors that arrived several weeks ago. The Raptors came to us through Raptor Institute who was on Episode 2. I highly recommend you listening to it for a rich background. We are excited for you to listen and learn about the 4 Raptors that now call Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center HOME. Find out more here at the Raptor Ridge. Contact The Show Nature All Around Me podcast https://www.natureallaroundme.org/ Raptor Ridge...

We welcome Dr. Tom Deméré, the Director of the Department of Paleo Services and curator of Paleontology at the SD Natural History Museum, the NAT. Dr. Deméré has worked as a professional paleontologist since 1974 and has been with the San Diego Natural History Museum since 1979. Since 1994, Tom has served as curator of paleontology and director of PaleoServices at the Museum. Dr. Deméré is the author of numerous scientific and popular articles dealing with the paleontological history of...

Today we will be doing a Bird Walk at the beautiful Discovery Center with Mr. Rick Grove. You might remember Rick from Episode 10. He and COO Samantha Richter talked about the many birds you see and hear on these bird walks.  For a refresher about Mr. Grove; he currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services for the Carlsbad Unified School District. He is on the board of directors of Carlsbad Hi Noon Rotary. Rick is also a wedding Officiant. Where does his love for our...

Ashley Mazanec is the Founding Director of the EcoArts Foundation here in North County. By celebrating imaginative eco-themed content, the EcoArts Arts Foundation aims to provoke audiences -- policymakers, scientists, artists, and citizens -- to create vibrant, thriving ecosystems. EcoArts engages a diverse community from elementary school students to international eco artists via events, programs, and educational media. About Ashley:  Ashley is an environmental policy and nonprofit...

Learn about the blooming and buzzing upgrades that are happening at the Discovery Center, or DC for short.  The DC provides an extraordinary collection of hands-on nature activities that allow visitors to “taste nature” experiencing both the lagoon and the ecological reserve that resides in Carlsbad. Located on the Eastern end of the lagoon, the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) and operates this amazing teaching hub to inform the public about how each and every individual can interact...

Shazeebo is a high-quality shade sail company, located in San Marcos Ca. founded by Patrick Howe. More than a company though, Shazeebo prides itself in quality, communication, education, community, and giving back. Shazeebo has upgraded the Discovery Center’s outdoor spaces to their impeccable shade sails, which allows us to carry out our mission of inspiring people through education and outreach to preserve the lagoon as a healthy and accessible watershed.  https://www.shazeebo.com/

...that threatened the ecosystem of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Eric Munoz is a former board member of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon; president from 2006-2011; volunteer of the year 2012; and then rejoined the Board as fellow director from 2013-2017. He is the author of Caulerpa Conquest. Books by Eric, on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cSPx6q https://www.natureallaroundme.org/

Today we welcome Emily, our Programs Coordinator at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and pioneer of our Preschool Playdates Program. Preschool Playdates is offered Monday - Friday 9 am to 1 pm and includes environmental education and literacy, a craft made from recycled materials, outdoor play, and more! Emily grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and her love for the great outdoors developed at a young age. https://www.natureallaroundme.org/ https://www.aguahedionda.org/

Today we welcome Pam Meisner from the Water Conservation Garden in Escondido. Pam is a lifelong educator with over forty years of teaching experience and is affectionately known as Ms. Smarty-Plants™ to the nearly 80,000 students and adults that she reaches each year with fun, interactive, education, and conservation programs. Their program received the highest leadership honor by the State of CA; the GEELA Award for environmental...

Samantha Richter, COO of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation takes you on a walking listening tour of Agua Hediodna Lagoon Foundation’s Discovery Center. Learn about the history of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation and Discovery Center, current and future exhibits, milestones and much much more as you immerse yourself in the offerings of the Discovery Center. https://www.natureallaroundme.org/ https://www.aguahedionda.org/

His degree is in Biology from Occidental College. His love of natural history is why you can find him leading the monthly bird walks at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. Rick discusses his history with birding, species found in and around the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, and how San Diego is the “Birdiest” city. He also sheds light on the different apps you can use to track birds as well as citizen science efforts surrounding this hobby.

Jessica Jones is the Director of Community Relations at Poseidon Water, the owner of the desalination plant on the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Poseidon’s vision is to be the partner of choice for local governments and industrial water users interested in investments in water infrastructure projects at a lower cost and reduced risk. https://www.natureallaroundme.org

Kelly Cardenas has been a National Educator for John Paul Mitchell Systems for 20+ years. He has been involved with The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation for two years. Last year, he gave his time and coached us here at the foundation challenging our thoughts and ways of interacting with each other and our customers. He helped shape our Core Values through his inspirational coaching. Kelly believes in getting involved in his community; he definitely walks his talk....

Lisa Rodman CEO of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) interviews Al Cerda Jr., a past Board Member of the AHLF, Luiseño Indian, and past Volunteer of the Year for the Foundation. Al has been involved with the Lagoon Foundation for more than 15 years in various aspects and is the ultimate volunteer assisting in day to day activities, trail maintenance, events, and bringing Native Luiseño education and demonstrations to the Discovery Center (DC).

Samantha Richter, COO of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) interviews Carolyn Lieberman, the Southern California Coastal Program Coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS has a local office in Carlsbad and a history of working on projects with the Lagoon Foundation. This episode will discuss their partnership with an ongoing project, the eradication of an invasive species Algerian Sea Lavender (Limonium ramosissimum) in the Agua Hedionda Watershed.