This spring, San Diego Bird Alliance’s School Programs team launched its first “à la carte” environmental education program, creating a new way for schools to access meaningful environmental science experiences while working within limited budgets.
These programs can be delivered directly in the classroom or paired with field experiences at host sites including Anstine Nature Preserve, Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Otay Valley Regional Park.
SDBA’s first à la carte program served 103 second-grade students at Lake Elementary School through a “Pollinator Spotlight” presentation focused on hummingbirds and their ecological significance. The program was intentionally designed to complement the students’ recent classroom unit on pollination and pollinators, helping reinforce learning through hands-on environmental education.
Students left the program with:
• A deeper understanding of hummingbird ecology and pollination
• A hummingbird feeder they constructed alongside a Naturalist Guide
• A packet of native seeds harvested from Anstine Nature Preserve to help support local pollinators at home
By offering flexible programming options, teachers can better align educational experiences with both curriculum goals and budget realities.
One participating teacher shared:
“...Programs like yours give kids a new look at things, which is necessary to have our kids grow. Hearing about things in our local areas is what has children stop and think about the world around us.”
Outdoor learning at San Diego Bird Alliance’s School Programs (Photos by Natalie Ruane)
Looking ahead, SDBA sees à la carte programming becoming a permanent fixture of School Programs offerings. These experiences create greater flexibility in scheduling, provide more topic-specific educational opportunities, and expand access to environmental education for schools that may not otherwise be able to participate in traditional field trip programming.
As the program grows, San Diego Bird Alliance hopes to continue expanding access to environmental education experiences that inspire curiosity, stewardship, and connection to local ecosystems for students across San Diego County.
