SAN diego is a biodiversity hotspot, containing greater diversity of life than any other countyin the continental united states

IT is also home to the greatest number of plant and animal species threatened with extinction anywhere in the country. Meanwhile, the increasingly urban and racially diverse communities of east county SAN diego have some of the poorest access to nature and green spaces anywhere in the county, with less than 8 acres of parkland per 1000 people. This program aims to overcome the barriers people from these under-resourced communities face to meaningfully connect with nature, and to engageparticipants as partners in conservation. This work directly supports earth discoveryinstitutes mission, to inspire stewardship of SAN diegos native biodiversity through environmental education and conservation. EDI works exclusively with title 1 schools, which are composed of more than 50 percent minority students, and has brought more than 30,000 children to engage in science-based, hands-on environmental education on conserved lands in SAN diego county. Our goal is to ensure as many kids as possible from these communities enjoy the opportunity to learn about and personally experience our wild landscapes. This is how EDI both builds equity in our communities and supports the next generation of environmental stewards. EDI will continue its long-time partnership with usfw refuge staff to host several types ofcommunity outreach events, including, weekly volunteer opportunities that support habitat restoration efforts on SAN diego refuge properties, representation at community events, and guided nature hikes.