Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
MAY 2025
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in May and help protect our local waterways! All events are free unless otherwise indicated.
Ongoing beach and community cleanups help protect the County’s waterways from stormwater pollution and can help preserve water quality for years to come. The County thanks the following beach and community cleanup event partners for their ongoing support in preventing stormwater pollution: I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD), Surfrider Foundation San Diego, San Diego Coastkeeper, The San Diego River Park Foundation, Think Blue San Diego, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), San Diego Canyonlands, San Dieguito River Park, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Friends of Ruffin Canyon, Friends of Rose Creek, Friends of Famosa Slough, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, California State Parks Foundation, Green Oceanside, City of La Mesa, Nature Collective/San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, ASCENDtials, San Diego Bird Alliance, and Keep America Beautiful.
May 1 through July 4, 2025 – Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup – Learn more or pledge.
May 1
May 2
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9am to 12pm or 12:30pm to 3:30pm – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Lagoona Kahuna 2025 Cleanup Challenge - Corporate and Company Team Sign-Up ($$ fees vary). Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Session for Long-term Volunteers. Learn more or sign up.
May 3
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8:30am to 12:30pm – California State Parks Foundation Silver Strand Beach Cleanup. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation Ocean Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
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9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation Oceanside Breakwater Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
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9am to 11am – ILACSD and County of San Diego – Watershed Warriors: Adams County Park. Learn more or register.
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9am to 11am – ILACSD and City of La Mesa Litter Free La Mesa: Community Cleanup. Learn more or register.
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9am to 12pm – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Lagoona Kahuna 2025 Cleanup Challenge - Individual and Family Sign-Up ($$ fees vary). Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – Friends of Ruffin Canyon Ruffin Canyon Cleanup. Learn more.
May 4
May 6
May 8
May 9
May 10
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8:00am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Stewardship Saturday, Swan Canyon. Learn more or sign up.
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8:30am to 12:30pm – California State Parks Foundation Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Cleanup. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 11am – ILACSD and County of San Diego – Watershed Warriors: Hilton Head County Park. Learn more or register.
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9am to 11am – Friends of Rose Creek Native Plant Garden Work Party. Learn more or RSVP.
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9am to 12pm – Friends of Famosa Slough Work Party & BioBlitz. Learn more.
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9am to 12pm – Surfrider San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper – River Days Ocean Beach Dog Park Cleanup. Learn more or register.
May 11
May 13
May 15
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8:30am to 12:30pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Water Quality Monitoring: West County. Learn more or sign up.
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8am to 10am – The San Diego River Park Foundation Grant Park Community Stewards. Learn more or sign up.
May 16
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8:30am to 12:30pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Water Quality Monitoring: East County. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Session for Long-term Volunteers. Learn more or sign up.
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3pm to 5pm – ILACSD San Diego River Days: Lakeside – San Diego River Trailhead Cleanup. Learn more or register.
May 17
May 18
May 20
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9am to 11am – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Trail Cleanup Event – National Bee Day – Discovery Campus. Learn more or sign up.
May 22
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8am to 10am – The San Diego River Park Foundation Grant Park Community Stewards. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 11am – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Trail Cleanup Event - Garfield Street Trailhead. Learn more or sign up.
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 29
May 30
May 31
Monthly/Ongoing or On Your Own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events:
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – The San Diego River Park Foundation River Assessment Field Teams (RAFT). Learn more or sign up.
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – San Dieguito River Park Dust Devils Habitat and Trail Restoration Events – Inland and Coastal Trails. Learn more.
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Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am to 11am – The San Diego River Park Foundation River Rescue Cleanups. Learn more or sign up.
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San Diego Surfrider Foundation Ongoing Solo Cleanups. Learn more.
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Coastkeeper San Diego Six Cleanup Challenge, Flexible Dates/Times. Learn more and see list of challenge sites.
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ILACSD Adopt-A-Beach/Adopt-A Canyon Program, Flexible Dates/Flexible Times – Adopt a beach or canyon and lead independent cleanups on your schedule. Learn more and adopt a location.
County of San Diego – Waterscape Rebate Program Rainwater Harvesting Workshop – Spring Valley – May 10, 10am to 12pm – The Waterscape Rebate Program will be hosting rainwater harvesting workshops throughout 2025. Learn how capturing rainwater can help you lower your water bill, and the steps to do it. Site location: San Diego Youth Services Campus, 3845 Spring Dr, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Learn more or register.
UCCE Master Gardener Association of San Diego – The following events will be offered in May where you can get all your gardening questions answered by a UCCE certified Master Gardener. Topics include garden planning, watering, pest control, and anything garden related.
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May 1 through 11, 10am to 4pm – Master Gardener (MG) Demonstration Gardens at Carlsbad Flower Fields – Learn more by clicking any of the daily calendar links.
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May 10, 9am to 3pm – Poway Valley Garden Flower Show and Plant Sale. Learn more.
The Water Conservation Garden – Free 2025 County of San Diego Workshops – The following events will be offered in May sponsored by the County of San Diego:
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May 3, 9am to 3pm – Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival – Attend this family-friendly event and enjoy a day filled with specialty vendors, food trucks, plant sales, live music, and fun throughout the Cuyamaca College campus. Learn more.
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May 17, 10am to 12:30pm – Native Landscape Myths and Legends: Debunking Myths About Landscaping with California Native Plants – Join landscape architect Greg Rubin to learn about the secrets to creating beautiful native landscapes and the misconceptions about landscaping with California native plants. Learn more or register.
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May 21, 11am to 12pm – Fix, Program, and Perfect: Advanced Irrigation Skills – Join Mike Madewell of Hunter Industries to learn how to troubleshoot and repair leaking valves, fix PVC pipe leaks, calculate sprinkler run times, and install Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled controllers. Learn more or register.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – The following events will be offered in May:
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May 13, 8am to 4:30pm (ENGLISH); May 27, 8am to 4:30pm (SPANISH) – Pesticide Safety Zoom Workshop, Instructor Training (fee $300) – The Train the Trainer workshop will qualify participants to train fieldworkers and pesticide handlers under CA pesticide regulations. Learn more or register.
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May 15, 12pm to 1pm – Urban & Community Webinar Series – Understanding How Herbicides Work – Learn about the fundamentals of herbicides for weed management around the home and garden including how herbicides work, the effectiveness of various organic and synthetic herbicides, and how to choose the right herbicide for your weed problem. Talk provided by weed expert Tom Getts. Learn more or register.
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May 21, 3pm to 4pm – UC Ag Experts Talk – Mealybug Management in Citrus Orchards in California – Learn about the citrus mealybug and how it has become a pest of concern for citrus growers in California. This webinar will discuss the biology and seasonal ecology of this pest, scouting and monitoring techniques, and best management options for its sustainable management. Talk provided by Dr. Sandipa Gautam, Cooperative Extension Area Citrus IPM Advisor with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. Learn more or register.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Healthy Garden-Healthy Home Virtual Community Workshops – The following workshops are being offered in May in partnership with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and the County of San Diego. Learn more about these events here.
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May 17, 10am to 11:30am – Control Ants the Healthy Way: Controlling Ants in Your Home and Garden – Learn what to do when ants invade your plants and home, how to make your home and garden less attractive to ants, and how chemicals and bait control work and don’t work. Learn more or register.
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May 31, 10am to 11:30am – How to Grow a Salsa Garden: Garden Vegetables Pests and Diseases – Learn about proper planting for a healthier garden. Also, learn tips for controlling common pests and diseases of your backyard salsa garden. Learn more or register.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars will be offered in May. Dates and times vary. All events will be virtual unless otherwise noted. Hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. See calendar and learn more or register.
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Gardens in Bloom: In-Person Design Class & Garden Trolley Tour Event – Rancho Water, Temecula – May 3, 8:30am to 12pm – Attend this event to learn how to identify critical steps for successfully designing a watershed-wise landscape including creating a successful planting plan, developing a palette of climate-appropriate plants, and sizing and siting the rainwater capture area. As part of the neighborhood garden trolley tour, you will lean from an expert gardener about plants, design aspects and irrigation styles. Learn more or register.
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Garden Design Workshop – Learn how to identify critical steps for successfully designing a watershed-wise landscape including creating a successful planting plan, developing a palette of climate-appropriate plants, and sizing and siting the rainwater capture area.
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California Friendly Native Plant Landscape – Learn how to design a yard using the four principles of gorgeous and watershed-wise landscaping including building healthy soil, capturing rainwater, selecting native plants that minimize water use, and controlling irrigation.
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Keeping Rain in the Garden – Learn how to design your yard using watershed-wise landscaping, including criteria and considerations when selecting rain capture methods such as swales, berms, cisterns, and integrating hardscapes.
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Goodbye Grass, Hello Garden: Qualify for Rebates – Learn about replacing your lawn with a watershed-wise landscape, including removing turf without the use of chemicals, replacing it with climate-appropriate plantings, and how to apply for a turf replacement rebate.
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Drip Irrigation Essentials – Learn how to save your landscape by understanding soil moisture balance, key components of a properly installed drip system, typical problems with drip and how to avoid them, and developing a successful maintenance practice.
San Diego Botanic Garden Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in May, 10am to 12pm – Children are invited to join for Science, Art, and Play in Garden Spaces (SAPLinGS) activities. Topics vary by month and will focus on a different plant or nature-based theme. Science activities engage kids with cool hands-on learning that stimulates curiosity. Art activities focus on projects that spark the imagination. Learn more.
WaterSmart Residential Landscape and Irrigation Events – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing past recordings of 3-Hour Landscape Workshops. View past workshops.
International Compost Awareness Week: Free Compost Giveaways - Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week with 8 jurisdictions in San Diego County! This is a self-serve, self-loading and self-haul service, so please bring your own cans/bags, gloves and shovel. If you plan to haul in an open truck or trailer, remember to bring a tarp to cover your material. Learn More.
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May 3, 8am-12pm: City of San Diego
Location: Sunrunner Lot, Mission Bay Park, 5193 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92109
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May 4-10, Dawn to Dusk: City of Vista
Location: The vacant lot at Vale Terrace Drive and Williamston Street
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May 4-10, 8am-5pm: County of San Diego. Locations:
- Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Blvd, Spring Valley, CA 91977
- Live Oak County Park, 2746 Reche Rd, Fallbrook, CA 92028
- Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park, 11055 Moreno Ave, Lakeside, CA 92040 (Mulch) **May 4-8 Only
- Collier County Park, 626 E St, Ramona, CA 92065 (Compost and Mulch)
- Wilderness Gardens Preserve, 14209 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059
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May 5-9, 7am-3pm: City of Escondido
Location: Location given after appointment is scheduled.
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May 5-10, Times Vary: City of Oceanside
Location: El Corazon Compost Facility, 3210 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, CA 92056
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May 5-10, 8am-3pm: City of Carlsbad
Location: Palomar Transfer Station, 5960 El Camino Real, Carlsbad CA 92008
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May 5-10, Dawn to Dusk: City of La Mesa
Location: 8152 Commercial St, La Mesa, CA 91942
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May 10, 8am-12pm: City of Chula Vista
Location: Otay Landfill/Compost, 1700 Maxwell Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Zero Waste San Diego San Diego Fix-It Clinics – Learn how to reduce waste by fixing things instead of throwing items away. Bring broken or non-working items for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. Workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you take apart and troubleshoot your item will be provided. Clinics hosted by Zero Waste San Diego with the help of many other zero waste partners.
Cities of La Mesa and Lemon Grove – Free Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Event – May 3, 9am to 12:45pm – Residents of the Cities of La Mesa and Lemon Grove can dispose of their household hazardous waste such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, paints/solvents, and more. Appointment and ID required. Learn more and schedule an appointment.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) – The following waste reduction events will be provided in May:
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May 6, 6pm to 8pm – Green Bins, Gardens & Gleaning: Environmental Lecture + Networking Series – Encinitas – Attend for a night of connection and education about reducing food waste and diverting it from the landfill. Learn from a panel of regional sustainability experts including ProduceGood, Healthy Day Partners and EDCO. Event includes the opportunity for networking, a Q&A session, with food and drink available for purchase. Site location: Fox Point Farms. Learn more or register.
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May 10, 1:30pm to 3:30pm – Clothing and Accessories Swap – City of Encinitas – Attend this zero waste event to drop off and swap gently-used clothes, accessories, and shoes and pick up some low-waste and refillable products. Learn how to reduce the consumption of new items and reuse or swap them to stay out of our landfills. Site location: Shine Market/The Local Scoop, Encinitas. Learn more.
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May 13, 9am to 11am – Miramar Landfill Bus Tours – City of San Diego – Get a behind-the-scenes peek on what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away.” Open to City of San Diego residents only. Sponsored by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department. Learn more or register.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following residential and business events will be offered in May:
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May 3, 10:30am to 12:30pm – Manure Composting for Backyard Farmers’ Workshop – Learn about the importance of composting manure and how it can benefit your garden, our waterways, your budget, and the planet. Topics include how to get started at home and compost manure safely, as well as ways to reduce pests, health hazards, and water contamination. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site location and host: Alpine Library. Learn more or register.
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May 3, 10am to 12pm – All About Composting with Worms Workshop – Bonsall – Learn about the benefits of vermicomposting (composting with worms) and turning food waste into a natural fertilizer for your plants. Topics include appropriate tools and materials, steps to start a vermicompost bin, how to feed your worms and which foods are suitable, and more. Funded by the County of San Diego. Hosted by Bonsall Unified School District. Site location: Bonsall Community Center. Learn more or register.
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May 10, 10am to 12pm – In-Ground Composting with Worms Workshop - Pine Valley Unincorporated Residents of San Diego Only – Learn about the benefits of vermicomposting (composting with worms) and turning food waste into a natural fertilizer for your plants. Topics include appropriate tools and materials, steps to start a vermicompost bin, how to feed your worms and which foods are suitable, and more. Funded by the County of San Diego. Hosted by Bonsall Unified School District. Site location and host: Pine Valley Library. Learn more or register.
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May 14, 5:30pm to 7pm – Food Hacks that Prevent Waste Webinar – Learn practical methods to reduce food waste by making small changes to your daily life and habits. Topics include tips for buying only what you need, eating what you buy, and avoiding throwing away food. Learn about the social, environmental, and economic impacts of food waste including where and how food is being wasted in the U.S. and around the world. Sponsored by the City of San Diego Environmental Services. Site location: Mountain View Community Center. Learn more or register.
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May 14 – Free E-Business Waste Pickup – A free monthly e-waste pick-up service is being offered to businesses in San Diego County. Register by May 9 for the May 14 pickup. Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. Offered in partnership with Urban Corps. Learn more or sign up.
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May 17, 10am to 12pm – Gardening Practices that Save Water – Rancho Santa Fe – Learn how to create a less thirsty and more environmentally-friendly landscape. Topics include climate-appropriate planting, soil types and gardening styles, using mulch and compost to build healthy soil that conserves water, and managing irrigation efficiently. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site location and host: Rancho Santa Fe Library. Learn more or register.
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May 31, 10:30am to 12pm – Composting with Aerated Static Piles Workshop - Lakeside – This workshop will address how to use an Aerated Static Piles (ASPs) to compost manure, crop residues, and food scraps for land with a small number of livestock and small- to medium-sized farms or orchards. Topics include the benefits of and best system for composting manure and other on-farm materials, how to use ASPs to simplify composting and reduce the need for management, managing pest and smell concerns with neighbors, and ensuring compliance with San Diego County ordinances. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site location and host: Lakeside Library. Learn more or register.
Residential Waste Reduction Events – The following free waste collection events will be offered in May. See County of San Diego Recycling Events webpage for ongoing events.
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May 17, 10am to 1pm – Used Oil & Oil Filter Recycling Event – Bring in a used oil filter and receive a new one FREE at participating AutoZone locations. Learn more.
SD Environmental Services One-Day Collection Event – City of San Diego – May 10, 9am to 1pm – A household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event will be held at Vista Del Mar Middle School, 4885 Del Sol Blvd, San Diego. Learn more.
The Living Coast Discovery Center – The following composting events will be offered in May:
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Wednesdays through May 28, 6pm to 8:30pm – Master Composter Training Course – Learn about the science of composting through hands-on demonstrations and lectures. The course covers traditional composting, compost pile building, vermicomposting, and more! Learn more and register for the May 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th
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May 11 and 18, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Sunday Compost Workshops – Learn the basics on how to start your own compost pile by attending these on-site workshops. Pre-recorded Compost Workshop videos are also available. Sponsored by the City of Chula Vista. Learn more or sign up for the May 11th and 18th
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May 25, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Vermicomposting Workshop – Learn how to build and care for your own worm bin. Learn more or register.
South Bay Sustainable Communities Network – Monthly Compost Pile Turnings – Various days, timeslots, and cities – Join South Bay Sustainable Communities Network for monthly turnings of their soil saver compost bins at select compost hub locations throughout South San Diego County. Compost hubs are also available to community members to drop off food scraps. Scroll to the bottom of home page to check calendar for hub locations and dates.
Escondido Creek Conservancy – Welcome to the Conservancy! – May 3, 9am to 12pm – Attend to learn about the work the Conservancy is doing to protect special places throughout the Escondido Creek Watershed. Event may include a morning hike to showcase conservation plans to protect the area. Learn more by scrolling to the May 3 event or sign up.
Nature Collective – The following events will be provided in May:
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May 3, 10am to 11:30am – San Elijo Lagoon Discovery Tour – Get a guided tour of the salt marsh, mudflats and native plants of the San Eligo Lagoon. Learn more or reserve your spot.
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May 4, 10am to 1pm – San Dieguito County Park – Spring Nature Festival – Join the family-friendly spring festival celebrating nature’s renewal. Activities include an eco scavenger hunt and craft, live animals, face painting, and bounce house. Presented by the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation with support from Nature Collective. Learn more.
San Diego River Park Foundation – 22nd Annual San Diego River Days 2025 – May 10 through 18 (activities and times vary) – Join San Diego River Foundation and its many partners for nine days of FREE activities that celebrate the San Diego River as a cultural, ecological, and recreational treasure. Activities include guided hikes, clean-ups, nature walks, educational opportunities, a fundraiser Walkathon, and more. Learn more and RSVP for the various events.
San Diego Coastkeeper - Watershed Watch, Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program – Be part of a team of passionate individuals interested in protecting our waterways. Join San Diego Coastkeeper’s Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program and participate in monthly field days to collect water samples at ten sites in Mission Bay. The following events will be offered in May:
Buena Vista Audubon – The following events will be offered in May:
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May 10, 10am to 2pm – 11th Annual Endangered Species Day Spring Open House – Attend this free family event to view organisms in lagoon water, visit with live animals, and participate in other fun activities. Offered in partnership with Preserve Calavera. Event location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center. Learn more.
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May 11, 11am to 12:30pm – Kids’ Nature Clubhouse and Trail Exploration – School-aged children and their families are invited to complete a nature-inspired craft and explore the lagoon trail with a different focus each month. The 1/2 hour trail adventure starts from the Nature Center at 11:00am. Learn more.
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May 26, 10am to 11am – Preschool Nature Storytime – Join the Nature Center for nature-themed stories for preschool children, aged 2 ½ to 5 years. There will be a story, songs, fun craft, and special theme each month. Learn more.
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Speaker Series – The Fascinating World of Bats – May 10, 10am – Our coastal lagoon is habitat to multiple species of bats rarely seen by those who visit its trails. Learn about their anatomy, the niche they fill in the environment, and how to protect local populations. Plus, get a peek of a live bat ambassador. Learn more.
Center for Watershed Protection – 2025 Webcast Series: Webcast 4 – Stream Restoration: A Holistic Approach – May 14, 1pm EDT ($159 fee non-member) – Note the time on the website is posted as Eastern Time. Scroll to webcast 4 to learn more or register.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation – Preschool Playdates Outdoor Program – Daily program Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm ($$ fees vary) – All children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join the daily program for nature-themed lessons and activities. Each day will include environmental education and literacy, a craft made from recycled materials, outdoor play, and more. You can register for individual days or the entire week. Early release options are available at 1pm, 3pm, and 4pm. Topics vary by month with the May topic being Space Exploration. Learn more or register.
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR) – Junior Rangers Program Ongoing Kids’ Educational Event – Saturdays 11am to 12pm – Kids aged 8 through 12 are invited to take part in discovering the rich heritage preserved in parks. They will participate in hands-on activities and can earn awards such as pins, certificates, and patches as they progress through the program! Learn more by clicking on the May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th or 31st dates.
The Living Coast Discovery Center – Sweetwater Safari Hike Series – Saturdays, 11:30am to 12pm – Join the Center every Saturday to explore the Sweetwater Marsh Trail on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Here you will learn about the history of the Marsh, salt marsh ecosystem, plants, and wildlife thriving in this protected space. Learn more or sign up for the May 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st hikes.
El Living Coast Discovery Center – Caminata Safari de Sweetwater Bilingüe – Los sábados de 11:30am a 12:30pm – ¡Acompáñenos todos los sábados a explorar el sendero de la marisma de Sweetwater en el refugio silvestre nacional de la bahía de San Diego! Aprenderemos sobre la historia de la marisma de Sweetwater, el ecosistema de la marisma salada, y las plantas y vida silvestre que prospera en este espacio protegido. Mochilas con actividades divertidas, incluyendo lupas y binoculares, serán disponibles para que las familias participantes lo usen mientras estén en la caminata. Obtenga más información o regístrese.
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