Nature All Around Me

Introducing our new Director of Trails and Conservation Larissa Hepburn! Larissa is a southern California native who developed a passion for recreational trails and nature after spending a summer working in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park on a backcountry trail crew. She spent the next 14 years leading and mentoring youth corps in various National and State parks in California managing a variety of projects. Larissa is grateful her path has led her to the Foundation to combine her passions with managing trails that lead to the sea. She is excited to serve the community through education and outreach performing trail restoration and conservation projects. As famous world-renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau once said, “People protect what they love.” Larissa hopes to provide quality outdoor recreational access while protecting our natural resources. She is excited to watch the community fall in love with the lagoon and create meaningful connections to nature.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers:  Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California 

Join AHLF's own Samantha Passovoy to learn all about the most commonly seen reptiles and amphibians found in the Carlsbad area, including in and around the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

In her previous career as a zookeeper and wildlife educator, she has trained animals for movies and television, visited schools and libraries with live animals to do educational presentations, worked as a wildlife care specialist and behaviorist at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and served as an adjunct professor focusing on wildlife education. 

Currently, she is the Director of the Discovery Center here at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, in addition to acting as the Outreach Coordinator for the San Diego Herpetological Society.  She hopes to inspire her community to care for all the plants and animals surrounding them.

Contact The Show

Podcast Website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Website: https://www.aguahedionda.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AguaHediondaLagoonFoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aguahediondalagoonfoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguahedionda/

Producers:  Samantha Richter, Lisa Rodman, Emily Bonds, Kellie Davis, Chris Swann, John Sanders, Samual Davis

Music: Frogs by the Water Hole by Chris Swann/Swann Concepts Pub

Studio: Imagine Podcasting, Carlsbad California

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 geology.

The knowledge she has gained over the years brought her to AHLF in 2022, where she is so excited to teach children all about southern California’s incredible biodiversity and be a part of such a great team.

During her free time, Sara enjoys rock climbing, hiking, camping, and spending time with her two dogs. 

Contact The Show

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

Produced by

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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 by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

Produced by

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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 addition, she leads community outreach/STEM education programming at the Thermo Fisher Carlsbad site. Linda is passionate about STEM education and the environment. Currently, Linda serves on our Tip Top Run Committee, Education Committee, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee here at the Foundation.  

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science with a mission to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Their global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience, and pharmaceutical services through their industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon, and PPD.

For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com 

Contact The Show

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

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 Seafood Company. In her current role, Renee has been instrumental in driving forward Bumble Bee’s “Seafood Future” commitments to sustainability and social responsibility.

Contact Renee Junge

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-junge-463150a3/

Contact The Show

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

Produced by

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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 Oceanside Turkey Trot participants who chose the AHLF as their charity of choice, garnering $5 of each registration. We are thankful for the 250 community members who shopped with us at our Holiday Sip N’ Shop, supporting small women-owned businesses, where 10% of the proceeds went back to the AHLF totaling $1250.

We are thankful for you.

Contact The Show

Podcast website: Nature All Around Me

The Foundation’s website: Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation or call 760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

Produced by

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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 systems management, combined with decades of working and playing on the Southern California coast, Joe formed Under-See to help bring the underwater world above the surface for all to appreciate.

To date, Under-See has provided hundreds of kids and adults exposure to underwater habitats while also collecting data used by government agencies and scientists to help inform marine protected area managers.  

Contact Joe

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Uwg1-teFpRiMbmo8u7PiA 

Email: boatsd@gmail.com

Website: https://under-see.com 

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

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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

leanna@theecologyschool.org 

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

ImaginePodcasting.com dba Heard Not Seen Media. Inc.

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 rental space, kayaks, paddleboards, and a few motorized boat options for visitors to enjoy on the lagoon.

California Watersports is our venue sponsor for the yearly Lagoona Kahuna Team Challenge, which allows corporate businesses to get out and clean the lagoon on kayaks and paddleboards as well as compete in team-building games.

Contact Josh

California Watersports https://carlsbadlagoon.com/ 

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/

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 https://www.aguahedionda.org/the-raptor-institute 

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation https://www.aguahedionda.org/

760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

https://pixabay.com/users/geovanebruny-19309525/

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 southern California and the evolutionary history of marine mammals. 

As director of PaleoServices, Tom has conducted and overseen numerous paleontological resource projects ranging from initial resource assessments, through impact evaluation, to actual impact mitigation. The majority of his work has been with residential and commercial developments within San Diego County, which we will hear a little bit about today’s developments in Carlsbad and what has been found. 

Contact the NAT

SD Natural History Museum https://www.sdnhm.org/ 

Tom at the museum https://www.sdnhm.org/science/consulting-services/paleo-services/about-us/staff/ 

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/

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 feathered friends come from? His Biology degree from Occidental College is where his first interest in birds came from and it has grown into quite a robust hobby. We thank Rick for his contributions to the center and are delighted that the walks have started up again.  Sit back and enjoy the sounds of the birds and Rick as he takes a group of birders on this exploration of the Discovery Center trail. You will also enjoy the narration of Mr. John Biethan producer of our podcasts.

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

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 professional, eco-art educator, and musician committed to optimizing human and environmental health.
• She founded EcoArts Foundation in 2016
• She was a sustainability advisor to the city of Del Mar and the assistant Executive Director of the San Diego Energy District. 

Visit EcoArtsFoundation.org for more information.

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

Podsafe Music by Geovane Bruno, Tremembé/Brasil

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 with this beautiful estuary serving all of North County; open seven days a week.  

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

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. 

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

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.

Eric has twenty-five years of public and private sector planning experience. From 1988 to 2005 he worked for the Carlsbad Planning Department, which included being the staff liaison between the City and the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team 2000 to 2005.  He then was the Director of Planning with Hofman Planning and Engineering, a position he has held since 2005. And most recently he is the Chief Development Officer of the Palm Springs Surf Club. 

About the Novel, Caulerpa Conquest: Rarely have global battles in the war on invasive species been successful. Even tougher is fighting a mutant genetic clone of a natural counterpart on a marine coast. The first known Western Hemisphere detection of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia occurred in Southern California, at San Diego County's Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad. Caulerpa Conquest is the true story of 2000 to 2006 precedent-setting local eradication effort inspired by missed opportunities and lessons learned from the Mediterranean Sea. City staff planner, designated agency liaison, lagoon foundation president, and agent for continued creative outreach through 2015, Eric Noel Muñoz connects the dots from local lagoon waters to foreign coastlines, including Australia, New Zealand, Croatia, France, and Monaco.

Books by Eric, on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cSPx6q 

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

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. The warm weather and ocean drew Emily to Southern California, where she attended Chapman University. She received her B.A. in Integrated Education Studies with an emphasis in Leadership Studies and a Minor in Environmental Science. She also studied abroad in Turks and Caicos Island, where she studied marine science and tourism. Her passion for outdoor education and marine science drew her to the AHLF Discovery Center for their Academy of Environmental Stewardship.

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Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

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. Over a decade ago, Pam founded Ms. Smarty-Plants™ at The Water Conservation Garden in East San Diego, and within five years, the program received the highest leadership honor by the State of California; the GEELA Award for environmental education.

With the support of passionate individuals, key partners, and a welcoming community, The Water Conservation Garden was created as a showcase destination for San Diego’s responsible use of natural resources in the landscape. It is located in El Cajon, California. The Water Conservation Garden has six acres of trails that demonstrate water conservation through a series of beautiful, themed gardens, and their mission is to inspire positive change in the living environment through the conservation of water and other natural resources.

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Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969

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. 

The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, operates the Discovery Center, an extraordinaire collection of hands-on nature activities that allow visitors to “taste nature” experiencing both the lagoon and the ecological reserve that resides in Carlsbad. We are located on the Eastern end of the lagoon, and operate this amazing teaching hub to inform the public about how each and every individual can interact with this beautiful estuary serving all of North County; open seven days a week.  This magnificent community nature center hosts an award-winning Environmental Education School Program, as well as lectures, bird walks, festivals, summer camps, and other ecofriendly events throughout the year.  

Contact The Show

Nature All Around Me podcast

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

760-804-1969