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| A view of downtown San Diego from the edge of the estuary |
On October 1st The Living Coast Discovery Center (aka Chula Vista Nature Center, aka Nature Interpretive Center) announced that they needed $200,000 by October 27 to remain open. People had answered that call, quite generously, but the center is still around $20,000 short of its goal. The UT says that there are two very awesome donors who have offered to match donations dollar for dollar, so, in reality, it's more like $10,000 now.
Here is the Center's S.O.S. with details and a way to donate, and
here is a recent article from the Union Trib that has information about how they will use the money and about how they could use even more.
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| My favorite: the burrowing owl. |
The main focus of The Living Coast Discovery Center is education. They focus on the estuary, which the center is built in, and the animals that live in and around San Diego bay.
This place is an annual field trip for most elementary schools in the
area. It was my favorite field trip as a kid. They have animals on
display, offer interactive exhibits, and encourage exploration of the
Sweetwater Marsh.
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| Tree frog! |
I went to the Center this past Wednesday and had a great time. It's
been a few years since I'd last visited, so it was great seeing the new
shark and ray pools. All of the pictures in this blog are ones I took.
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| Readers of The Oatmeal will recognize this guy. |
As I was wandering around, I caught the
tail-end of the eagle feeding. Then I got a tour of the birds of prey
from one of the volunteers. All of the birds of prey (and there are
many) have some sort of medical issue which prevents them from surviving
in the wild. The Center takes in these birds, cares for them, and uses
them as educational tools.
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| The only bird I could get a good shot of. |
The Center has all manner of wildlife on display, from an octopus and a snapping turtle, to a bald eagle and three different kinds of owl. Out front, welcoming visitors to the Center, are three sea turtles. They are a reminder that San Diego has a healthy sea turtle population.
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| Look at this handsome guy. |
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| Sea horse doing its best coral impression. |
While the Center might be small, it is surrounded by a large amount of land, all belonging to the nature preserve. Along the bay run walking paths which offer views of the bay, downtown, and random wildlife encounters.
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| The walking trails offer beautiful views and wildlife. |
The Living Coast Discovery Center has been a fixture in Chula Vista since 1987, long before the amphitheater or water park ever existed. I would like to help keep the Center open, that's why I wrote this blog, but also, I have made earrings that I am selling on Etsy to help raise money for the Center. Check out my
Etsy shop, support a good cause, and get some awesome earrings as a reminder. :)
