Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Calendar of Events

Open 10a.m. - 5p.m. Wednesday - Sunday
301 Caspian Way
Imperial Beach, California 91932
Phone: (619) 575-3613
Fax: (619) 575-6913

Upcoming Activities & Events
Coastal Training Program Events

TRNERR Management Authority Dates for 2010:
Thursday, March 4th at 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 2nd at 1:00 p.m.

The Management Authority is the multi-agency body that coordinates policy and operations throughout the Tijuana River NERR. Through voluntary participation in the Management Authority, member agencies consent to establish policies, jointly promote Reserve programs and cooperate to provide resources to accomplish the missions of the Reserve and the constituent land systems. Management Authority meetings are open to the public.

Go With the Flow! Tijuana Estuary Calendar & Newsletter
July - September 2010
Check out our most recent edition of “Go with the Flow!” (2 MB). This quarterly publication serves as our event calendar, as well as a general public outreach tool. It includes the dates and times of our nature walks, bird walks, Junior Ranger Programs, Speaker Series, and volunteer events. And it also features a special “Volunteer Spotlight” section to recognize some of our many volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty. Enjoy, and feel free to pass it along to others!


Upcoming Activities & Events: (Back to Top)

Wednesday, September 1: NEW - Monthly Marsh Mingle
(replacing the monthly Volunteer Meeting)
6:00 - 7:30pm
Join us for food and fun, walks and talks, and mixing and mingling at our new Monthly Marsh Mingle every 1st Wednesday of the month. Meet and share stories with volunteers, community members and Reserve staff; plus sign up to participate in exciting field trip opportunities. Click here for a flyer and to find out who's speaking this month.

Wednesday, September 1: New Volunteer Orientation
7:30 - 8:00pm
Following the Marsh Mingle, we will have a New Volunteer Orientation. If you are a new volunteer who hasn’t yet completed the volunteer orientation and interview, stick around for a brief introduction to the Reserve and Volunteer Program from 7:30 – 8:00 PM.

Sunday, September 5: Bird Walk
3:00 - 4:00pm
Every Sunday, from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Take a leisurely stroll down the McCoy Trail and view and learn about some of the 370 species of birds that live or stop by this Reserve on their yearly migration. Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. Bring binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Saturday, September 11: Nature Walk
11:00am - 12:00pm

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, from 11:00am to 12:00pm. The Tijuana Estuary protects a variety of plant communities and wildlife. Come and discover the richness that unfolds around the Visitor Center, be it upland plant adaptations or the significance of our estuarine habitat. Walks begin at the Visitor Center. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Saturday, September 11: Second Saturday Stewardship
meet at the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
9:00am - 12:00pm

Help restore habitat by removing invasive plants, planting native vegetation, controlling erosion, or cleaning up our beaches at the Tijuana Estuary (projects vary monthly, see flyer for this month's activity). You don’t need special skills to volunteer - only a willingness to get your hands dirty. All volunteers under 18 must bring parent-signed permission form, available by request. Volunteers must work in long pants and boots or sturdy shoes and should wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats. The Tijuana Estuary provides work gloves and tools. View flyer.
For more information contact Danielle Litke at 619.575.3613 x330 or .

Sunday, September 12: Bird & Butterfly Garden Walk
meet at the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park
11:00am - 12:00pm
Discover plants that are beneficial to birds and butterflies at this County Park garden. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE! For directions and more details, view the flyer.

Sunday, September 12: Bird Walk
3:00 - 4:00pm
Every Sunday, from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Take a leisurely stroll down the McCoy Trail and view and learn about some of the 370 species of birds that live or stop by this Reserve on their yearly migration. Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. Bring binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Saturday, September 18: Saturday Speaker Series
Creating a Wildlife Friendly Garden
11:00am - 12:00pm
Do you want to know how to create an attractive garden that uses native plants, saves water, and provides a natural habitat for wildlife? The San Diego Audubon will give you information on how to select, plant, and maintain native plants that are adapted to our environment and are friendly to birds and butterflies. Examples will be shown of gardens that use native plants. Information provided will include recommended plant species, garden design, and sources for materials. Did we mention that it requires minimal maintenance?
Click here to view a flyer.

Presentations are FREE and open to the public, so bring your friends, your family, your neighbors, and anyone else you know who is interested in learning more about this unique natural resource.

Sunday, September 19: Bird Walk
3:00 - 4:00pm
Every Sunday, from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Take a leisurely stroll down the McCoy Trail and view and learn about some of the 370 species of birds that live or stop by this Reserve on their yearly migration. Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. Bring binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Saturday, September 25: International Coastal Cleanup Day
Various Imperial Beach Sites: Border Field, Tijuana Slough, and South Bay Refuge
9:00am - 12:00pm


Trash travels. But you can help stop the flow of debris from human hands to the sea by helping at Coastal Cleanup Day. Join in this annual international effort to clean our beaches and waterways while collecting important data. Sign up to volunteer at one of the three local sites sponsored by the Reserve and Refuge, register at http://cleanupday.org

Saturday, September 25: Nature Walk
11:00am - 12:00pm

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, from 11:00am to 12:00pm. The Tijuana Estuary protects a variety of plant communities and wildlife. Come and discover the richness that unfolds around the Visitor Center, be it upland plant adaptations or the significance of our estuarine habitat. Walks begin at the Visitor Center. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Sunday, September 26: Bird Walk
3:00 - 4:00pm
Every Sunday, from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Take a leisurely stroll down the McCoy Trail and view and learn about some of the 370 species of birds that live or stop by this Reserve on their yearly migration. Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. Bring binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Save the Date:

Fiesta del Río is an annual celebration of the peoples, cultures, history, and environment of the San Diego/Northern Baja region surrounding the Tijuana River Estuary, an area that in the past has been home to Kumeyaay, Spanish and Californio alike.
Join us on 10/10/10 for this year's subtheme of “Birds, Bombs, and Bunkers” as we will be commemorating Border Field Naval Air Station’s role during World War II. We will host a variety of entertainers such as a Border Field WWII storyteller and Summer Breeze - a Sweet Adeline group; biodiesel bus tours of the WWII sites in the Reserve; activities and games for families and children, including a boot camp inspired obstacle course; and booths featuring the Cabrillo National Monument, Chula Vista Nature Center, and native Kumeyaay arts and crafts. The FREE event takes place at the Imperial Beach Pier Plaza. For more information, call 619-575-3613 ext. 304.


Coastal Training Program Events: (Back to Top)

Coastal Training Program Workshops: Throughout the year, the Tijuana Estuary puts on workshops that are sponsored by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some are held at the visitor center, some off-site. Dates, topics and speakers vary. Past topics include: visits to regional wetlands in the US and Mexico, Public Participation in the Environmental Review Process and Volunteer Programs for Water Quality Testing. Contact Kristen Goodrich (), 619-575-3613 ext.314, our Coastal Training Program Coordinator, for upcoming workshops.

Ongoing Activities: (Back to Top)

Bird Walks
Every Sunday, 3:00- 4:00pm
Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. Bring binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Nature Walks
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 11:00am- 12:00pm.
Walks begin at the Visitor Center unless otherwise noted on calendar. All ages welcome. No reservations required. FREE!

Junior Rangers
Every Thursday, 3:30- 4:30pm
Free activities for students 7-12 years of age(check calendar for holidays). Jr. Rangers learn about the ecology of estuaries, the importance of wetlands and will discover an appreciation for this disappearing ecosystem by participating in related hands-on activities. Earn patches, buttons and more! Programs held rain or shine. FREE! Click here to view the 2010 Jr. Ranger Schedule.

Saturday Speaker Series
Every 3rd Saturday, 11:00am- Noon (no December speaker).
Invited speakers will report on various topics related to the Tijuana Estuary and its watershed. Join us for an informal way to get to know the estuary experts. FREE - Open to All!
Look under upcoming activities & events for upcoming presentation descriptions.

Volunteer Opportunities
For more information about ongoing volunteer opportunities at the Reserve, click here.

Nature Films
A variety of films are available for viewing upon request at the Visitor Center, including a our newest film - The Tijuana River Watershed. Just ask at the front desk. FREE!


For more information, event schedules and ways to get involved with any of the above listed events please call the Visitor Center at 619-575-3613.

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