Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula are linked together by more than a name. Nature knows no borders. Get to know more about our incredible neighbors in nature by visiting Expedition Baja or by using any of the resources here.
Whether you’re a school teacher, an at-home learner, or just curious, you’ll find videos, field guides, activity sheets, and other resources to help you learn—whatever your educational needs. Our own researchers have been exploring and studying the region in tandem with scientists in Mexico for over a century, so we have a lot to share.
There's an endless amount to learn and explore about this region. See what subjects catch your interest and let's get started together.
Plants have developed special adaptations to survive. Our researchers study plants in the Baja California Peninsula, looking at their unique adaptations and the relationships they have with other species in their region. Students will get a chance to step into the shoes of our botanists: identifying plant specimens, discovering the unique ways that plant and animal species are connected, learning to use a plant press, and much more! Check out this middle school Teacher Kit from our Nature to You Loan Program.
Bringing your middle school to see Expedition Baja? The lessons in this brand-new curriculum guide serve as pre-visit and post-visit activities. They provide students with a feel for what it’s like to be a researcher working in Baja. They’ll learn about real-life scientists, engaging in mock data analysis and discussing how they can be an advocate for conservation.
From the archives of PROBEA—a past environmental education training program for teachers exploring the ecosystems and habitats of our binational region—you’ll find loads of Spanish-language curricula for grades K-6, grades 7-9, and grades 10+, as well as English-language curriculum for grades 7-9.
Explore the intersection of land and sea through our Ocean Oasis Field Guide and Teacher’s Guide. Discover plant and animal life or learn about plate tectonics. This retro-looking website was developed in 2000 but is still relevant today. You can also enjoy the original film in our giant screen theater.
What is that? A question any field guide should help answer. Check out our Baja California Plant Field Guide or be a part of the BajaFlora project. Stay tuned as we release more.
From quick clips about dunes to in-depth talks in both English and Spanish, see a list of videos featuring current research and more through our Baja California Peninsula playlist on YouTube.
Looking for some quick information about the Baja California Peninsula you can share? We've got you covered.
Are you a researcher? Just want to know what a scientific expedition entails? It’s hard to protect what we don’t understand, and so expeditions help scientists, land managers, and conservationists understand what's in an ecosystem, how it flourishes, or what's causing harm.
We're always discovering and learning. You can find out what we’ve been up to in the field or learn about our expeditions. Here are a few reports about these scientific excursions to the Baja California Peninsula. All reports are bilingual (in English and Spanish) e-readers, with plenty of full-page photography.
Science communications is an important and growing field in our information age. Students are asked to think critically about news stories or to write factual and eye-catching articles, headlines, and editorials. You can find some examples to explore topics in science journalism here. We also just have cool stories to share!
Stay tuned, because there's always more to come.
There's always more to explore and something new to learn. Our blog is always updated with tales from the field, or you can get the latest research and museum news in your inbox. Here you'll find our latest stories from the Baja California Peninsula.
President and CEO Judy Gradwohl shares a first-person account of a recent milestone for conservation: I had arrived early at the release site in case the egg transport went faster than anyone anticipated. This quiet overcast day marked the culmination of many years of hard work to return California red-legged frogs to their historic range in Southern California, where they have been absent for about 20 years. Read more.
One hundred years ago, scientists—both amateur and classically trained—found plants in the Baja California Peninsula that now seem to have disappeared. No one has seen them growing in the wild for decades—until now. Multiple recent expeditions have led to the rediscovery of some species. Where did they go and how did we find them? Read more.
Who doesn’t love dune bugs? Our entomologists are studying insects in the dunes of Baja California to gather data that will help inform conservation decisions around these incredibly unique—but potentially threated—ecosystems. Read more.
Over the decades, we’ve collaborated with many incredible organizations in the Baja California Peninsula. If you’d like to learn more about the peninsula's conservation organizations, wildlife, and scientific research, we invite you to check out some partners with fantastic resources of their own and whose work is featured here.
And even more resources are coming soon, so be sure to check back throughout 2023.
Whether you choose to visit Expedition Baja, participate in remote learning programs, tune in for a Nat Talk, or sign up for any of our newsletters, there's always something to explore.