discovery island

A Learning Haven for all Seasons

Contact Lisa Rodman For More Information

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Donation Opportunity

We are thrilled to share an exciting new addition coming to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation's Discovery Campus, the Discovery Island Sensory Garden!


Designed to engage all five senses, this interactive outdoor classroom will inspire children and families to touch, smell, taste, hear, and explore the wonders of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Fragrant herbs, edible gardens, native plants, pollinator habitats, and hands-on discovery stations will spark curiosity and foster a lifelong connection to nature.


We're excited to announce that an anonymous donor has provided a $12,500 Challenge Grant, meaning every dollar donated will be matched until we reach our goal.


Every gift of $35 or more will be recognized on the Discovery Island Sensory Garden donor plaque, creating a lasting legacy for generations of young explorers.


Please make your gift today and help us unlock the full $12,500 match.

DONATE NOW

FEATURED EXHIBIT

The Discovery Island Sensory Garden invites children and families to connect with nature through exploration, curiosity, and play. Every element encourages hands-on learning by engaging all five senses while celebrating the unique coastal habitat of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

Touch – Feel Nature

Children discover the incredible diversity of textures found in nature

  • Flowing ornamental grasses
  • Interesting succulents and native plants
  • Interactive touch stations with shells, driftwood, seed pods, and natural treasures found around the lagoon

Smell – Breathe in the Lagoon

Fragrant plants awaken curiosity and create lasting memories.

  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Lemon balm
  • Mint
  • California sagebrush and native coastal sage
  • Children are encouraged to gently rub leaves to experience each plant’s unique aroma.

Taste – Discover Edible Nature

Safe edible plants help children understand where food comes from while encouraging healthy exploration.

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Snap peas
  • Seasonal herbs
  • Native edible plants (where appropriate)

These living gardens become outdoor classrooms where children can harvest, taste, and learn.

Sound – Listen to the Living Landscape

Nature is full of music.


Discovery Island can feature:

  • Rustling native grasses
  • Bamboo accents
  • Wind chimes crafted from natural materials
  • A gentle bubbling water feature
  • Bird-friendly plantings that attract songbirds
  • Pollinator gardens buzzing with bees and butterflies

 Sight – See the Wonder

Bright colors, movement, and wildlife create an ever-changing landscape.

  • Native wildflowers
  • Butterfly host plants
  • Colorful blooms that attract hummingbirds and pollinators
  • Seasonal displays that change throughout the year

Observation stations invite children to watch butterflies, birds, insects, and the changing lagoon ecosystem.

Learning Through Play

The Discovery Island Sensory Garden is more than a beautiful landscape—it is an immersive outdoor classroom where every visit inspires exploration, stewardship, and a lifelong connection to nature.


By touching, smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeing the natural world, visitors of all ages discover that the best way to learn about our environment is to experience it firsthand.


“Explore. Discover. Connect.”

A place where every sense tells the story of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) is seeking investors to build the Discovery Island, a new exhibit space that doubles as a weather-proof outdoor classroom for up to 20 children. With an archaeological dig pit and sensory garden on the outside and interactive exhibits inside, the Discovery Island will be a Learning Haven for all Seasons.

Small, modern building with a dark roof, large windows, and a flower box.

Discovery Island rendering

Education

Ensure that school-age children can engage in AHLF’s programs, regardless of the weather.

Exhibits

Create new ways for visitors to interact with AHLF and their surroundings.

Children seated on floor listening to person near open doorway, possibly a museum setting.

Crowded indoor field trip

Entrance to a park with trees, picnic tables, and a wooden fence on a sunny day.

Future Discovery Island location

accessibility

Make the Discovery Campus accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities, providing a safe space in nature for all.

Donor benefit levels

each level includes lower level donor benefits

$25,000+ Sponsor - Waterproof Outdoor Classroom

  • Naming rights of Discovery Island outdoor classroom
  • Personal bell at the Front Docent Desk
  • Lifetime designated parking space at the Discovery Campus (with reservation)
  • Seat at committee meetings regarding the project
  • Ribbon cutting privileges at Ribbon Cutting ceremony

$25,000 Sponsor

  • Personal bell at the Front Docent Desk
  • Designated parking space at the Discovery Campus for one year (with reservation)
  • Naming rights of Discovery Island outdoor classroom
  • Seat at committee meetings regarding the project

$10,000 Sponsor

  • Designated parking space at the Discovery Campus for one year (with reservation)
  • Naming rights of Discovery Island outdoor classroom
  • A seat on the Honorary Gala Committee

$5,000 Sponsor

  • Two VIP seats at Discovery Gala 2026
  • Unique charm on Front Docent Desk bell chain

$2,000 Sponsor

  • Two seats at Discovery Gala 2026
  • Unique charm on Front Docent Desk bell chain


$1,000 Sponsor

  • Special interaction with AHLF Animal Ambassador (e.g. one-on-one with Bingo, raptor experience)

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