the discovery Campus

Located under the blue arch, this is the starting point of your campus adventure. Check in with staff, learn about upcoming events, and browse the gift shop for the perfect eco-friendly gift, souvenir, or snack to fuel your day. Then explore Reptile City, Mammal Manor, Birds of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, the aquarium, Columns of Life, and more. 

Live the Past explores the Luiseño people and their ancestral homelands, recognizing them as the region’s original stewards whose traditions, knowledge, and community leadership have shaped San Diego’s cultural and ecological landscape across the Mission, Rancho, and modern eras. The exhibit also examines the Rancho Period, a pivotal chapter in California history marked by evolving relationships among Native communities, settlers, and the land. During this time, profound social and land-use changes transformed the region. Native communities navigated these shifts with resilience—maintaining cultural traditions, adapting to new circumstances, and preserving knowledge that continues to influence Southern California today. This exhibit honors the endurance, contributions, and lasting cultural legacies of both the Luiseño people and the settlers who shaped the region’s shared history.

Curiosity Corner is a hands-on discovery space where wonder leads the way, featuring bugs and butterflies, microscopes for up-close exploration, educational books to spark imagination, and mystery drawers filled with surprises. Designed to ignite questions and creativity, this interactive exhibit invites learners of all ages to explore, investigate, and fall in love with the tiny details of the natural world.

Honor the Future is an immersive, multi-sensory exhibit that invites visitors to see, hear, touch, and experience the delicate balance between people, wildlife, and the Agua Hedionda Lagoon’s vital coastal ecosystem. Through hands-on exploration and storytelling, the exhibit empowers future Lagoon Stewards to honor the past, care for the present, and help safeguard the Lagoon for generations to come. Discover the meaningful ways you can make a lasting impact on the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and sign the pledge to become a Watershed Warrior!

Located next to the chicken coop, let your imagination run free in this safe play zone.

Located in the Honor the Future room, enjoy coloring pages featuring our Animal Ambassadors, nature books, toys, and real dinosaur bones. With so much to explore, it’s the perfect place to take a break and pledge to being a Watershed Warrior.

Located between Experience Today and Honor the Future, learn about the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and the Discovery Campus, with history dating back to 5000 BC.

Located in the Experience Today room, these tanks exhibit species native to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

Located in the Experience Today room, meet some of the smaller creatures that share our planet—bugs! These spineless wonders have important roles, unique adaptations, and fascinating lives. 

Located in the Experience Today room, this photographic exhibition showcases local wildlife with stunning photos of over 20 bird species from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Meet year-round residents and migratory visitors, and explore bird nest replicas from more than six species.

Located in Experience Today, meet our guinea pigs—Cookie, Oreo, and Mocha—and our Holland Lop bunny, Cupcake! Visit them for a chance to pet them and learn about their unique personalities.

Located in the Experience Today room, Retile City includes bearded dragons, snakes, geckos, tortoises, and amphibians as well!

Located in the Experience Today room,  guests are invited to explore the touch tank, where they can get up close and personal with a variety of fascinating marine creatures from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. 

Located in the Experience Today room, Explore the ecology of the lagoon through visual, verbal and physical descriptions. Thanks to the North County Board Association's efforts, the column provides a clear representation of the how the lagoon function layer by layer. 

Located at Mayor Matt Hall Hill, young explorers can become certified "Awesome Archaeologists" by finding and identifying 9 different artifacts including dinosaur bones!

Located across campus, visitors can enjoy browsing through our extensive California Native Plant Garden and accompanying colorful and informative interpretive signage. 

In partnership with Greg Rubin, owner of California's Own Native Landscape Design, the AHLF is proud to host the premiere native plant garden in North San Diego County.

Our landscape is comprised of more than 800 native plants featuring over 60 different species. 

Located next to the chicken coop,  You will see the inner workings of a bee hive through the outdoor paned exhibit and watch the bees busily working thanks to local Eagle Scout, Branden Lintner with the guidance of The Encinitas Bee Company. 

Located near Rator Ridge, Aquaponics is the combination of Aquaculture (raising fish) with Hydroponics (growing plants without soil). The grow bed acts as a bio-filter that converts the ammonia in fish waste into a nitrate food that the plants can use. The product grown feeds critters at the Discovery Campus offering a teaching tool, and sustainable food option. 

Installed in the Spring of 2019, the pollinator path features beautifully crafted mosaic stepping stones by the Don Myers Foundation with the help of volunteers from the San Dieguito United Methodist Church. 

Encompassing the area to the South of the Discovery Center, present plant species include varieties of milkweed and yarrow providing breeding grounds for many pollinators including the infamous Monarch Butterfly. 

Fairyland features an array of succulents provided by the Succulent Café in Carlsbad. Carlsbad Village Fairy’s very own fairy doors, and a sprinkle of imagination. We thank AHLF Board Member Chris Crespo, for envisioning this new exhibit.

Created in honor of the Sanders Tech-Ed Foundation, where funding was provided,  Tortoise Terrace II is an outdoor oasis for our 2 tortoises, Tammy and Leo.

Our hens are full of love and personality! They love treats, being pet, and running around. Come say hi!

Meet Bingo, the Mini Pig! She quickly captures the hearts of everyone she encounters. Bingo is full of energy and charm, making her a joy to be around. 

She absolutely loves people, relishes being petted, and can’t resist the delicious treats from the Bingo Bags, which are available for purchase inside. 

Come by and say hello to Bingo—she’s sure to brighten your day!

Raptor Ridge offers a unique opportunity to see native birds of prey up close. Meet two owls, two falcons, and a hawk, and learn about these magnificent animals and why the Discovery Campus is proud to care for them.