2022 Tip Top 5K & 10K Run and Walk was Tip Top!

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day at the Lagoon. Around 350 runners/walkers and 100 volunteers came out in support of the Foundation’s NINTH race, walk, strut and stroll! Thank you all! 5Kers wound their way over the urban route around the Lagoon, while 10Kers took a more circuitous route through open spaces and wild places, both finishing at the Discovery Center and the excitement of World Water Day festivities.

Of course, there would be no fun events without YOU, our members, whose ongoing support “makes it all happen!” You, and the support of our Champions for Stewardship Sponsors: SDG&E, Poseidon Water, NRG Energy, Grand Pacific Resorts, Gemological Institute of America, Republic Services, Brubaker & Associates, and Leucadia Wastewater District.

Our race namesake Tip Top Meats came through, once again, with some tasty treats, and Culver Beer kept the happy flowing! We teamed up Bitchin Sauce with Ara’s pita bread to give us Vegan meal options; and drinking water to keep us all hydrated was donated by Poseidon Water, Rayne Water, and EcoWater.

Every racer received a useful swag bag provided by Lynnell Talone-Honda of The Silva Group, each bag stuffed with goodies provided by Tri-Cities Medical Group, Thermofisher Scientific, Santianna Oakmont Senior Living, Catalytic Risk Managers, AT&T, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, and Aflac.

Those who took their racing seriously, running for all they were worth, were rewarded by 1st Place Prizes donated by our amazing local businesses: Anderson’s LaCosta Nursery, Clever Made, Columbia Sportsware, Gelsons, Mizu, Moosa’s Native Plants, Prontos Gourmet Deli, Richard Walker’s Pancake House, Rubios, and The Rush Coffee. A special prize was donated by Roadrunner Sports - a raffle ticket was given for it to each person who showed up for Packet Pick-Up.

This year we also held an Opportunity Drawing, with fabulous prizes donated by Grand Pacific Resorts, California Watersports, Lemongrass Salon & Spa, and Pegasus Estate Winery Wine. With only 30 tickets available for purchase, the odds were fantastic! Our very own Madison Coleman was the winner of this great package!

Exhibitors kept the day interesting with lots of hands-on science projects and puzzles. Many thanks to the Meigs Family Foundation for their magic and mayhem, Thermofisher Scientific for a microscopic look at what wades in our water, and the Agua Hedionda teaching staff for sharing their special STEAM studies! As well, our raptor specialist and her Peregrine Falcon friend Celerity entertained a large crowd of fascinated folks. Encina Wastewater showed us the process water goes through once it leaves our bathrooms and ends up in the sea, while Body & Soul Nourishment showed us how fun and easy garden towers are. So much cool stuff!

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Members Make It Happen On Saturday, October 17, members of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation gathered at the Discovery Campus for our Annual Members Meeting and the official ribbon cutting of Discovery Island. Thirty two voting memberships were represented as we ratified, re-elected and elected our Board of Directors, celebrated a year of impact, and looked ahead to what comes next for the lagoon and the people who love it. Thank you to Señor Grubby’s for providing the breakfast bar and to Peak Dentistry, our Campus Coffee Sponsor. Our 2026 Board of Directors Members voted on the following board members: Ratified: Laurie Gonzalez, Anne Master, Christina Nichols, Ray Pearson and Mike Stoliker Re-elected: Frank Ortega and Taylor Sais Newly elected: Jenna Dotson and Michael Metts We extended a heartfelt thank you to Julie Gibbs for her two years of leadership as Chairwoman. Julie continues on the board as our Immediate Past Chairwoman. We also welcomed our new executive slate: Chair: Frank Ortega (previously Vice Chair) Vice Chair: Michael Metts Treasurer: Steve Baker (returning) Secretary: Vinit Ahooja (returning) A Year of Impact and a Look Ahead Members reviewed our Annual Impact 2026 report , then turned to the future of our educational programs and our niche: exceptional environmental education. A few highlights: Accreditation: Our certification with the American Camp Association is in process. Little Agua Learners: We are assembling our licensing documents for the Little Agua Learners Licensed Preschool. City designation: We received a designation letter from the City of Carlsbad expanding our business classification from travel serving visitor commercial and gift shop to include education. Fire safety: We completed the fire inspection updates required for licensing. The David C. Copley Foundation: We were invited to apply for the foundation’s invitation only grant in January. Nordson: Big cheers to Nordson for supporting our Academy for Environmental Stewardship with $25,000, and for their partnership with us throughout the year. Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians: The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians has made a three year commitment at the $5,000 Community Partnership level. California Climate Action Corps: AHLF is proud to be a host site for the California Climate Action Corps, a State of California program. We welcomed a new fellow for the year and look forward to welcoming a winter fellow in January. Thank you to the many community partners who make our work possible. Celebrating Our Board Rookie of the Year: Anne Master. Anne jumped in from day one. She has shown up to every event and took on the review and editing of our bylaws. The updated bylaws are now available on our website . Board Member of the Year: Frank Ortega. Frank volunteers twice a week on campus and on the trails, and no job is too dirty for him. One moment stands out: on one of the hottest days of the year, Frank helped carry a refrigerator up 17 flights of stairs. All in the name of service. Thank you, Frank! Discovery Island Is Officially Open The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce joined us to cut the ribbon on Discovery Island, our newest exhibit space at the Discovery Campus. We were honored to receive a proclamation from Senator Catherine Blakespear’s office marking the occasion. Kent Zapata shared remarks as we officially announced the opening. Kent is supporting one of Discovery Island’s featured exhibits, Jennifer Muller’s Water Lab, with a pledge of $5,000 a year for two years. The Water Lab honors the memory of Jennifer Muller, whose passion for clean water and STEM education continues to inspire young engineers, scientists and environmental warriors. The Water Lab will be an interactive water station where visitors and students watch water move through different substrates. It will also host Watershed Wednesday talks as part of our Discover and Learn series. 
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Bright and early on Sunday morning, more than 90 people gathered with binoculars and coffee in hand for a morning of birding, learning, and adventure. Participants of all ages kicked off the day with local birding experts Bobby Brett and Rick Grove, who introduced the basics of birdwatching before leading groups along the Discovery Trail and throughout the Discovery Campus. Along the way, guests spotted native birds, learned fascinating bird facts, and took turns viewing wildlife through high-powered spotting scopes. After a quick coffee refill, attendees gathered on beautiful Newell's Terrace for an unforgettable presentation by Hillary Hankey, founder of Avian Behavior Conservancy. Hillary and her team introduced four incredible avian ambassadors—the Swainson's Hawk, White-faced Owl, King Vulture, and White-necked Raven—giving guests the rare opportunity to see these remarkable birds up close while learning about their behaviors, adaptations, and conservation. The undeniable star of the show was the mischievous White-necked Raven, whose playful antics and impressive tricks had the audience laughing throughout the presentation. Following the program, guests met the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation's Raptor Specialists and interns while getting an up-close look at the birds of prey that call the Discovery Campus home. With a hands-on craft station for children, beautiful weather, and a meaningful way to celebrate Father's Day surrounded by nature, Avian Adventure Day was the perfect blend of education, exploration, and family fun.
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