Poker Players Prove that we have more FUN at the Discovery Center!

Five tables of serious, and some not so serious, poker players, each with a stack of chips started the night’s play. As the evening wore on and players were eliminated, a play-for-fun blackjack game gave retired tournament players a place to continue the fun, while waiting for the final poker hand to be played out. The crowd grew as the final three players, then two continued on – stacks of chips piled high in front of each one. And the clock ticked down…

For those who stuck around to the end…the last winning hand was made by Josh Cantor – one of our table sponsors, California Water Sports, and amazing supporter of all things Agua Hedionda!

Josh went home with a three-night stay in Palm Springs, a golf package for two, and $500 in playing chips for Harrah’s!

The runner up position was held by Michael Bacon, taking home a bottle of Venom Vodka, White & Red Pegasus Estate wine, and fresh caught, flash frozen Alaskan fish.

Congratulations to the winners – and everyone who came out to play on a beautiful summer night at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center!

Thank you to Tom Stewart for bringing the idea to AHLF – and sponsoring a table!

This evening wouldn’t have been possible without all of our Table Sponsors:

As a preview of the Discovery Gala ~ The Aggua Family on August 27, 2022 (SAVE THE DATE!), Farm House Catering provided the passed appetizers for the Speakeasy Add-On Package. Hope you enjoyed them!

Food was supplied by Senor Grubby’s, beer by Pizza Port, wine by Pegasus Estate Winery, Vodka by Venom, drinks and snacks were provided by AHLF. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Prizes were donated by Tom Stewart, Stacy Hall, Jimmy Ukegawa, Kim Blaylock, Lisa Hewitt, and Samantha Richter – we love you!

share this

Related Articles
November 24, 2025
There is no better way to celebrate all the spooky goodness fall brings than by kicking off the annual Haunted Corn Maze in partnership with the Carlsbad Strawberry Company . Thousands of people braved the maze each night—and most made it out alive. Thank you to everyone who stepped foot in the maze. Not only did you lead with bravery, but your admission directly supported environmental education in our community for the upcoming year. A loud, bloody, screaming thank you to every volunteer who made the maze the place to be this season. Your dedication to your roles, your top-tier jump-scare methods, and the miles you ran with a chainsaw were inspiring and unforgettable. Thank you as well to those who braved the maze in another way as volunteer security guards, assisting maze-goers and volunteer scarers whenever needed. Keeping everyone safe is our top priority, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you to the Carlsbad Strawberry Company for hosting us again this year. Each season grows bigger, and each season we grow more grateful for the opportunity to work together. Lastly, thank you to everyone who donated towards supporting our volunteers for this event! In-Kind Donors: Albertson’s Black Rock Coffee Bar Chespiroz Food Truck Grand Pacific Resorts Green Cheek Beer Co Little Fox Open Water Padres Vons
Sign:
October 8, 2025
On September 23rd, we gathered at the Discovery Campus to celebrate the people who make everything we do possible — our incredible volunteers! The Taco ’bout Great Volunteers appreciation event was our way of saying a heartfelt thank you to the long-term, dedicated individuals who have poured their time, passion, and care into the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF).
Plastic water bottle on a sandy beach with driftwood and a blurry ocean view.
October 8, 2025
We are thrilled to announce a new sustainable edition to the Discovery Campus. In partnership with Plastic Beach , AHLF is determined to make an impact on the billions of single use soft plastics that end up in landfill each year. Since these types of plastics cannot be recycled in typical Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) or Recycling Centers, Plastic Beach has worked to collect and properly dispose of over 50,000 pounds of plastic since its founding. 
ALL ARTICLES