San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, founded in 1978, is a Southern California nonprofit land trust for the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Our members, and corporate and foundation members, help to support the protection of our cherished natural places. The nearly 1,000-acre Reserve is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, and has seven miles of trails for running, hiking, dog walking, nature photography, and natural solace. The reserve is bordered by the cities of Encinitas, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe.

For over 30 years, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, with membership support, has inspired conservation across North County San Diego. Together, we provide pathways so that everyone can connect with nature, become watershed and wetland literate and take action on behalf of our lands, waters, and wildlife.

In collaboration with other nature providers, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s signature education program, Our Living Watershed, provides multi-year outdoor scientific inquiry experiences to students and families in six school districts located in or near the Escondido Creek Watershed. These NGSS-aligned field experiences inspire students and their families to learn about and care for their local resources, and inspire others to do the same.