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Who We Are
Blue Dot Education (BDE) is a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to uplifting communities and stewarding the earth’s ecosystems through education. We were founded by a passionate crew of teachers, surfers, environmental advocates, scientists, artists, parents, and lifelong learners. At BDE, we design learning experiences that inspire hope, wonder, and joy, and we love what we do.
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Research supports time spent outdoors as a powerful tool for community building and well-being. ​
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At BDE, we’ve seen that when people experience joy in a place, they fall in love with it, and when someone loves a place they want to take care of it. By fostering this connection, we nurture both healthier communities and a stronger commitment to environmental stewardship.
Our philosophy is​ that people can experience transformational moments of change through shared learning in nature. It's our belief that these encounters, in reciprocity with ecosystems, bring the greatest benefit to the communities we belong to and the lands we occupy.
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“Our goal is and will be to offer immersive nature-based experiences. We understand that seeing a large, exotic animal such as a wolf or bear in captivity has its place in creating awe and wonder in a learning environment. Our work is to push ourselves and our community toward finding that same awe in the way the wind moves through a tall grassy meadow, in the mating dance of lizards on a desert rock, in the songs of birds as the sun crests the horizon, or in the mesmerizing, ever present crashing of waves against the shoreline."
-Brian Delgado, Co-Founder & Learning Designer
Research supports time spent outdoors as a powerful tool for community building and well-being. ​
​
At BDE, we’ve seen that when people experience joy in a place, they fall in love with it, and when someone loves a place they want to take care of it. By fostering this connection, we nurture both healthier communities and a stronger commitment to environmental stewardship.
Our philosophy is​ that people can experience transformational moments of change through shared learning in nature. It's our belief that these encounters, in reciprocity with ecosystems, bring the greatest benefit to the communities we belong to and the lands we occupy.
Why Outdoor Learning
Blue Dot Education’s work has included student-led initiatives such as planting over 2,500 Cottonwood trees on Navajo land in Northern Arizona, creating an artificial reef in San Diego’s Mission Bay, and hosting community astronomy events. Much of our organization’s work stems from serving public school systems.
Having since grown organically, BDE now offers a variety of immersive experiences in nature, along with classroom support and curriculum development, to intergenerational community members throughout Southern California. Current offerings include:
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-Snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming in San Diego’s bays
-Tide pool explorations and surfing excursions at San Diego beaches
-Restoration projects
-Community astronomy nights and overnight camping trips
-Rock climbing, hiking, and canyon experiences
-Mountain, meadow, and desert excursions
-Classroom and in-community support
-Nature photography, art, yoga, and more
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Your donation ensures that Blue Dot Education can cover all costs for participating students and community members.
Blue Dot Education’s work has included student-led initiatives such as planting over 2,500 Cottonwood trees on Navajo land in Northern Arizona, creating an artificial reef in San Diego’s Mission Bay, and hosting community astronomy events. Much of our organization’s work stems from serving public school systems.
Having since grown organically, BDE now offers a variety of immersive experiences in nature, along with classroom support and curriculum development, to multigenerational community members throughout Southern California. Current offerings include...
Our Programs
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Through empathy interviews with community members, we identified three primary barriers to accessing nature: financial limitations, geographic constraints, and lack of confidence. Our programs are designed to break down these barriers by providing everything participants need to fully engage in and learn from the outdoors, including all expenses.
We primarily rely on grant funding, but when grant cycles close or government funding is unavailable, private donations are what allow the continuation of our work with these communities.
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BDE takes great care in designing these experiences, from initial planning steps through facilitation. Your generosity uplifts underserved communities by directly contributing to the following:
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-Transportation
-Safety equipment
-Sporting gear
-GoPros, cameras, telescopes, art supplies, and related materials
-Meals, snacks, and drinks
-Entrance fees, permits, parking, facilitation and administrative costs
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With economic and educational support, our goal is for these communities to become self-sustaining in their engagement with the outdoors. This ultimately removes Blue Dot Education as the nexus point and creates a decentralized network of nature enthusiasts and environmental stewards.
Through empathy interviews with community members, we identified three primary barriers to accessing nature: financial limitations, geographic constraints, and lack of confidence.
Our programs are designed to break down these barriers by providing everything participants need to fully engage in and learn from the outdoors. With your help, this includes all expenses.
We primarily rely on grant funding, but when grant cycles close or government funding is unavailable, private donations are what allow the continuation of our work with these communities.
​
BDE takes great care in designing these experiences, from initial planning steps through facilitation. Your generosity uplifts underserved communities by directly contributing to the following...