The San Diego Environmental Foundation (SDEF) is committed to providing a state-of-the-art environmental education experience to middle school students throughout San Diego County. SDEF operates from a 6,000 square foot Ecocenter that contains a theatre and exhibit hall. The Ecocenter provides a field trip experience, free-of-charge, to about 10-15,000 middle school students each year.

The San Diego Environmental Foundation (SDEF) was incorporated as a 501 C 3, non-profit California Corporation in 1998. SDEF is managed by its Board of Directors, with daily operations handled by staff onsite at SDEF’s Ecocenter education facility.

The mission statement for SDEF follows:

The San Diego Environmental Foundation educates the general public on actions they may take to reduce environmental degradation. It’s focus is on providing information to students and the general public about new, environmentally-friendly technologies -including alternative fuels, and the vehicles they power- and societal changes to reduce pollution and energy usage.

SDEF

Background and
Mission Statement.

 

Ecocenter Program.

The Ecocenter ’s new environmental program teaches the basic science and causes of air pollution, with an emphasis on transportation and alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) solutions. Students attending Ecocenter programs experience the world’s first comprehensive AFV facility at the nearby Regional Transportation Center (RTC), an innovative $14 million facility designed to introduce the general public of San Diego County to the benefits of AFVs.

For more information on these program see Middle School Field trip

Other SDEF Projects.

In addition to the Ecocenter , SDEF supports a number of other environmental projects in San Diego County. For instance, the Foundation was instrumental in obtaining a $1.4 million donation from the Ford Fund for the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. This donation was used to purchase additional wetlands to help protect coastal habitats in northern San Diego County.

SDEF also provides host facilities for various environmental education programs sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education Outdoor Education and other environmental organizations.