CNMF in WASHINGTON D.C.

On April 30, Cabrillo National Monument Foundation Executive Director, Emily Moore joined 117 other national park partner representatives in Washington D.C. for "Hill Day" to ask members of the House and Senate to support future funding for our national parks.

The coalition coordinated by the National Park Foundation collectively logged more than 250 meetings with congressional representatives asking them to support the America the Beautiful Act, which reauthorizes the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) set to expire in September of this year.

The LRF is part of the Great America Outdoors Act which, through the National Park Foundation (NPF), funds deferred maintenance and repairs for the National Park Service. The NPF anticipates the House will introduce similar legislation in the following weeks which will need to pass in order for the LRF benefits to flow to the parks.

Prior to Hill Day, on April 23rd, the National Park Foundation, National Park Friends Alliance and national park partners, including CNMF, submitted a letter addressed to leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources highlighting the impact of the LRF on America's 430+ national parks and communities across the country.

Proud to Support Cabrillo National Monument!

"National Park Foundation Hill Day 2025 was an incredible opportunity to proudly stand in unwavering support of Cabrillo National Monument and its dedicated staff, while representing the passionate donors of the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation. It was an honor to join national park partners in advocating for the vital legislative support that ensures our parks thrive. Thanks to an appropriations grant to NPF, projects like the new Oceanside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument have become a reality, expanding access, safety, and appreciation for this coastal treasure."

• Emily Moore, Executive Director, Cabrillo National Monument Foundation

Left to Right: National Park Foundation, Office of Senator Alex Padilla, Santa Monica Mountains Fund, Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, Ecologik Institute, and Sequoia Parks Conservancy.

In this newsletter, we recognize the power of connection that Cabrillo National Monument has to people. Whether it is in Washington D.C. or at one of many outreach events, CNMF staff are met with an outpouring of positive reactions, the sharing of memories and traditions forged at the park, and the desire to preserve park treasures that have made these experiences possible.

We are deeply moved by the unwavering commitment and support our community has shown for Cabrillo National Monument. For this, we are thankful. These efforts included reaching out to federal elected representatives, continuing to write heartfelt notes of thanks to rangers, participating in peaceful protests, and dedicating time to volunteerism. To find out who your representatives are, how to communicate with them and if they are supporting the issues that are important to you, visit https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/

As summer approaches and family and friends visit, we encourage you to continue the connection and spend time with them at Cabrillo National Monument. These moments not only strengthen your bond with the park but also provide a window into one of the world's most biodiverse habitats, a remarkable and wondrous place nestled right here in San Diego. Together, we ensure the future of this remarkable place.

PARK AFTER HOURS

SAVE THE DATE

Come Together on September 6 to support the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation

6:30 - 9 p.m.

@ Cabrillo National Monument

TICKETS GO ON SALE IN JUNE!

After-hour events at Cabrillo National Monument are a big draw for Cabrillo National Monument Foundation (CNMF) members and the moonlight walks rank among the most popular. This April, with park staff at capacity, Volunteer In Parks (VIP) stepped in and led the 2025 Moonlight Walk and guided trail tour and the response by attendees was pure gratitude.

CNMF Board Trustee, Ike Ellis along with searchlight volunteer and historian, Gary Reilly and veteran VIP, Benjamin, entertained, educated and led more than 30 walkers down the Bayside trail against the backdrop of a Pink Moon, pausing at the searchlight exhibit where Gary Reilly gave them a brief history and answered questions.

A guided hike, views from the Lighthouse at sunset, the magic of the glowing lense at dusk; top it off with a cup of hot cocoa, popcorn and a view of the Pacific sunset while perched next to the glowing Lighthouse lense - not something everyone gets to witness, but at least once a year, the Foundation works with the park service to give CNMF members this experience and this year, nature made a dramatic contribution with a last-minute tule-like fog bank to end the evening. It was a rare chance to talk to the gathering of Foundation and park staff and volunteers with expertise in park facts and history.

CNMF members Cherri and Rick finish the guided hike. Event VIPs Coca, Ken and Cassandra at the refreshment station, ran things inside the Assistant Keepers Quarters next to the Lighthouse.

CNMF members and VIPs Becky and Dan Weider pause for a photo with colleague Cindy

Becoming a member - Join the Foundation with an annual or monthly recurring gift and receive exclusive member benefits. Philanthropic partner organizations, such as the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, provide the support and funding needed to fill the gaps for our national parks, but also provide enhancements to support the visitor experience. 

If you ever need assistance getting your account login set up, or if you just prefer talking to a human, you can always reach out to us at peggy@cnmf.org or call (619) 312-7942.

Viejas Tribal Earth Day Celebration

This May, Cabrillo National Monument Park Staff and CNMF were invited to participate in the Viejas Tribal Earth Day Celebration, hosted by Viejas Environmental Programs. The mission of the Environmental Programs is to research, monitor, assess, manage, conserve, protect, restore, enhance, and utilize the natural resources of the Viejas Indian Reservation to maintain and improve Tribal environmental quality.

CNMF was thrilled to team up with the park to display information about the natural resources at Cabrillo. Science Technician, Patricia Simpson, showcased a display featuring various species of Native San Diego Bees, while Science Technician Virginia Javier led visitors through a native plant guessing activity using hints based on the scent of the plants.

Our shared table welcomed over 75 visitors -- and dozens of wonderful interpretive conversations with event attendees.

Above, left: Cabrillo National Monument Science Technician, Virginia J, facilitating outreach table activity with visitor

Conservation Garden Outreach

East county is home to the Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden. Recognized as one of the top eight in the United States for its community education programs, the 6-acre garden features sample water-wise landscapes, a container garden, topiary garden, succulent garden, sensory garden, a garden store, a Butterfly Pavillion and irrigation, compost & mulch exhibits all in an enclosed, spectacular and walkable space 15 minutes from downtown San Diego.

This May 3, Cabrillo park staff and CNMF representatives teamed up to represent Cabrillo National Monument during the annual Spring Garden Festival. A first for the Foundation, the Cuyamaca College Nursery, a student-operated nursery, has proudly hosted the festival for more than 30 years.

The Cabrillo booth was one of 12 other non-profits represented and more than 75 local vendors including food and beverage vendors and live music.

The concentration of gardening, pollinator, conservation and ecological enthusiasts made for a day filled with outreach with 224 visitors to the booth, a dozen email signups and lots of meaningful conversations about the park. If you have not been, be sure and visit their website at https://thegarden.org/ and come see the Cabrillo booth at the next Spring Garden Festival!

Above, left: CNMF Development Manager Peggy Junker, Buzz, and Board Trustee, Laura Moore. Above, right: NPS Ranger, Sandy Hernandez

REI Stewardship Visit & Intertidal Zone Tour

Above: CNMF Outreach Coordinator Adriana Wolf and REI San Diego Store Team Members

CNMF kicked off National Park Week with a special visit from our local REI Store Team!

REI Team Members came ready to work as Weed Warriors -- removing buckets full of invasive plant species along the Coastal Trail to support the restoration of native habitat. After their stewardship shift, the team joined a Park Ranger for a tour of the tidepools where they spotted some of our most elusive intertidal creatures, including the Kellet’s whelks and Hopkin's rose nudibranch.

We are so grateful to the REI San Diego Team for being a powerful partner in protecting and preserving Cabrillo National Monument—and to every team member who came out to learn about, and take care of our beloved park.

Above, right: Cabrillo National Monument Park Ranger, Hannah M. Leading Tidepool Tour

Eat Locally Grown Produce and Give Back to CNMF

The park store team welcomed Mariane this April. The City College business student says she was excited about working against the backdrop of the park views and added "I'm not tired of it yet!"

Always greeting the public with a smile, she says that when she isn't working or in school, she enjoys rock climbing, playing with her dogs and hiking. While she says she hasn't done all of the trails at Cabrillo and is looking forward to exploring them on her days off.

Born in the Philippines, she has been in San Diego since she was 9 but had only previously visited the park once with family.

With an enthusiasm for the wildlife at the park she said she has been observing birds nesting above the windows of the visitor center and records them on the days she works.

CNMF is seeking a seasonal Park Store Associate to work in the Cabrillo Store within the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center. This seasonal part- time position will work from mid-May through mid -October 2025. For more information and to apply, visit our website.

IN THE PARK

Your Spring Birding Guide: 5 Birds to Spot

at Cabrillo National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument is a treasured spot for spring birdwatching in San Diego. Located along the Pacific Flyway— a major migration route stretching approximately 10,000 nautical miles from Alaska to South America—Cabrillo serves as a critical stopover for millions of birds each spring. From small songbirds to soaring raptors, migratory birds rely on the park’s natural resources to rest and refuel on their way to their final breeding grounds. But Cabrillo’s birdlife isn’t limited to seasonal visitors. The park is also home to a wide variety of year-round resident species, some of which become easier to spot (or hear!) as the spring season brings increased activity and visibility.

1. Hermit Thrush

The Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) is a captivating migratory bird that passes through Cabrillo National Monument in spring. Recognizable by its rich brown upper body, smudged spots on its breast, and a distinctive reddish tail, this small thrush is often heard singing its melancholy, flute-like song before it is seen.

Unlike many other thrush species, the Hermit Thrush is a short- to medium-distance migrant, wintering in the southern U.S. and Mexico before heading north to breed in Canada and the northern U.S. It’s also one of the earliest thrushes to arrive in its wintering grounds and among the last to depart in spring.

In the springtime, the Hermit Thrush eats mainly insects such as beetles, caterpillars, bees, ants, wasps, and flies. They also occasionally eat small amphibians and reptiles. In the winter, they change their diet to eat more fruit, including wild berries.

Birders should look for this species along shaded trails and wooded edges in the morning, watching for its characteristic behavior of quickly lifting its tail after short, darting movements through the underbrush

2. Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is one of the most widespread migratory songbirds to pass through Cabrillo National Monument each spring. Its gray-streaked plumage, white wing patches, and signature bright yellow rump, throat, and sides make it easy to identify. This warbler is acrobatic and vocal, producing a variety of sharp chip notes while flitting actively through trees and shrubs.

Unlike many warblers that rely solely on insects, the Yellow-rumped Warbler has a unique digestive ability that allows it to consume berries and wax-coated fruits. This adaptation enables it to winter farther north than most warbler species, staying in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America, before migrating north to breed in coniferous forests of Canada and the northern U.S.



At Cabrillo, the Yellow-rumped Warbler can often be seen darting between coastal sage scrub and other low vegetation, pausing briefly before resuming their search for food. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to observe their fast, erratic flight and characteristic yellow flashes among the foliage.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGE

Did you know that San Diego is a leader in sustainable business practices? According to reports from the San Diego Tourism Authority, our airport, convention center, and many of our hotels and attractions have green certifications and even our very own Padres baseball team have achieved a waste diversion rate of more than 95% at Petco Park.

CNMF wants to do our part, and we are focused on creating greener events and business practices that prove it. Last year's Cabrillo Under the Stars featured compostable serving dishes and reusable glasses along with water stations and we were able to eliminate water bottles entirely. This year we will bring those practices to all of our member events!

Thank you for reading our quarterly newsletter. We appreciate your engagement, dedication, and support. We couldn't do this important work without you. Hope to see you soon at San Diego's only National Park, Cabrillo National Monument!

Sincerely,