The Upper Interpretive Trail section of the Mesa Woodland Nature and Interpretive Trail wraps around the slope of the west side of campus for about 7/10ths of a mile. Incredibly, it is one of the largest displays of labeled native plants in San Diego County. That’s right, San Diego Mesa College students are steps away from being able to view and identify more native plants than any other place- including the Torrey Pines State Reserve near UC San Diego. 42 native species are currently labeled, including four endangered plants identified in a recent biological study- the San Diego Barrel Cactus, Chalk Dudleya. Willowy Mint, and Torrey Pine.

On Saturday, April 10, 2021, Mesa College will be encouraging students and the local community to participate in Canyon Day, by cleaning their own local neighborhood or canyon. As with many events this past year, due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, Canyon Day and Canyon Classroom cannot be held in person, and instead will be provided as self-guided activities.

In an effort to encourage a more sustainable future for all, the City of San Diego is recognizing 10 local businesses and organizations - including San Diego Mesa College - that implemented or expanded innovative waste reduction and recycling programs. From establishing a cigarette butt collection and recycling program, to creating a system to track solid waste tonnage to identify diversion opportunities, the 2020 Business Waste Reduction and Recycling Award winners displayed forward thinking in their programs.

San Diego Mesa College’s Scott T. Starbuck has landed his most recently published book, Hawk on Wire: Ecopoems, on the “Editor’s Pick” list on Newpages.com. The book focuses on climate change issues and the potential that can be developed from renewable energy in the next five years. He has a passion for bringing awareness to the unsustainable practices of today’s society and draws his readers in by using a unique approach through poems from imagined ghosts.

The first-ever Sustainability Week – a series of events focusing on the contribution of the arts, sciences, and humanities to our understanding of the planet – brought local high school students together with Mesa College students, faculty, and staff.