Latest / Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact / Scares, Kayaks, and Community: Inside Agua Hedionda’s Signature Events
Transcript
- Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact — an essential podcast for those who live, work, visit, and play in Carlsbad. Host (Bret Schanzenbach): Good afternoon and welcome, everyone. I’m Bret Schanzenbach, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and your host. I’m excited to welcome Erin Hardin, director of community relations at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. Good afternoon, Erin! Guest (Erin Hardin): Hi! Good afternoon. It’s great to be here. Host: We love having you as part of our Chamber family—and we love Agua Hedionda. Let’s talk about you. You were born in Las Vegas? Guest: Yes. I lived there until I was 12. At the time, Nevada ranked very low in education, so my parents wanted better. We moved to Encinitas when I was going into sixth grade. Host: Which local schools did you attend? Guest: Flora Vista Elementary, San Dieguito Middle School, and La Costa Canyon High School. Host: LCC grad—love it. And you stayed local for college? Guest: Yes. I studied marketing. After college, Agua Hedionda was truly my first career role. I graduated in May and started there in September. I knew I wanted nonprofit work with a blend of marketing and event logistics. When I interviewed with Lisa, she essentially crafted a role that fit the Foundation’s needs and my passions. Host: Before Agua, I saw “Shake Shack employee trainer” on your LinkedIn. Guest: That was my college job at the La Costa location. I was a lead trainer. Food service is an amazing customer-service classroom—you meet every kind of person, learn to communicate, and stay calm under pressure. Host: You’ve called Agua Hedionda your dream job. Why? Guest: It combines everything I love: education, kids, animals, and the environment. Some nonprofits do critically important work around very heavy topics; at Agua, we get daily joy—watching people connect with animals, learn on our trails, and fall in love with the lagoon. It’s deeply fulfilling. Host: Most students don’t head to college thinking, “I want to work for a nonprofit.” Where did that come from? Guest: I’ve always loved giving back. As a kid, I sold cookies to buy dog beds for shelters. In college, I was philanthropy chair in Delta Zeta and ran creative fundraisers—like a silent disco to build empathy around hearing loss, benefiting the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Those experiences cemented my desire to do mission-driven work. Host: What’s a day in your life at the Discovery Center? Guest: I get in around 8:30 a.m., say good morning to Bingo the mini pig, then to Celerity (our peregrine falcon) and Blue (our American kestrel). I check email, then often walk the campus to capture social content—kids meeting animals, lagoon views, field trips trying something new. My role is community relations, so I oversee marketing and event logistics: campaign emails, social, and planning. Host: Your major annual events? Guest: Three big ones: • Discovery Gala (late August) • Laguna Kahuna Cleanup Challenge (first Friday & Saturday in May) • Haunted Corn Maze (Fridays & Saturdays in October at Carlsbad Strawberry Company) I handle timelines, volunteers, and logistics. Host: Let’s unpack each—starting with the Haunted Corn Maze. Guest: If you love scares, go through the maze; if you don’t, be a scarer! We recruit 100+ volunteers per night, ages 16+ (parental waiver for 16–17). Costumes are provided. Most proceeds support Agua Hedionda’s school programs and community education. Host: Laguna Kahuna? Guest: It’s our most mission-aligned event: volunteers kayak or paddleboard the lagoon to remove trash and invasive weeds. Companies and families form teams. We celebrate afterward with Pizza Port and refreshments plus team-building games—giant Jenga trivia, Lego builds, and more. Over two days we’ve removed thousands of pounds of debris—one team even ferried a full couch across the water! Host: And the Discovery Gala? Guest: We keep the program tight, dinner delicious, and end with immersive fun tied to the theme. Our 2025 theme was “Barbie’s Dream Lagoon.” We built Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House with casino games and a (temporary) tattoo station, plus Barbie’s Dream Disco with DJ Barbie. Nicole Medrano leads décor magic on a lean budget, and we echo the theme throughout the year to build excitement. Host: Membership is also vital, right? Guest: Absolutely. We have about 1,200 members. Entry level is $120/year or $10/month. Members get free Discovery Center admission, discounts on birthday parties and school programs, and access to member-exclusive events. Host: Tell us about those member events. Guest: Every Wednesday, 4:00–5:30 p.m., we stay open just for members with wine, beer, and light snacks—sunset over the lagoon while kids explore. In January, we host Mingle with Members to celebrate and thank our community with food, drinks, and live entertainment. Host: Field trips? Guest: Our education team welcomes 9,000+ students annually across three programs: • Past: Life of the Luiseño people and why their culture matters. • Present: Today’s environmental challenges and actions we can take. • Future: Envisioning a healthier environment and how we get there. Most groups are 2nd–3rd grade. Host: Any other favorite events? Guest: Yes—Avian Adventure Day on Father’s Day. I was inspired by Ramona’s Hawk Watch. We present our five native raptors and invite partners like Project Wildlife (last year: a barn owl…and a very cute raccoon). We add crafts like bird gliders or birdhouses. My family comes every year—it’s my favorite. Host: What do you love outside of work? Guest: Everything outdoors—beach days with a book, hiking, camping, exploring our region. I haven’t tried surfing yet, but I will! I’m off to Julian next weekend and Catalina next month. Host: Where can people connect, join, or sponsor? Guest: Visit aguahedionda.org or email me at erin.hardin@aguahedionda.org. I’d love to help with memberships, volunteering, and event sponsorships. Host: Erin, thanks for all you and the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation do for our environment and community—and for being so active with the Chamber. Guest: Thank you for having me! This was so much fun. Host: Thanks for joining us on Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact. If you got value from today’s episode, hit follow on your favorite podcast app and tell a friend!