Bri Fordem

I have been visiting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Borrego Springs region since I was 14. Camping, Jeeping, and exploring the vast wilderness of this amazing desert are a foundation to some of my fondest childhood memories and an important part of my current passion for the natural world.

In 2014, I had the opportunity to make Borrego Springs my primary residence. After an opportunity to work with Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF), I relocated from San Diego. The past six years have been nothing but enriching for me personally and professionally as I have explored the Park and this community. As Executive Director for the ABF, I have the pleasure of working with an amazing team supporting the Park through a unique partnership in conservation, research, youth and adult education and retail.

There is something so very special about this place, and I know I’m not alone in my thinking. I have fallen in love with the people, the land, and the spirit of this valley. When I moved here, I was looking for a slower pace, simplicity, and being closer to nature; my Borrego experience has exceeded all expectations.

I have the immense pleasure of waking up each day and drinking in the beauty of a place that I get to protect and inspire others to appreciate. There is no traffic, and I wave to all my friends along the way to work – not a bad commute! As I have become more involved in the community, I am moved by the commitment and passion people have for Borrego Springs and the Park. The impact that people have here is incredible, and the hearts and minds of everyone humbles me; I am honored to be a part of the community and to call it my home.

My biggest take away in the last few years is that while some folks perceive the desert as a place to hide out, there actually is no hiding here. In fact, the quiet solitude and vast open spaces allow for self-discovery, ideas and a way of being just waiting to break free of distractions so prevalent in larger towns or cities. Borrego is the perfect place to discover the best parts of one’s true nature.