Nurturing environmental values in BCS Mexico

Dear friends and GlobalGiving donors,

Sometimes dreams begin with a simple idea: to create a place where science, youth, and community come together to protect the sea that gives us life. That dream now has a name, and it’s becoming a growing reality: the McKee Center for Education, Conservation, and Research.

Thanks to your support, the McKee Center has become the heart of our work — a place that inspires, connects, educates, and transforms. Everything we’ve accomplished in recent months has started — and returned — to this space that makes the impossible feel within reach.

A historic return to our shores

One of the most exciting moments of this period was welcoming the Western Flyer, the iconic vessel that sailed these waters 85 years ago with John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts. Now fully restored, it returns with a new mission: to inspire new generations.

Through collaboration with the Western Flyer Foundation, Stanford University, our local university, and government authorities, the McKee Center became the key host and partner for this historic visit. It was from here that we organized conservation and education activities that engaged students, scientists, and community members.

Students from ITESME took part in an intertidal sampling expedition alongside Dr. William F. Gilly, Dr. Unai Markaida, and biologist Pablo Zambrano, using the center as their base. Their faces said it all — curiosity, pride, and the joy of becoming part of something greater.

Innovation from the McKee Center: turning problems into solutions

Another powerful initiative is also being led from the McKee Center: our work to transform abandoned fishing nets into solid, useful materials.

With the support of Ocean Conservancy and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, a group of local university students is using the center as their workshop and lab to melt down monofilament fishing nets recovered from high-risk areas, turning them into durable prototypes made entirely from recycled plastic.

During the Western Flyer visit, these students proudly represented the McKee Center with an educational stand, where they shared their work with fishermen, children, tourists, and local leaders. It was a powerful moment of environmental education, youth leadership, and local innovation.

Infrastructure that supports dignity and science

We know that doing research means also caring for those who make it possible. That’s why, over the past two months, we completed the construction of a septic tank and a rustic, functional bathroom using recycled pallets and materials.

This new facility is already being used by our researchers, students, and visitors during fieldwork. Importantly, it includes a shower, allowing those who dive into the sea for their studies to clean up afterward — with dignity and comfort. These improvements solidify the McKee Center as not just a space for learning, but a home for community-based science.

New seeds: growing partnerships from the McKee Center

We believe the McKee Center can become a regional hub for marine conservation and education. That’s why we’ve begun discussions with the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS), which offers degrees in Marine Biology and Fisheries. Our shared vision is clear: to make the McKee Center a natural home for hands-on learning, professional internships, and field-based research.

Thank you for making all of this possible

Every step we take — every net recycled, every marine sample collected, every young person inspired — starts from the McKee Center. And the center itself exists because you believed in us.

Thank you for trusting in our work. Thank you for believing that, from a small coastal community, we can build science, conservation, and hope.

With deep gratitude,
The Team at Hagamos Más por Santa Rosalía, A.C.
Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Links:

• Facebook Alianza Pesquerias
• Western Flyer Foundation Page
• William Gilly

We are thrilled to share with you the progress we’ve made at the Mckee Center, achievements that wouldn’t have been possible without your invaluable support and generosity. Thanks to the resources you’ve provided, we’ve been able to make significant improvements to the center and continue our efforts to promote environmental conservation in the region.

In the first phase of the project, we successfully opened access to the center. In this second phase, we’ve focused on improving the access road, making it easier for smaller vehicles to reach the center. Previously, only large pick-up trucks could get through, which limited the number of potential visitors. With this improvement, we’ve made the center more accessible and opened up new opportunities to welcome more people interested in our activities.

To continue the improvements, we purchased high-quality materials for the construction of the septic tank, including cement, blocks, rebar, and more. Additionally, we hired a local contractor to ensure the septic tank for the bathroom inside the center was built with the best materials, specifically acquired for this project.

Our team has also been actively working on cleaning up the center, removing waste, particularly dry palm leaves that naturally fall over time. This ongoing effort is key to maintaining the space and preserving the natural environment surrounding the center.

This year, we’ve been in touch with the Western Flyer Association, who are planning a visit to our center in May with students from Stanford University and the local university. During their visit, they will engage in intertidal monitoring activities, which is a great opportunity to strengthen our academic and research partnerships.

As for the facilities, we’ve designed a rustic wooden bathroom structure, and construction has already begun. This project is set to be completed by April 2025, at which point a toilet will be installed, connected to the septic tank, and a water tank will be added. This upgrade is crucial for improving the center’s infrastructure and ensuring that visitors have the necessary amenities.

We’re also happy to report that we recently welcomed one of our donors from GlobalGiving, who expressed her satisfaction with the progress we’ve made so far. Her visit and continued support are a testament to the positive impact we are creating in the community, thanks to all of you.

We want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your ongoing support. The resources you’ve provided have been used efficiently and in alignment with our conservation and environmental education goals. Without your generosity, many of these milestones would not have been possible.

We truly appreciate your commitment to our mission, and we continue to work hard to achieve our goals and keep promoting sustainability in the region.