Formal Education

Professional Development: The Cultural Partnership supports professional development of Park facility staff through the Building Operators Certification (BOC) courses. Since 2011, over 10 Balboa Park team members have received this certification. In 2017, the Sustainability Program provided scholarships for two Park team members to complete IFMA's Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) certification course and in 2018, three scholarships were awarded.

Community Workshops: The Balboa Park Sustainability Workshop Series provides innovative and specialized training for Balboa Park staff, volunteers, and the community about sustainability principles and practices.

Green Impact Guide: The Sustainability Program partnered with San Diego State University to create a Green Impact Guide with new and existing tools to advise and aid in the successful implementation of sustainable best practices for Balboa Park's diverse arts & cultural organizations. Learn more.

Sustainability Action Plans: The Sustainability Program develops individual Sustainability Action Plans for members of the Cultural Partnership to help guide their environmental strategies in: Energy, Waste, Water, Education/Outreach, Green Purchasing, and Alternative Transportation.

Informal Education

Green Team: With the goal of infusing sustainability practices into every level of operations, the Sustainability Program works with the Green Team to further the expertise of Balboa Park organizations' staff in energy conservation and green business principles. Learn more.

Facility Director Meetings:  The Sustainability Program drives facility director education by hosting bi-monthly meetings to discuss energy efficiency and sustainability topics and provide resources to aid in project implementation.

Regional Best Practice Sharing: Balboa Park participates in regional conversations including presentations at conferences such as AAM, ACEEE, and WMA. The Cultural Partnership is a supporter of the California Association of Museums (CAM) and also participates in the Friends of Balboa Park Water-wise Community of Practice and the Balboa Park Conservancy’s project committee.

Sustainable Experiences

Balboa Park Sustainability Forum: Each year, we host the annual Balboa Park Sustainability Forum to provide an educational panel discussion on a relevant topic, recognize Balboa Park organizations for innovative sustainability projects with the Balboa Park Sustainability Awards, and provide networking to members of the community. Learn more here.

Walk-About Tours: The Sustainability Program hosts Walk-About tours that offer the community a behind-the-scenes look at the greening efforts of Balboa Park institutions. To date, over 600 individuals from all over the world have participated! To inquire about how to incorporate this opportunity into your next conference or event, click here.

Every Day is Earth Day Coloring Book: Our program has developed the Every Day is Earth Day in Balboa Park coloring book featuring energy efficiency and sustainability highlights in collaboration with SDG&E. Many of the featured pages show how school age children can practice energy saving habits. The Scavenger Hunt page takes you through Balboa Park to find many sustainability features, from water conservation, alternative transportation, waste diversion, and more! The coloring book is available for free download and printing to use at home, at your next visit to Balboa Park, or as a fun educational resource. To download the coloring book, click here.