Environmental Nature Center

School Environmental Education

Each year, thousands of students participate in hands-on environmental education through ENC's School Environmental Education programs, offered both at ENC's nature campuses and directly in schools throughout the region. Field trips at the Newport Beach campus and ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary transform native gardens, trails, wildlife habitats, and other outdoor spaces into living classrooms where students learn through exploration, observation, and inquiry. ENC's Traveling Naturalist Program extends this approach beyond our campuses, bringing specimens, activities, and inquiry-based environmental lessons directly to more than 6,000 students annually in their own classrooms. Programs are aligned with state education standards and explore topics such as ecosystems, adaptations, biodiversity, watersheds, native plants, wildlife, and sustainability. By offering both on-site and traveling programs, ENC can reach students with different needs while reducing barriers such as transportation, cost, and scheduling. Scholarship and subsidized programming further expands access for schools facing financial barriers, including Title I schools.

Service Learning & Workforce Development

Service has been part of the Environmental Nature Center since its founding in 1972, when teachers, students, and community members worked together to transform an abandoned gully into a place for environmental education. Today, ENC builds on that tradition by creating meaningful opportunities for people—particularly youth and young adults—to learn through service, develop practical skills, and gain experience that can prepare them for future education and employment. Opportunities range from student service learning and long-term volunteer roles to ENC's Leaders in Training program, museum docents, internships, and other sustained positions that allow participants to take on increasing levels of responsibility. Participants work alongside ENC staff in areas such as environmental education, native horticulture, ecological stewardship, visitor engagement, and nonprofit operations. Internships and other structured experiences provide opportunities to develop workplace skills, explore careers, receive mentorship, and gain hands-on experience in a professional nonprofit environment. Long-term volunteers and docents deepen their knowledge over time and become knowledgeable ambassadors who help ENC serve students, families, and visitors. While one-time volunteers continue to provide valuable support for events and special projects, ENC's priority is to create deeper pathways for engagement—moving people from participation to service, from service to leadership, and, when appropriate, toward education and career opportunities in environmental and community-serving fields.

ENC Nature Preschool

Opened in 2019, ENC Nature Preschool is Orange County's first nature-based preschool and provides immersive early childhood education for up to 72 children each day. Nature is not an occasional enrichment activity—it is an integral part of how children learn. Through daily outdoor exploration and hands-on, inquiry-based experiences, children investigate the living world while developing skills across STEM, language, creativity, social-emotional development, physical development, and problem-solving. Children are encouraged to explore, take appropriate risks, ask questions, make discoveries, and develop confidence and independence in an environment designed specifically for nature-based learning. Scholarships help make the preschool accessible to families who might otherwise be unable to participate. The LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge Petal-certified campus also serves as a living example of sustainable design.

Nature Camps & Youth Programs

For generations, ENC's nature camps have given children opportunities to spend meaningful time outdoors exploring, discovering, creating, and learning. Seasonal camps at the Newport Beach campus and ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary immerse children in nature through age-appropriate activities centered on plants, wildlife, science, creativity, and outdoor exploration. Unlike a traditional classroom environment, camp gives children extended time to follow their curiosity, make discoveries, develop friendships, and become increasingly comfortable outdoors. Camp experiences encourage independence, confidence, cooperation, creativity, and a sense of wonder about the living world. Scholarship support helps ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent children from participating.

Community Education, Native Horticulture & Stewardship

ENC provides year-round opportunities for people of all ages to deepen their connection with nature through community education, hands-on learning, and stewardship. Programs at the Newport Beach campus and ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary include family experiences, early childhood activities, homeschool enrichment, scouting programs, public workshops, seasonal programs, community events, and other opportunities to explore Southern California's natural world. California native horticulture is an increasingly important part of this work. Through native plant workshops, propagation, demonstration gardens, plant sales, and hands-on stewardship opportunities, ENC helps community members understand the relationships among native plants, wildlife, water, climate, and healthy ecosystems—and gives them practical knowledge they can apply in their own gardens and communities. ENC's native landscapes also serve as living classrooms. Fifteen California native plant communities at the Newport Beach campus provide habitat and educational opportunities, while expanding horticultural and stewardship activities at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary create additional opportunities for learning, propagation, habitat enhancement, and community involvement.