VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
  • WHO WE ARE
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    • Our Story
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  • CONDORS
    • Biology
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    • My Condor Bios
    • Nesting
    • Releases
    • Species Status
    • Survival Threats
    • The Condor Chat
    • Vultures of the World
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • Youth Programs
      • Community Hubs
    • PARTNER PROGRAMS >
      • Teen Watershed Program
      • Educator Support
      • Wellness Through Nature >
        • Salud Y Naturaleza
    • Big Sur Discovery Center
    • SMORE in Big Sur
  • Services
    • Condor Presentations
    • Ecological Services
    • Non-Lead Ammunition
    • Wildlife Data Management Tools
  • Media
    • Media Coverage
    • Condor Filmography >
      • 2025: Condor Canyon >
        • Order Copy of Condor Canyon
      • 2022: Giants of big Sur
      • Full Collection
    • Short Videos
    • Reward for Arrest of Condor Shooter
  • How You Can Help
    • Donate >
      • Adopt-A-Condor
      • Donate
      • Save The Condors Fund
      • Stewardship Circle
      • Legacy Society
    • Subscribe
    • Supporters
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Natural Science Education

Access to nature and the outdoors is essential to our well-being, and it is only a step away!
donate to outdoor youth education
For more than 30 years, it has been our pleasure to share the natural beauty of central California with local youth and families. We love telling the stories of condors, sea otters, and other resilient wildlife that call this place home. Over the years, we have discovered that just being outside in nature has health benefits as well as educational value. We call this Wellness Through Nature, and it is a theme for all of our outdoor programs.
Community
Hubs
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Youth
Programs​
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Wellness
Through Nature
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Teen Watershed Program
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Educator Support Program
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Also check out our Big Sur Discovery Center and our SMORE project at Andrew Molera State Park
Since 1992, we have focused on providing meaningful outdoor experiences to youth. Each of us here at Ventana Wildlife Society can remember back to a young age when we first connected with nature - perhaps it was one moment, perhaps many, that helped inspire us to become nature-lovers, conservationists, biologists, and educators. We are dedicated to providing those opportunities for all children to experience the awe and excitement of the natural world, setting them on their own journey of stewarding our planet.
Thanks To Our Community Supporters . . .
Community Hub Programs are funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.
Youth Programs are funds provided by the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) for the Youth Community Access Grant Program.
Wellness Through Nature, a Nature Prescription Program supported by State Coastal ​Conservancy ​to provide coastal experiences for people and communities who face challenges to accessing or enjoying the coast.
MWEE for Educators and Teens is a program funded by NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant program promoting Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). The MWEE is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action.
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  • California Coastal Commission
  • ​California State Parks
  • California Natural Resources Agency
  • Community Foundation for Monterey County
  • Harden Foundation​
  • Monterey Peninsula Foundation
  • Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
  • Parks California
  • Pebble Beach Foundation
  • The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Thanks To Our Donors . . .
We own and operate four, 15-passenger vans so that we can overcome transportation barriers facing many individuals when it comes to experiencing the spectacular natural areas of Monterey County. Many youth have been raised within a short distance from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, it’s beaches and viewpoints, but have never had the opportunity to play in the sand along the shore, identify birds as they forage along the beach, or spot otters in the surf. 

A huge thanks to the Tanimura Family Foundation, Carmel Rotary Club, and many individuals including the VWS Board of Directors who contributed a total of $34,420 in 2023 so that we could buy a fourth van and increase our capacity to serve!
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Meet Our Educators
Coordinators:
Patricia Castellanos - East Salinas Family Nature Program Coordinator
Cece Gutierrez - Community Bird School Nature Program Coordinator​
Yulissa Ochoa - Wellness Through Nature Program Coordinator
Graciela Rodriguez - North Monterey County Program Coordinator
Matea Meadows-Hills - Teen and Teacher Program Coordinator
​Marily Munos-Serrano - Youth and Outreach Program Coordinator
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Instructors:
Navid Amarlou
​Ben Bence
​Fern De La Cruz-Raynoso
Alondra Gonzalez Gonzalez
​Marci Greenberg
Jocelyn Mendoza
​Rocio Ortiz Rivera
​
Luis Tapia
Julian Valencia​
Join Us
free - Youth Crafts at Farmer Markets
Meet Us at the Farmer's Market
FREE Natural Science Education with arts and craft for kids while you shop, drop off your children (age 6 and up) to explore our nature table and create a craft.  
​

• Alisal Certified Farmer's Market
WHEN: 
Every Tuesday, 
11:00AM - 4:00PM
WHERE: 632 East Alisal, Salinas
Located adjacent to the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Center
weekly nature classes for youth
Classes focus on connecting to nature through increased awareness. Core routines of the program include opening/closing discussions, story-telling, using journals, sit-spots, and wildlife observation. The program’s goal is to provide a meaningful experience and get students excited about nature. Contact Marily Muñoz-Serrano for information or to register. 
become a community partner
VWS provides free programs for historically marginalized and underserved communities. If you operate a youth program in Monterey County, and would like to explore a partnership, please contact Alena Porte.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Using nature as a classroom, our Education Programs foster understanding and appreciation of wildlife and natural processes, encouraging children to contribute personally in everyday life to the protection of our precious wild ecosystems. Whether it’s journaling in the shade of a giant redwood tree, watching sea lions from a kayak, exploring tidepools, or watching a condor take flight, our programs generate memories that will last a lifetime.
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What Parents Are Saying
“Once again the boys not only had a lot of fun, they now really have a very strong interest in wildlife conservation.”​ ​​
“...they want to go every week! Thank you for providing a nourishing summer program!”
“Thank YOU all for providing a fun-filled week for the kids. Nothing  but good stories have been told. Keep up the good work and we will see you all in the wild!”
“As long as Ventana Wildlife Society is offering this camp, my kids will be taking it! Thanks for offering such an important piece of our children’s education.”

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CondorKids.org
Created by our partners at Santa Barbara Zoo and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CondorKids.org is a place for students to learn about the California Condor Recovery Program including access to free, downloadable, condor-centric curriculum.
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

Education Partners
We have worked with youth and family focused organizations and programs since 1999 to provide free, meaningful outdoor experiences for underserved communities.
Bird School Project
Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County
BSA Scouts of America
Cachagua Community Center
City of Gonzales Parks & Recreation
City of Marina Teen Center
City of Marina Youth Center
City of Salinas Public Library
Community Human Services
Community Partnership for Youth
​
​East Salinas Women Infant and Children Center
First Tee of Monterey County
Gilroy Youth Center
Girl Scouts of America
Gonzales Leadership Club
Greenfield Community Center
Jacob's Heart
John Muir Charter School
​
King City Police Activity League
La Paz Middle School
LIFE Program
Monterey County Free Libraries
Monterey County Office of Education Alternative Education
Monterey County Home Charter School
Monterey County Office of Education Migrant Education
Monterey County Probation Youth Center

Monterey County Probation Juvenile Hall
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Alternative Education 
North Monterey County Recreation District

North Monterey County Unified School District
Rancho Cielo Youth Campus
Recruitment in Science Education
Salinas Police Activities League
Salvation Army, Kids Café
San Jerardo Migrant Camp
Soledad Mission Recreation District​



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ventana wildlife society

Conserving native wildlife and their habitats through science, education, and collaboration, since 1977.

our address

9699 Blue Larkspur Lane, Suite 105
Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 455-9514
​​
HOW WE PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY 
© COPYRIGHT 2024.​ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Ventana Wildlife Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
​​Tax ID# 94-2795935
  • WHO WE ARE
    • Annual Reports / Documents
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • Our Beginning - Bald Eagles
    • Our Story
    • Staff
    • Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • CONDORS
    • Biology
    • Field Work
    • Live Cams
    • My Condor Bios
    • Nesting
    • Releases
    • Species Status
    • Survival Threats
    • The Condor Chat
    • Vultures of the World
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • Youth Programs
      • Community Hubs
    • PARTNER PROGRAMS >
      • Teen Watershed Program
      • Educator Support
      • Wellness Through Nature >
        • Salud Y Naturaleza
    • Big Sur Discovery Center
    • SMORE in Big Sur
  • Services
    • Condor Presentations
    • Ecological Services
    • Non-Lead Ammunition
    • Wildlife Data Management Tools
  • Media
    • Media Coverage
    • Condor Filmography >
      • 2025: Condor Canyon >
        • Order Copy of Condor Canyon
      • 2022: Giants of big Sur
      • Full Collection
    • Short Videos
    • Reward for Arrest of Condor Shooter
  • How You Can Help
    • Donate >
      • Adopt-A-Condor
      • Donate
      • Save The Condors Fund
      • Stewardship Circle
      • Legacy Society
    • Subscribe
    • Supporters
    • Volunteer
    • Your Opinion Matters
  • donate
  • Shop