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.
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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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Thanks To Our Donors . . .
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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
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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 Vertical Divider
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Instructors:
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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. Vertical Divider
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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. |
Education Partners
We have worked with youth and family focused organizations and programs since 1999 to provide free, meaningful outdoor experiences for underserved communities.
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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 |
