Education United States Project #4314

Connecting Children to Nature

by Inside the Outdoors Foundation

Project Report | Oct 10, 2024
A Half Century of Exploration: Inside the Outdoors Turns 50

By Sara Ludovise | Coordinator, Inside the Outdoors

School bus at Upper Newport Bay

There was something a little different about the first yellow bus of the 2024-2025 school year that pulled up into the parking lot of the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center this week. The familiar hum of excitement had an added note of reverence — this wasn’t just the start of another year, but a celebration of half a century spent fostering a love for the outdoors in countless young learners.

Since our founding in 1974, Inside the Outdoors has served over 3.5 million students across Orange County. For five decades, we’ve watched as learners step off the bus wide-eyed, ready to discover the beauty of the natural world. From the first splash of a ruddy duck gliding to a stop in Upper Newport Bay to the wonder of a butterfly landing on a nearby flower at Irvine Regional Park, these moments of connection — small but profound — have planted the seeds of stewardship in generations of young people.

This year, we celebrate not just the numbers, but the stories behind them. The awestruck fifth grade student who saw the ocean for the first time on an Inside the Outdoors field trip to Crystal Cove State Park. The too-cool middle school student, trying to hide their excitement, who couldn't help but be captivated as they locked eyes with a visiting Animal Ambassador during a Traveling Scientist program at their school. And the thousands who returned to their classrooms or stepped tentatively outside it with a deeper sense of belonging to the planet, inspired to protect it.

As we enter this milestone year, we are more committed than ever to ensuring that the next generation of learners can experience the same magic that has defined Inside the Outdoors for fifty years. We are grateful for your continued support and investment in our work, which helps us grow our programs, reach even more students, and expand our work to address the urgent environmental challenges of our time.

Thank you for joining us on this journey together. We can't wait for some of the surprises we have planned to celebrate our golden jubilee, and we remain beyond excited for the next fifty years to come.

Yellow bus, circa our Orange County OSS days.

Links:

OCDE Newsroom: ITO Marks 50 Years of Inspiring Stewardship

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Jun 11, 2024
Summer Celebrations: Update from Inside the Outdoors

By Sara Ludovise | Coordinator, Inside the Outdoors

Students help measure an oak tree.

The infamous gray skies of June Gloom are still lingering over much of Orange County this week, but as our school programs wind down, we can't help but dream of sunny days ahead.

The 2023-2024 school year has been filled with remarkable milestones and heartwarming stories, all made possible by your support:

Inside the Outdoors served over 80,000 students this year through our field trips and Traveling Scientist programs. Including our community events, science nights, and asynchronous opportunities like the EcoChallenge, our small team impacted nearly 100,000 participants, helping to inspire our next generation of environmental leaders.

We collaborated with partners to pilot two brand new field trip programs that immersed students in real environmental research and monitoring. In April 2024, we partnered with UC Irvine, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and Delhi Community Center to test an oak tree community science program in Limestone Canyon (read about it in the Daily Pilot!). We also partnered with Carver Elementary School in Santa Ana to pilot a new butterfly community science program for kindergarten students at Mile Square Regional Park.

We launched a new expanded training program for our teaching staff, helping them to develop the skills they need to successfully engage students in critical thinking and sensemaking while building their own identity as professional science educators.

The feedback from students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. One teacher shared, "Such a fun and educational experience that made my students all engaged, excited and safe! This is my best field trip ever! Can we learn about this next year again?" These stories remind us of the profound impact our programs have on young minds.

As we look forward to the sunny days of summer and beyond, we are excited about the future of Inside the Outdoors. Next school year represents our 50th anniversary, which marks half a century of dedication to environmental education and stewardship. This milestone is a testament to the lasting impact of our programs and the steadfast support of friends and supporters like you.

Thank you once again for your generosity and commitment to our cause. Your support is making a significant impact on building environmental literacy in Orange County and inspiring our next generation of environmental stewards, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership.

Students on the hiking trail at Upper Newport Bay.

Kindergarten students collect data on butterflies.

Students explore oak tree adaptations.

Links:

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Feb 14, 2024
Sowing Seeds on Rainy Days

By Sara Ludovise | Coordinator, Inside the Outdoors

February has been off to a typically wet start here in Orange County. Much like the vital rain that has nourished the beloved outdoor places where we teach, Inside the Outdoors (ITO) has been nurturing the minds and spirits of our young learners, providing them with rich, educational experiences that sow the seeds of environmental stewardship and scientific curiosity.

Since the start of the 2023-2024 school year in September, over 25,000 students have taken part in Inside the Outdoors’ field trips and Traveling Scientist programs. Our adaptable Program and Field Naturalists have expertly navigated the recent wet conditions, turning every rain droplet into a learning opportunity.

So far this year, elementary students have investigated where our water comes from through our Drip Drop classroom programs, run in partnership with the Municipal Water District of Orange County. Meanwhile, second graders have explored one of Orange County’s most critical wetlands at the Upper Newport Bay, while sixth grade students have engineered water filtration devices to help protect our water at Irvine Regional Park.

Our dedication to fostering environmental literacy and passion for science has never been more evident. The rainy days have not dampened spirits but rather have highlighted the resilience and flexibility of our team and the eagerness of our students to learn, regardless of the weather.

Looking ahead, we are inspired by the promise of new growth that follows the rain. Next week, our team will pilot a new Amazing Animal Traveling Scientist program for third grade students. Developed in partnership with Orange County Water District, this new classroom program introduces young learners to the Prado Constructed Wetlands, which provides critical habitat for the endangered Least bell’s vireo.

We extend our deepest gratitude to you for standing with us through every season. Your support is the rainfall that nurtures the growth of Inside the Outdoors, allowing us to reach more students and make a deeper impact. We'd love for you to stay connected with us through Instagram to witness the beautiful blooms that your support brings forth.

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