Connecting Children to Nature

For fifty years, Inside the Outdoors has been sharing something truly special: a love for nature that lasts a lifetime. Whether it’s the wonder in a child’s eyes as they see a squirrel scurrying across the trail, the excitement of meeting a furry visiting ambassador in their classroom, or the joy of going hiking for the first time, these moments create deep connections between students and the world around them.

Since 1974, our mission has been to foster meaningful connections between students and nature through hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences. As we celebrate our golden jubilee during the '24-'25 school year, we’re reaching even more students than ever before. We’ve set an ambitious goal to bring environmental education to 87,500 students this school year. As of February, we’ve already engaged over 32,000 learners, with more than 85,000 booked across field trips, Traveling Scientist programs, and community programs.

This year also marks the return of a beloved field trip site: Mount San Antonio College. We’re thrilled to welcome young scientists back to Mt. SAC's wildlife sanctuary in Walnut for our Ecosystem Extravaganza field trips, where they explore adaptations, investigate plant adaptations, and gather evidence of animal behaviors, deepening their connection to the environment.

We’re excited for the future—and we’d love for you to be part of it. Support our next 50 years of outdoor learning by making a gift today or follow along and see our impact in action on Instagram.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to fifty years of love for nature — and many more to come!

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.

Links:

• OCDE Newsroom: ITO Marks 50 Years of Inspiring Stewardship