Education United States Project #4314

Connecting Children to Nature

by Inside the Outdoors Foundation

Project Report | 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.

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