Holiday gift packaging got you down? Don’t know what to do with all of that Styrofoam packing material? Waste for Waves has it covered! Waste for Waves uses donated Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam that cannot be recycled, and turns it into surfboard blanks and other “eco-friendlier” surfing products. The process is simple. Any expanded polystyrene…
Archives for 2013
A New Years resolution that is easy to keep
Ditch the disposable water bottle habit! Instead, drink clean tap water from a reusable bottle. It may seem insignificant, but ultimately it will benefit you and our environment. Here are some reasons why replacing disposable bottles is a great idea: Tap water is just as safe, if not safer, than bottled water. The water that…
Chhay the Nature Guy Joins ENC Staff
Today we welcomed new Naturalist Chhay Liv to the ENC family! Chhay’s personal philosophy is that “learning is a lifelong process. Learning can be fun.” He has a passion for teaching science in the areas of biology, geology, chemistry, and physics. “I have always been passionate about learning, and I’ve always wanted to be a…
Restoring our Ocean
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) will host Captain Nancy Caruso, Marine Biologist and Founder of “Get Inspired” on January 9, 2014 at 6PM. Captain Caruso will discuss Ocean Restoration in Orange County. More information and to sign up to attend, go HERE. The presentation will focus on local issues concerning ocean preservation. Captain Caruso will discuss…
Furoshiki and Stories about Stars at the ENC!
This week at the Environmental Nature Center! Stories Under the Stars Tuesday, December 3, 6 pm Many cultures tell stories about the stars and their meanings. Join ENC Naturalist Leslie Helliwell on the darkest night of the month under the New Moon to learn to identify some of the major constellations and enjoy the tales…
The times they are a changing
Today we say farewell to Meghan Womack, the ENC’s Education Coordinator. After five amazing years at the ENC, she is moving to Issaquah, Washington to start a family and begin a new career at Discover Elementary. Alex Lane, the ENC’s Lead Naturalist, will be joining us full time as our Education Coordinator following Meghan’s departure….
Room & Board Donates $25,000 to ENC
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) accepted a $25,000 donation from Room & Board South Coast Plaza on November 7th at their South Coast Plaza showroom. The donation will help support the ENC’s Environmental Education programs. “Room & Board has a long history of supporting community organizations. We are very proud that they’ve chosen us to be…
My Scary Halloween Costume
Happy Halloween! Today I am dressed in the scariest costume I could think of – an invasive non-native plant! I am a Tamarisk tree, but there are approximately 1,800 non-native plants that grow in the wild in the state. Tamarisk is especially bad because it drinks A LOT of water, and deposits salts on the surface…
Junior Naturalist Recruitment has begun!
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is once again recruiting teenagers with a passion for the environment and education to be Junior Naturalists. Junior Naturalists help teach and supervise campers during Nature Camps. The program helps broaden teens’ leadership and communication skills. “The Junior Naturalist program provides an excellent experience to include on a resume or…
What’s your favorite part of the Fall Faire?
The Fall Faire is just around the corner, Sunday October 13 from 10AM to 3PM! We asked some community members what their favorite part of the faire is. Here is what they said: “I enjoy the pumpkin patch because there is such a variety of different pumpkins. It is always a highlight at the faire.” –…
ENC Provides Professional Development for Local Educators
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) invites all educators to the Excellent Educator Series, a monthly event at which educators learn new hands-on ways to educate children about science and nature. The Excellent Educator Series consists of three workshops. Attendees will learn exciting ways to broaden their teaching abilities. Each workshop is $10. After finishing the…
Local Teen awarded ENC Volunteer of the Year Award
Environmental Nature Center (ENC) volunteer Emma Kensington was awarded the ENC’s Volunteer of the Year Award yesterday at the Taste of Twilight member appreciation dinner. Despite the demands of normal teenage life, the 17-year-old Newport Beach resident volunteered over 300 hours at the ENC over the past three years. “I love to volunteer at the…