By: Angelica Camacho, ENC Communications Intern Our ancestors lived in harmony with the landscape of earth and skies. They navigated using the sun and stars. Over time, many humans have lost these skills in exchange for easy and convenient tools like navigation apps that tell us exactly where to go, turn by turn.  These conveniences though have let us to forget the ways of our ancestors, disconnecting us from Nature, and leaving us dependent on technology powerless to the whim of the wilderness. The Primitive Skills Society, led by Bo Glover, Executive Director of the ENC, seeks to revive the methods of our ancestors and teach us how to survive using both nature and human made tools. Glover hopes to instill the passion that exists…

by Jorge Serrato, ENC Communications Intern Have you ever wanted to go hiking and capture the moments? Well now you can, by joining us here at the ENC where we will teach you everything you need to know about hiking on the wild trails of beautiful Orange County. Throughout the year we have monthly opportunities for you to learn and understand the wonderful outdoor hiking experience. March 19th marks our Photography on the Trail hike which will be lead by our amazing Outreach Coordinator Mindy Schwartz for a fun filled 3-mile hike. You will have many opportunities to capture nature through your own lens and explore the beauty of the wildlife throughout the trail. Mindy will inform you of what you might encounter throughout the…

The Environmental Nature Center’s Executive Director Bo Glover was the recipient of the Community Champion of the Month award at the Lakers game on Friday, December 29. The award was presented by the Lakers and LG Solar to recognize him for his work at the Environmental Nature Center, where he provides quality education through hands-on experience with Nature along with his awesome staff. Bo was presented the award on the Lakers court at STAPLES Center at halftime by Geoff Tomlinson, CEO at Vaha Sustainable Energy, Warren Nishikawa, Key Account Manager at LG Solar USA, and Mathew Makovec, Director of Community Relations for the Los Angeles Lakers. Under Bo’s leadership, the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) provides educational programming to over 27,000 people each year by serving as the communities’…

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) will be hosting the first meeting of the Primitive Skills Society on December 2, 2017 from 4:30 – 7:30PM. During each monthly meeting participants will gather to learn and work on different primitive skills, led by ENC Executive Director Bo Glover. Afterwards, the group will cook a light meal over the campfire. “I started this group because I genuinely enjoy teaching and practicing primitive skills like fire making and tracking,” said ENC Executive Director Bo Glover. “It’s also a great way to meet and develop friendships with great like-minded people.” Throughout the year, Primitive Skills Society members will learn skills including building primitive shelters, collecting, purifying, transporting and storing water, finding food, making fire from friction, building a proper fire,…

  If you’d like a butterfly plant to enjoy in your garden year round, read on! There are plenty of butterflies to feed that are NOT monarchs, but monarchs will enjoy the nectar provided by these as well. Sages are very good for attracting adult butterflies to your garden. White Sage (Salvia apiana) and Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) will be available this Sunday. Epilobium canum, California Fuchsia, is used as a nectar source for butterflies, a larval source for White-lined Sphinx Moth. False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) is the host plant for the Southern Dog Face butterfly. It’s larvae use the leaves of this plant for food. Plant in a part shaded spot that is cool. They like soil that doesn’t dry out, but is not wet….

As the weather cools and the leaves fall there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with the ENC’s 42nd annual Fall Faire and Pumpkin Patch. Stop by and pick the perfect pumpkin at our pumpkin patch where pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will be available to take home just in time to carve into spooky jack-o-lanterns. Come with an empty stomach because local food vendors will be in attendance for our Savor OC Restaurant Showcase. Grab a delectable treat from Sensitive Sweets, a slice of yum from Pizza Bakery, a gourmet cookie from 17th Street Deli, and clam chowder from Bluewater Grill. Saltwater Catering will be on hand for the first time this year, and we can’t wait to see what they will bring! If the kids…

by Lola Olvera, ENC Communications Intern What do a green sea turtle, a blue butterfly and San Mateo thorn mint all have in common? They are all species endangered in California-and that’s no joke. The green sea turtle is classified as seriously threatened; worldwide its numbers have declined 90% over the past 50 years as they are hunted for meat and eggs and their habitats are threatened. The Mission Blue butterfly has been endangered since 1976 due to dieback of its most common host plant, the Silver Bush Lupine. Road construction, residential development and golf courses have eradicated the habitat of the San Mateo thorn mint-now it can only be found at Edgewood County Park. Girl Scout Troop 2917 is giving a voice to California’s…