You probably haven’t put much thought into your lawn beyond making sure it looks groomed and presentable. You also may not have considered the impact your ornamental lawn has on the surrounding ecosystem. As it turns out, your lawn can have quite an effect on the surrounding ecosystem. Native plants have been growing on the land where our homes are now for centuries, forming interconnected webs with all of the wildlife in the area. By removing native plants from landscapes, the insects that rely on those plants will also be removed, followed by the species that relied on the insects, and so on. As a result, the ecosystem quickly loses its carefully mastered system of checks and balances. It is a chain reaction that reaches all the way to…

In 1972, the Environmental Nature Center was nothing more than a lot full of weeds, mounds of dirt and gnarly, untended vegetation. 45 years later, our center boasts a beautiful running stream, a plethora of different plant and animal species and a hardworking team of talented naturalists and teachers who run fantastic programs for all our little learners and their families. We have become Newport Beach’s go-to authority on ecological responsibility, sustainability, and environmental education. It’s been a long journey but a good one. Since our inception, we have always counted on people who have seen the potential in a neglected lot, people who share our values of education, science, and interacting with nature, people who have passionately fought to make this place what it…

A memory walk and casual, social gathering to celebrate the life of Robert Shelton will be held on Saturday, January 28th from 12:30 to 2:30PM at the Environmental Nature Center (ENC), 1601 E. 16th Street, Newport Beach. A 59 year resident of Corona del Mar, Robert passed away in November at the age of 93. Barbara Shelton, wife of Robert, and his three children, Peter, Wendy and Tom Shelton invite all interested friends and colleagues to attend. Refreshments will be served. (Rain or shine; flat shoes recommended). Please RSVP to RobertSheltonMemorial@gmail.com. Photos and comments for the memory walk are also welcome and can be emailed to the same address. Following the resignation of John J. Sailors, the first City Manager of Newport Beach, a young,…

The holidays are a time for showing gratitude and giving back. Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving observed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Please join the movement and give – whether it’s your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in the community – to support the causes you care about. The Environmental Nature Center staff works hard every day to connect children and adults to the natural world, and to teach the responsibilities that come with that. Building a future generation of conservationists depends on helping children fall in love and connect with the natural world. We hope you will support the Environmental Nature Center in our mission to provide quality education through hands-on experience with Nature. Here are some…

Interested in learning what it’s like to be a Naturalist at the ENC? Sara Wong loved her career shadow experience with the ENC, where she worked with our Naturalists after school for her middle school’s Science Fair. Sara’s project, entitled “The Environment Is Where We All Meet”, documented her experience, as she learned about the importance of sustainability, reusing, recycling, and taking care of our environment. “The most rewarding part of being at the ENC was being able to learn new things that I didn’t know before, like facts about water and seeing new plants that I never knew about,” she remembers. She also loved being around lots of kids and taking gorgeous pictures of the ENC’s beautiful and peaceful plant communities and wildlife habitats….

Someone recently asked me what was the one, best piece of advice I ever got and why?  My response was, “Why do I have to pick just one?”  TWO amazing pieces of advice come to mind. Do what you can with what you have where you are.   Apparently this is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, but this ADVICE came to me via a college professor, Bill Tidwell.  The class was on ecological restoration and the tone was pragmatic.  What it comes down to is, you’ll never be in a perfect situation.  There will always be problems, so make the most of it.  I use this advice nearly every day as an employee at a non-profit where there aren’t always funds to buy what we’d really…

“It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it” is the motto for Vanis Buckholz’s “My Recycler” business.  The slogan is a perfect way to summarize his mission. You might have seen Vanis in the past at the Environmental Nature Center, because his goal is to increase participation in recycling. My ReCycler started at the Buckholz’s house, but it has grown into so much more. When Vanis was 7 years old, after he learned about Earth Day in school, he immediately began his quest to recycle and pick up trash. Since it’s beginning 3 years ago, My ReCycler has gained momentum as Vanis and other kids continue to pick up trash in their community.  He has influenced many of his neighbors and community members….