by Rita Robinson, ENC Communications Intern What is the greatest gift we can give our children? Maybe it’s the same thing we happened to enjoy the most — the fun of having free time in nature. In these times of increasing high technology, kids are being handed iphones and ipads to distract them and occupy their time. It’s the precursor to a robotic babysitter. The problem is the child is fixated on an electronic screen, their mind mesmerized and manipulated and their bodies stagnant. Is that what we remember from our childhood? The television was bad enough but at least it didn’t go with us to the beach. Isn’t it true that once you simply step outside your door with skies above, ground beneath and…

By Lola Olvera, ENC Communications Intern The rings of the last school bell have barely faded away. The backpack full of old homework has barely been put down. And already, your child has gathered some microwaveable snacks, found the comfiest spot on the couch, and flipped to his favorite TV show, where he may remain for the next two months. If this isn’t your kid, there’s a good chance it’s the neighbor’s kid or one of their classmates – the trend is so prevalent. It can also be damaging. A national study cited by GMA News Online found that “During each of the two summers in the study, the proportion of overweight and obese kids increased by approximately one percentage point per month. There were…

Caw, caw! The Ravens are calling and are ready to guide you through one of the most important transitions: childhood to adolescence. Ravens are responsible, independent, and benevolent. Do you have what it takes to join the Order of the Raven? Ravens will sign a contract to pledge their responsibility and embark on an eight day journey designed for students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Our Head Bird will guide Ravens as they face challenges, explore new ideas, and learn skills that will help them soar into adolescence with confidence. Ravens learn both life and outdoor skills like fire making and thank you note writing. After learning a new skill, Ravens will teach and lead younger ENC Nature Campers through activities the following day. With…

By Lola Olvera, ENC Communications Intern Your child may have walked out of his annual check-up at the doctor’s in fine health but he may be unknowingly suffering from a malady of the metaphorical kind: nature-deficit disorder. According to Richard Louv, the author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” and the man who coined the term, most of us are not getting our recommended daily dose of the outdoors. Being nature-deficit means that, thanks to our immersion in the digital world, we have lost a vital connection with nature. A nature deficit can have negative consequence on ourselves and our environment. According to the Children & Nature Network, “…nature-deficit disorder contributes to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions…

by Chelsea Moreno, ENC Communications Intern There are overwhelming benefits of outdoor education. According to the National Wildlife Federation, outdoor education and outdoor playtime improves classroom performance and standardized test scores, increases motivation and enthusiasm to learn, helps students concentrate for longer periods of time, and improves classroom behavior. Let the ENC help you reap the rewards by enrolling in Spring Break Camp! From April 10 to 13, the ENC will welcome students from Kindergarten to 6th grade to participate in exciting, age appropriate hands-on activities. During each day of camp, campers will be able to explore the trails and grounds of the ENC led by experienced Camp Teachers, most of whom are our very own Naturalists! Campers rotate between three camp teachers and will…

No plans for President’s Week? You’re in luck, the ENC is here for you this President’s Week, February 20-23, with full and half day camps! Join us for educational outdoor fun for campers in kindergarten through 6th grade. Campers will be separated by grade level into small groups of 10-15 students and will rotate between our expert Camp Teachers, where they will participate in exciting, age appropriate hands-on activities. “I really enjoy pumping the kids up,” said Lead Naturalist Aimee Arvidson. “I love teaching them about nature and hopefully making it something they’ll want to love and protect too.” Arvidson will teach campers about the anatomy, migration, and eating habits of local whales by participating in experiments, games and hands-on activities. Campers will see and…

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) will present Winter Camp in two sessions: December 26-29 and January 2-5. Full day camp is from 9am to 3pm, and half day camp is from 9AM to 1PM. Campers will participate in educational hands-on activities each day. Adventures within the Nature Center will increase their knowledge and appreciation for the natural world. “Today’s children often have limited opportunities to connect with the natural world. Children spend more time viewing television and playing video games than they do outside,” said ENC Education Coordinator Corina Silva. “The benefits of connecting to nature include positive impacts on children’s social, psychological, academic and physical health.” Campers will become Nature Adventurers. They’ll learn wilderness survival skills and spend some time playing independently in nature…

In these modern times it can be quite difficult to immerse kids into nature and yet children and nature go hand in hand. Nature plays a crucial role in developing a child’s social, emotional, and physical maturity. But don’t worry! The Environmental Center is here to help! Down at the ENC we have 5 acres of nature and trails that a person of any age can enjoy. We also have a nature museum with all sorts of fun filled and interactive learning tools. This summer, starting on June 27th, the Environmental Nature Center will be hosting 8 sessions of Summer Nature Camp. Each of these sessions holds a different theme that will be played out by our amazing staff through an assortment of fun activities. This Summer…

Summer is just around the corner! With summer comes relaxation and fun in the sun. The best way to enjoy summer is at the Environmental Nature Center! On June 27th the Environmental Nature Center will be starting our Summer Nature Camp featuring eight different themed weeks for kids in Kindergarten to 6th grade. These different themes include nature detectives, weird science, amazing animals, journey through time, outdoor explorers, nature play, outdoor creativity, and tail tales. During Nature Camp kids will learn all they can about science, nature and the environment around them through fun games and hands-on activities. Letting kids experience nature has become more and more difficult in the modern world. Nature can help form and improve a child’s creativity and can even inspire them to go…

The Environmental Nature Center’s Summer Nature Camp is a unique and fun-filled experience for kids that provides a kind of learning not found in the traditional classroom. With the help of the ENC’s need-based scholarship program every kid has a chance to experience all the fun adventures to be had at Summer Nature Camp. Scholarships are funded by the Newport Beach Little Garden Club and the Trevor Campbell Smith Scholarship fund in loving memory of one of our former campers. To apply for this scholarship simply fill out the online application and send a recommendation letter from your child’s current teacher to our Camp Director. Scholarship applications must be submitted by May 27, 2016 by 5PM. Scholarship recipients will be notified on May 30 by 5PM. Scholarship recipients are…

Spring is in the air and the Environmental Nature Center is excited to present Spring Break Camp! As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth, to see the land as an animal does, and to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee. ENC’s Spring Break Camp is a perfect opportunity for students K-6th grade to enjoy the outdoor fun by getting a safe and educational learning experience. Spring Break Camp is April 4-7, 2016 at the Environmental Nature Center. ENC provides parents with the option of a full day camp from 9am-3pm or a half-day camp from 9am-1pm. Spring Break Camp is a place where students can let nature be their…

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “It is an incalculable added pleasure to any one’s sum of happiness if he or she grows to know, even slightly and imperfectly, how to read and enjoy the wonder-book of nature.” Experiencing nature is one of the most riveting and exciting things anyone can take part in. It harnesses creativity, instructs about the circle of life, constructs life skills and it is also known to be beneficial to one’s health. Unfortunately nowadays, children are no longer living their childhood immersed in nature but rather immersed in a screen in front of them. So as a way to commemorate our 26th president’s famous love of nature, the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach is holding its annual President’s Week Camp, running…