The ENC offers programs geared toward adults who want to learn more about the natural world.
The Environmental Nature Center offers Professional Development and Team-Building workshops at our 5-acre outdoor facility OR we can come to you! Click on the options below to view details about each program. To schedule any of the ENC’s professional development programs, please call (949) 645-8489 or email us.
The ENC’s Excellent Educator Series is also a great way to learn exciting hands-on ways to teach children about science and nature. It is held about 9 times a year at the ENC, with options to join in virtually. Check our calendar for these and other scheduled events.
Excellent Educators Series
The ENC’s Excellent Educators series brings all kinds of educators together for fun afternoons and evenings of learning exciting hands-on ways to teach children about science and nature. Everyone is invited! Classroom teachers, outdoor educators, scout leaders, homeschool parents – anyone who wants to be a better educator.
Nature Journals are a fantastic way to get your students thinking in new, cross-curricular ways. In this workshop, we’ll explore the benefits of having your students keep nature journals, make our own nature journals out of upcycled materials, and engage in several provocations that showcase innovative ways to use those journals both in and out of the classroom. Science-minded folks will love getting to stretch their creativity muscles and art-minded folks will love learning about the scientific applications of journaling. It’s all connected!
Afterwards we’ll enjoy a light meal together and share some wine by the campfire before breaking out the marshmallows and skewers to make some s’mores!
Contact Mindy@encenter.org if you’d like to sponsor the food for this event.
In this workshop we will discuss how to shift our views and attitudes toward Climate Change. It can be challenging to teach about climate change to young children, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and it can even be uplifting! Our Education Director and Education Coordinator will share simple lesson ideas inspired by Project WILD that will showcase a variety of learning modalities. We will end with a discussion on how to inspire climate action and instill hope despite the heavy topic of global climate change.
Afterwards we’ll enjoy a light meal together and share some wine by the campfire before breaking out the marshmallows and skewers to make some s’mores!
Contact Mindy@encenter.org if you’d like to sponsor the food for this event.
Professional Development Workshops
Are you looking for an engaging, hands-on workshop for your weekly faculty meeting? Or are you wanting to offer your teachers a unique professional development experience on an in-service day? The ENC’s PD team will facilitate a workshop complete with innovative techniques, fun curriculum ideas, and multi-disciplinary connections to the world around us. All workshops connect to the unifying theme of nature and align with the Next Generation Science Standards. Mini workshop: 75 minutes, $12/teacher; 3 hour workshop: $17/teacher.
This workshop will help teachers with the process of embedding connections to the natural world throughout their curriculum. Nature is the perfect launch pad for cross-curricular connections and teachers should feel confidant in inspiring their students with wonder and curiosity about the world around us. The workshop will provide ample ideas for hands-on activities, from building simple bird-feeders to collecting students’ compost.
This workshop will take teachers through a ‘day in the life of a naturalist’, where they learn the value of formulating questions about the world around us and making observations to help us find the answers. The skills learned in this workshop are applicable to any subject area, as they tap into critical thinking and attention to detail.
This workshop will tap into an important part of the NGSS – using the engineering design process to engage students in critical thinking, team work, and creativity. Teachers will practice using the steps of the engineering design process with upcycled materials. We believe in re-using materials as often as possible in the classroom, which is an important message of sustainability. Students and teachers alike will benefit from learning to think outside the box and being resourceful with classroom materials.
Project Learning Tree® is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in Pre K-grade 12. PLT, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. PLT continues to set the standard for environmental education excellence. The Elementary school curriculum (pre K-8) takes an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to learning and contains more than 90 different lesson plans. In addition to teaching about science, trees, and forestry, PLT can be used to teach language arts, social studies, nutrition, mathematics, visual arts, and more. Our Director of Communications Lori Whalen will show you several hands-on activities to bring the environment into the classroom and your students into the environment. Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water, to community planning, waste management and energy. $10/teacher with a 20 minimum
Exotic plant species can have damaging consequences to our ecosystems. The trees, shrubs, and flowers native to California are often overlooked as resources for our butterfly gardens and landscaping. Join ENC Assistant Director Lori Whalen to learn why natives are so awesome, then she’ll model some of her favorite plant related activities. Join us to DIG INTO the science behind supporting our native flora. This workshop’s target audience is K-5 teachers, but we’re happy to present this workshop to teachers of any grade level. 2 hours. $10/teacher with a 20 minimum
Team-Building Workshops
Perfect for a corporate event or staff retreat, our team-building workshop will engage your team with several different hands-on activities. These games and challenges will stimulate a part of the brain that isn’t often used at work, while getting creative juices flowing and forging cooperative relationships. Mini workshop: 75 minutes, $12/person; 3 hour workshop: $17/person.
If you come to us, we’ll utilize our 5-acre outdoor facility to connect with each other and engage in team problem-solving tasks together. You are welcome to bring in lunch (as long as it is in compliance with our Zero Waste Policy) and picnic in one of our beautiful native plant communities.
If you’d like us to come to you, we can utilize any outdoor space, conference room, or multi-purpose room. We have a very creative team and can transform your space for the needs of this workshop.
Meeting Space for Title I Faculty
The ENC offers our facilities as a free meeting space for any Title I school faculty that wishes to use is for a faculty meeting. We believe in encouraging creative collaboration out in nature and our 5-acre outdoor classroom serves as the perfect change-of-scenery for school teachers. Contact Mindy@encenter.org to schedule.
Earth Skills Series
Join us this year for our Earth Skills Series, where you’ll learn essential wilderness survival and traditional skills in a hands-on environment. Offered at both the Environmental Nature Center and ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, our workshops cover a variety of topics including knot tying, primitive fire making, orienteering, native plant uses, and much more. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with nature or expand your outdoor abilities, these classes provide valuable knowledge in a fun and interactive way. Sign up today and gain the skills to thrive in the wild!
Join us for a Medicinal and Edible Native Plants Uses Walk! Herbalist William Broen will discuss traditional and modern uses of locally native plants, how a plant’s survival tactics affect their uses, and how we can learn about plants through our senses. He will also share plant folklore and other related topics.
William’s walks are informative, interactive, accessible, fun, and understandable. He is always happy to share his knowledge of botanical medicine with interested people.
William Broen is a Bioregional Herbalist who focuses on local California plants and uses a constitutional approach that integrates knowledge and concepts from many world traditions. He completed a 4-year program at the Pacific School of Herbal Medicine in Oakland, California, and is a member of the American Herbalists Guild. William has been conducting lectures on medicinal and edible plants of California and the Southwestern United States for 20 years and has been featured at various locations and conferences. Register HERE.
Join us for an immersive, hands-on workshop with ENC Naturalist José Contreras at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, where you’ll explore the art of prickly pear processing as part of our Earth Skills series. Set against the serene backdrop of the Center, this class delves into the rich cultural traditions surrounding the prickly pear cactus, from its vibrant fruit to its edible pads, known as nopales. You’ll learn sustainable harvesting techniques, how to safely handle and prepare both the fruit and pads, and discover culinary uses for each. Participants will select ripe prickly pears to create a succulent, refreshing treat, and enjoy tastings of homemade prickly pear jam and syrup. The workshop also covers the preparation of nopales, guiding you through grilling the tender cactus pads and seasoning them with fresh ingredients like cilantro, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños, all served with tortillas and refried beans. This is a perfect opportunity to dive into traditional cactus cuisine while gaining hands-on experience with sustainable food practices. Register HERE.
Join us for a hands-on weaving class with Shane Brown, an accomplished tracker, craftsman, environmental educator and land steward at Earthroots Field School. Set amidst the serene beauty of the Environmental Nature Center, this workshop is part of our Earth Skills series and will delve into the art of cattail weaving. Participants will learn to create a functional and beautiful open-crown hat or a small sitting mat using sustainable materials sourced from the local environment. Shane’s deep knowledge of nature and traditional crafts will guide you through each step, fostering a connection to the land and its resources. Come explore your creativity while honoring the earth!
This is a half day workshop! Feel free to bring your Zero Waste lunch to enjoy. Whether you want to share a meal with others or enjoy your food quietly, the choice is completely yours. Register HERE.
Join us for an immersive, hands-on tracking class with Shane Brown, a highly skilled tracker, craftsman, and environmental educator at Earthroots. Set amidst the tranquil beauty of the ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon, this workshop is part of our Earth Skills series and will delve into the ancient and fascinating art of tracking. Participants will explore the basics of animal tracking, learning how to identify footprints, patterns, and signs left by wildlife. Through guided observation, Shane will teach how to interpret animal movements, understand behavior from tracks, and connect more deeply with the natural world. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this engaging class will enhance your ability to read the landscape and uncover the hidden stories of the animals that inhabit it.
This is a half day workshop! There is no food for sale locally. Feel free to bring your Zero Waste lunch to enjoy. Whether you want to share a meal with others or enjoy your food quietly, the choice is completely yours. Register HERE.
Join us for a fun and interactive Orienteering Workshop, designed for families to learn and explore together! Led by Education Coordinator Skyler Forche, this session will teach you the essential skill of using a compass and navigating with a map. You’ll learn how a compass works, the difference between magnetic north and true north, and how to adjust for it. Then, put your new skills to the test in a fun, family-friendly game where you’ll need to orient yourself to find the final destination. You’ll also practice walking a ‘pace’ and using this skill to navigate accurately.
This hands-on workshop is perfect for both kids and adults who want to gain confidence in navigating the great outdoors. Whether you’re new to orienteering or just brushing up on skills, this event is a great way to spend quality time together while learning something new!
Don’t miss out – this is a family-friendly event and all are welcome, but it is not recommended for children younger than 6 years old. Register HERE.
Join us for an engaging and informative Camping/Outdoor Essentials Workshop, tailored for adults who want to enhance their outdoor experience! Led by Education Coordinator Skyler Forche, this session will delve into the Ten Essentials you should always carry in the backcountry. You’ll get a hands-on look at the gear and items that can make your camping trips safer and more enjoyable.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own camping essentials to share and discuss. We’ll have an open forum to talk about the items we love, the ones we find indispensable, and those that might not be as useful as they seem. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other and discover new tips and tricks for your next adventure.
This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of outdoor gear and preparedness. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting out, you’ll leave with valuable insights and practical advice. Register HERE.