VIRTUAL SAVOR OC

Local restaurants participating in our Virtual Savor OC include Wahoo’s, Black Market Bakery, Kean Coffee, Shirley’s Bagels,  Gunwhale Ale, Baguette Me, Playa Mesa, Sessions West Coast Deli,  Balboa Island Baking Company, Vitaly, Wild Strawberry Cafe, Mi Casa, Mr. French Crepe, Al’s New York Café, Dory Deli, Pink Salt Cuisine,  and  Helmsman Ale House. Participating restaurants will provide fun, short videos during the Faire week, so you and your family can learn how to cook just like a chef! Check the schedule to see when they will be posted to our YouTube channel. Many of our restaurant sponsors are creating “ENC Spring Faire Specials” for ENC members and supporters to order during the week of May 11-17 (or a certain day or days during that span). Check the calendar for details and support local restaurants that support their community! Learn more on our Savor OC page. Email us if you’re a restaurateur that would like to participate, or learn more HERE.

Butterflies!

Virtually visit Orange County’s only butterfly house! ENC Naturalists will take you and your family on a virtual tour to see Orange County native butterflies and the plants they depend on to live. Tune into our Facebook page for one or both live “tours” on May 17.

11:15 Butterfly House Tour #1

 1:30 Butterfly House Tour #2

VIRTUAL “FIRE CIRCLE STAGE”

Gather ’round the Virtual Fire Circle Stage between May 11 and May 17, and listen to the bluegrass stylings of the Sweetwater Creek Band!  The Sweetwater Creek Band is a group of Orange County, CA musicians who play fiddle, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, guitar, banjo and baroque recorders. OnMay 17 author Diane Lang will be reading her book Fur Feather Fin – All of us are kin.  We’ll also feature the Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Green Day tribute band Green Tomorrow, and BirdSong & the EcoWonders! Check the schedule to see when they will be posted to our YouTube channel.

VIRTUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE

The ENC is offering select native plants for sale during the Virtual Spring Faire! The plants are not virtual through, and can be picked up between 9AM and 5PM on May 14 or 15. Just order online, then call 949-645-8489 when you pull up on May 14 or 15 and we’ll bring them out to your car! Please be prepared with something to protect your car from the plants (boxes, recycled plastic, etc.) Pop your trunk and we’ll set them in. Native plants attract butterflies and birds to your garden!

ONLINE SILENT AUCTION

Be sure to check out (and bid on!) the items in our fun online auction between May 11 and May 17! Click HERE to see what we’ve listed so far. The Environmental Nature Center provides a tremendous service for our community: free, public access to Nature, environmental education, and a sanctuary for our community to escape from life’s pressures. The ENC depends on income from programs and fundraisers to fund our operations and pay staff. The recent school shut downs, and program and event cancellations, will result in considerable loss of income for the Center during our highest revenue generating season. Your Silent Auction donation will help propel us through the rest of the year. To donate a silent auction item, please complete this form. If you have questions, please contact lori@encenter.org.

ENC Nature Preschool Virtual Tours

Throughout the day on May 17, teachers from the ENC Nature Preschool will share activities from their curricula, and recommend at home versions for families watching. They will give brief tours of their classrooms, the Nature Play Area and other cool places in our new school. Tune into our Facebook page for live events!

10:45 – Bear classroom and the Sequoia Play Area.

1:15PM – Coyote classroom, Yosemite Play Area, and art area.  

2:30 – Tortoise classroom, Joshua Tree Area, and organic garden

INSTAGRAM CONTEST

Decorate yourself in your best Spring Themed costume or face paint, and post your photo on Instagram between May 11 and May 17! Be sure to tag it #2020ENCSpringFaire for a chance to win awesome prizes! Extra credit if you include the hashtag #SupportYourNatureCenter – and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for updates.

VIRTUAL CRAFTS & GAMES

Play virtual nature games and embark on a virtual “Craft Crawl” and “Story Walk” with Girl Scout Troop 2800, who will teach us several fun pollinator themed crafts throughout the day.Check the schedule to see when they will be posted to our YouTube channel.