Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Programs

Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center Programs include educational school field trips, Lunch at the Ranch (LatR), private tours, birthday parties, seasonal day camps, and Overnight at the Ranch. During these programs, children can plant a seed, make a sheepy or wooly craft, meet or visit friendly farm animals, explore vibrant gardens, enjoy lunch or a snack in the picnic area, learn to care for animals, explore plants and pollinators in the garden, and learn about wool spinning and natural dyeing. Kids 6–11 years old spend each day during a week-long session at the ranch in the seasonal day camps.

• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids 6–11 years old spend each day during a week-long session at the ranch in seasonal day camps

Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center is part of the University of California Research and Extension Center (REC) system and is part of the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Department. It serves as a hub for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties’ University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), housing programs like 4-H, Master Food Preservers, and Master Gardeners. The facility is fully accessible, with all learning spaces and facilities fully accessible and specifically dedicated to serving children with special needs as well as a wide variety of other visitors. Livestock, gardens, and acres of open space are used to create hands-on learning experiences for children and their adult chaperones in day and overnight ranch tours, nutrition programs, community service days, and special events. The ranch is available for reservation year-round, offers family activities on weekends throughout the year, and has a Conference Center with a full commercial kitchen available for rental for daytime retreats, meetings, workshops, weddings, and other special events.

The mission of University of California Cooperative Extension San Mateo/San Francisco and Elkus Ranch is to serve the diverse needs of residents through the creation, development, and extension of knowledge in agriculture, natural resources, and human resources. This mission is supported through partnerships with the County of San Mateo, San Mateo Resource Conservation District, the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, and schools throughout the region. Newsletters for both San Mateo and San Francisco Counties are available. The program focus includes food and fiber production, wild and domestic animal relationships on the ranch and surrounding open space, and climate impacts through a Compost Bunker and Water Catchment system.

Last updated March 20, 2026.