Delphinus School of Natural History Outdoor Education Programs
Delphinus School of Natural History, 20 State Park Road, Los Osos, CA 93402
About
Delphinus School of Natural History Outdoor Education Programs give young scientists hands-on experiences in the natural world through exploration and nature hikes. The programs include instruction in Natural History, Animal Behavior, Estuary Science, Coastal Geology, and Freshwater Ecosystems. Explorations and adventures engage all the senses and allow each explorer to create personal relationships with nature, based on their own interests. Camps are often unstructured but have a scientific undertone that encourages individual investigation.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
Delphinus School of Natural History’s Outdoor Education programs follow a philosophy that mirrors that of ancient indigenous cultures, who believed “nature awareness” involved understanding the natural cycle and its interconnections, and the organization refers to this as “Original Instructions.” The programs are described as engaging, interactive, and student driven, and the organization states that students who develop a deep personal relationship with nature become environmental stewards of nature, instead of casual observers of nature. The organization now incorporates camps for local schools, older students, adults, and interns.
John L. Sanders founded Delphinus School of Natural History in 2011 and serves as Founder/Director. He began his career as an outdoor educator while he was a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz, where he collaborated with UCSC's Dean of Summer School, KTEH, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Superintendent of Schools for Monterey County to create the UCSC summer residential science program for 6th–8th-grade students from Monterey County. From 2002–2023, he was an outdoor science/Naturalist with the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP). Richard “Octopus” Hernandez has been the Lead Naturalist for Delphinus School since 2021 and has been leading students on nature hikes since 2017. He has been a lifelong student of biological sciences, especially marine ecosystems, began his career as a research assistant for a local environmental consulting firm conducting intertidal and subtidal biological surveys, and earned his BS in environmental science in 2017.
Richard “Octopus” Hernandez has been a part of local outdoor programs such as Camp KEEP, Rancho el Chorro, and Delphinus School of Natural History, and he has made it a personal mission to increase environmental literacy among youth to promote behaviors that help protect ocean ecosystems. Awards are mentioned in connection with the organization, but no specific details are provided. One testimonial shared by the program is, “Nature powerfully fosters self expression, because nature itself is so powerfully expressed.” – Warren Moon.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
Delphinus School of Natural History’s Outdoor Education programs follow a philosophy that mirrors that of ancient indigenous cultures, who believed “nature awareness” involved understanding the natural cycle and its interconnections, and the organization refers to this as “Original Instructions.” The programs are described as engaging, interactive, and student driven, and the organization states that students who develop a deep personal relationship with nature become environmental stewards of nature, instead of casual observers of nature. The organization now incorporates camps for local schools, older students, adults, and interns.
John L. Sanders founded Delphinus School of Natural History in 2011 and serves as Founder/Director. He began his career as an outdoor educator while he was a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz, where he collaborated with UCSC's Dean of Summer School, KTEH, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Superintendent of Schools for Monterey County to create the UCSC summer residential science program for 6th–8th-grade students from Monterey County. From 2002–2023, he was an outdoor science/Naturalist with the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP). Richard “Octopus” Hernandez has been the Lead Naturalist for Delphinus School since 2021 and has been leading students on nature hikes since 2017. He has been a lifelong student of biological sciences, especially marine ecosystems, began his career as a research assistant for a local environmental consulting firm conducting intertidal and subtidal biological surveys, and earned his BS in environmental science in 2017.
Richard “Octopus” Hernandez has been a part of local outdoor programs such as Camp KEEP, Rancho el Chorro, and Delphinus School of Natural History, and he has made it a personal mission to increase environmental literacy among youth to promote behaviors that help protect ocean ecosystems. Awards are mentioned in connection with the organization, but no specific details are provided. One testimonial shared by the program is, “Nature powerfully fosters self expression, because nature itself is so powerfully expressed.” – Warren Moon.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
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