Natural Science Discovery Youth Programs
Ventana Wildlife Society, 9699 Blue Larkspur Ln, Ste 105, Monterey, CA 93940
About
Natural Science Discovery Youth Programs include activities such as journaling beneath redwoods, exploring misty redwood forests, exploring tidepools, discovering rocky tide pools, discovering riparian habitats, and discovering oak woodlands. Participants take part in kayaking, kayaking at Elkhorn Slough, kayaking with sea lions, kayaking with sea otters, whale watching in the bay, watching a condor soar, searching for the endangered California Condor, venturing into caves at Pinnacles National Park, hiking through forests in the Ventana Wilderness, and exploring the natural world through storytelling and fun, hands-on projects.
• Ages: 4–17 years old
• Schedule: Wee Ones in the Woods is a themed three-hour, drop-off program; Natural Science Discovery Camp is a week-long day camp with a Thursday night campout; Outdoor Leaders in Training (OLT) is a week-long Discovery Camp role; Single Day Adventures are one-day programs.
Wee Ones in the Woods is for ages 4–7. Natural Science Discovery Camp is for ages 8–12 and includes a Thursday night campout in Big Sur. Outdoor Leaders in Training (OLT) is for ages 13–17 and allows teens to join the week-long Discovery Camp as youth leaders, with two registrations each week reserved for teens. Single Day Adventures are one-day themed nature adventures for ages 8–12.
Since 1997, Natural Science Discovery Programs have used nature as a classroom. Ventana Wildlife Society has been conserving native wildlife and their habitats since 1977, and its education programs have been connecting youth to nature since 1992. The mission of Ventana Wildlife Society is to conserve native wildlife and their habitats through science, education and collaboration. Each year, more than 1,300 youth take part in Ventana Wildlife Society programs, which use nature as a classroom to inspire curiosity and appreciation for wildlife and natural processes, encourage children to take everyday actions that help protect wild ecosystems, and keep the focus on the individual, their personal discoveries, and the potential they hold to inspire others.
Ventana Wildlife Society provides outdoor education programs using a fleet of four 15-passenger vans to pick up participants from communities stretching from Castroville to Salinas, and inland from Prunedale to Greenfield. VWS partners with communities throughout Monterey County to offer weekly off-site nature classes for youth during the school year, works closely with a diverse group of communities, industries, and native peoples, and provides educational outreach to underserved and historically marginalized communities.
The leadership team includes Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director; Jane Thompson, Office Manager; Joe Burnett, California Condor Recovery Program Manager; Mike Stake, Sr Wildlife Biologist, Ecological Services; Alena Porte, Education and Outreach Manager; Yulissa Ochoa, South Monterey County Program Coordinator; Gracie Rodriguez, Family and Community Program Coordinator; Marci Greenberg, Teen and Teacher Coordinator; and a Youth and Outreach Program Coordinator.
Last updated June 25, 2026.
• Ages: 4–17 years old
• Schedule: Wee Ones in the Woods is a themed three-hour, drop-off program; Natural Science Discovery Camp is a week-long day camp with a Thursday night campout; Outdoor Leaders in Training (OLT) is a week-long Discovery Camp role; Single Day Adventures are one-day programs.
Wee Ones in the Woods is for ages 4–7. Natural Science Discovery Camp is for ages 8–12 and includes a Thursday night campout in Big Sur. Outdoor Leaders in Training (OLT) is for ages 13–17 and allows teens to join the week-long Discovery Camp as youth leaders, with two registrations each week reserved for teens. Single Day Adventures are one-day themed nature adventures for ages 8–12.
Since 1997, Natural Science Discovery Programs have used nature as a classroom. Ventana Wildlife Society has been conserving native wildlife and their habitats since 1977, and its education programs have been connecting youth to nature since 1992. The mission of Ventana Wildlife Society is to conserve native wildlife and their habitats through science, education and collaboration. Each year, more than 1,300 youth take part in Ventana Wildlife Society programs, which use nature as a classroom to inspire curiosity and appreciation for wildlife and natural processes, encourage children to take everyday actions that help protect wild ecosystems, and keep the focus on the individual, their personal discoveries, and the potential they hold to inspire others.
Ventana Wildlife Society provides outdoor education programs using a fleet of four 15-passenger vans to pick up participants from communities stretching from Castroville to Salinas, and inland from Prunedale to Greenfield. VWS partners with communities throughout Monterey County to offer weekly off-site nature classes for youth during the school year, works closely with a diverse group of communities, industries, and native peoples, and provides educational outreach to underserved and historically marginalized communities.
The leadership team includes Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director; Jane Thompson, Office Manager; Joe Burnett, California Condor Recovery Program Manager; Mike Stake, Sr Wildlife Biologist, Ecological Services; Alena Porte, Education and Outreach Manager; Yulissa Ochoa, South Monterey County Program Coordinator; Gracie Rodriguez, Family and Community Program Coordinator; Marci Greenberg, Teen and Teacher Coordinator; and a Youth and Outreach Program Coordinator.
Last updated June 25, 2026.
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