Environmental Volunteers

Environmental Volunteers offers Nature Scientists School Programs with in-person, hands-on school programs, off-site field trips, and neighborhood nature walks. It also offers Sprout Up School Programs with weekly lessons in an 8-week series for 1st and 2nd grade classrooms, plus homeschool programs, public programs, group programs by appointment, and events at EcoCenter with drop-in events, small group science programs, art exhibits, and nature walks.

Programs

• Nature Scientists School Programs — K-6 · In-person, hands-on school programs; off-site field trips and neighborhood nature walks also available; limited virtual programs available · Standards-based learning stations focused on a specific subject area appropriate to grade level. Programs are offered for K-6 classrooms and align with NGSS.
• Sprout Up School Programs — 1st-2nd grade · Weekly lessons; 8-week lesson series; lessons typically last 1 hour · Free, college student-led environmental science and sustainability program for 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in under-resourced public schools.
• Homeschool Programs — K-6
• Public Programs
• Group Programs — By appointment
• Events at EcoCenter — Drop-in events; small group science programs; art exhibits; nature walks

At a glance

• Ages: 5–12 years old

About the provider

Environmental Volunteers was founded in 1972. Its mission is to promote the understanding of and responsibility for the environment through hands-on science education. The organization provides science and nature programming for schools and the community through nature field trips, classroom programs, homeschool programs, public programs, and community programs, and it trains volunteers to lead hands-on science and nature programs in schools, community organizations, and at the EcoCenter in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.

School programs must be requested and confirmed no later than 6 weeks in advance. Semester confirmation deadlines: Sept 1 for Fall, Dec 1 for Winter, Feb 1 for Spring. Not all programs are available at all times of the year. A limited number of virtual programs are available for schools unable to meet in person.

Last updated September 19, 2026.