Marin County Outdoor School at Walker Creek Ranch

Marin County Outdoor School at Walker Creek Ranch offers outdoor education programs that take place across 1,700 acres of open space, with over 20 miles of walking trails that include a panoramic view from the top of Walker Peak. Students may encounter local wildlife such as deer, fox, river otters, and newts, and learn in an environment that includes Walker Creek, which flows year-round through clusters of alder trees and bay laurel forest and provides habitat for endangered species like Coho salmon. Each year, the Outdoor School serves 5,000 students in overnight outdoor education programs.

• Schedule: Overnight outdoor education programs

Since 1990, Walker Creek Ranch has been a place for people to connect with each other, their communities, and nature. The Marin County Outdoor School at Walker Creek Ranch states that it is dedicated to helping elementary schools satisfy their educational goals through quality instruction within a special learning environment that inspires and motivates students to achieve an appreciation of the natural world. According to the program, it uses the principles of thematic instruction to enhance a student's critical thinking, processing, and socialization skills. Walker Creek Ranch reports that it is committed to meeting the specific needs of organized groups by providing personalized services, facilities, and high quality programming in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment, and that the Walker Creek Ranch Conference Center is committed to meeting the needs and desired outcomes of client groups and providing the necessary support and Ranch services to support a positive experience. Each year, Walker Creek Ranch also hosts an additional 5,000 guests for private conferences, family reunions, weddings, and other gatherings, and describes itself as a community that welcomes all people to experience the beauty of West Marin. A teacher testimonial notes that “The naturalists are wonderful. They gain the trust of all of the students very quickly, and they engage our students in all of the activities.”

Last updated June 26, 2026.